Imagine having to say goodbye to your homeland indefinitely. Imagine heading toward a life in a foreign land and culture where you don’t really want to be.
Our friends here have undergone this frightening shift. Now they struggle to find identity, educate their children, and make a living in this strange new land. Many hope against hope to get resettled in the West. But few Western countries are opening their doors these days.
Just like them, we never imagined having to go through this shift. We watched as the violence worsened in the homeland, until it was time for us to join the exodus, too. Now it is part of our call to join them in their experience as refugees.
In many ways, we’ve seen God increase our opportunities to share with these people now that we are all outside of the homeland. In our new country, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by thousands of displaced families who represent every tribe and walk of life. They have come to this new land for various reasons—security, freedom, or access to better healthcare.
A couple blocks away from our apartment, you can find bread that tastes almost as good as in the homeland. Bashir, a respected entrepreneur and refugee, recently opened up this bakery, and it has become a fixture in this community of exiles. We often linger in his shop, listening in as he dispenses his thoughtful insights to patrons.
Bashir finds this country to be a decent place to make a living—away from the threat of terrorists. Technically, he isn’t supposed to be working here, but a nominal fee (i.e. bribe) of $8 a month keeps the police from hassling him.
We have also met Mokhtar, is a teenage policeman who was shot through the head in a showdown with terrorists back home. He is here on medical leave, and will eventually return to the homeland. Two ugly scars mark the bullet’s entrance and exit wounds. His nasal system and optical nerves are decimated, but he is thankful for life. He lets us pray for him in Jesus’ name and we have shared the Gospel with him. We hope he will take home more than a reconstructed face.
We thank God for opportunities to share the Gospel with these refugees. Pray for us, that God would give us creative ways to access their hearts with the love of Christ.
Pray that God would equip Frontiers to send more workers to minister the love and hope of Jesus Christ to refugees.
**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names have been changed for security.**
Original article: www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/living-among-refugees-opportunities-for-the-gospel
