Many Global Workers come alongside refugees but only a few serve alongside those detained. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeing a significant reduction of their staff in the wake of the cuts from USAID. The few who are remaining will be under much stress. The services being offered to refuges are evaporating.
As we approach World Refugee Sunday, let's hear the story of one family, submitted by Matthew & Amber Price.
Her family was being held in a place she could not enter. With her young adult children and husband inside the detention centre, there was no way she could safely visit them without risking detention herself. I [Matthew] met her on a street corner near the gates to the prison. She gave me a few items to pass along. I did not speak her mother tongue and her English was limited. She conveyed a few messages to deliver to her family. As I turned to go, she told me that she wants her family, “right here,” as she made a hugging motion with her arms. “Until they are here, God has them here,” and she pointed to the palm of her hand. As a mom and wife, she wanted to wrap her arms around them, but until that day came, she had no doubt that they were in God’s hands. Prison walls and fences stop hugs, but God is still present amongst people held in refugee detention centres.
PRAY for families separated during detention. May they grow to know the faith expressed by this woman on the street corner.
PRAY for justice, care and compassion on all refugees in detention as the UNHCR has been forced to lay off up to 40% of its workers due to USAID changes.
PRAY God’s grace and mercy on these most vulnerable mothers, fathers, children and single adults.
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