A cry for freedom

I live and work in my country. Secure among my own people, I generally did not understand how difficult life for a refugee can be. But this state of ignorance changed rather abruptly when I met a few Eritrean brethren for the first time about one year ago.

During that first meeting, I heard firsthand their painful experiences. My eyes and heart opened as I listened. I was especially touched by the plight of the women.

That sharing birthed a number of friendships that continue to grow. Based on mutual respect, trust, love for God and for humanity, our friendships defy the language barrier. We have cried, laughed, prayed and encouraged each other.

Using an interesting mix of hand gestures, facial expressions and broken English, we manage to understand each other perfectly.

They live among us, but due to the language differences are kept apart. I realized that I was among the first ‘locals’ to freely interact with many of them.

I empathise with these loved ones as I sense an almost tangible yearning to go back home in their hearts. It is a silent cry, so deep and so intense that it cannot be expressed. It can only be felt.

But, for many, until they are free to worship Christ openly, they must remain away.  Away from all things familiar; sights, sounds, people and even foods, not knowing when, if ever, they will go back to Eritrea.

I realized after attending a few wonderful Eritrean weddings, that many of these newlyweds are forced to live apart as the husbands search for work in other countries. Such couple can only hope and pray for the clearance of their refugee mandate papers so that they can be together.

I have learnt much and in the process grown to admire the women of Eritrea. Refreshingly feminine in dress and demeanour; blessed with wonderful chocolate skin tones and beautiful hair; Eritrean women retain a quiet dignity that defies the hardships and loneliness they face as refugees.

I celebrate them for they are a strong people; strong in faith, strong in love for God, strong in resolve, never to let go of their Saviour. Optimistic and lively, they laugh much, are a very close knit community and support one another through the tough times. 

For me, there is much to learn from the way they handle adversity. May I show Christ to them even as they encourage and challenge me with their faith, grace and strength.

In conclusion - I must confess that I have grown to love their traditional food - Delicious!
Christine - Open Doors

The least and the most we can do

In May this year it will be ten years. I remember the day a colleague came back from Asmara telling us about the meeting he had with church leaders during his visit. All religious groups outside of the Orthodox Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Catholic Church and Islam had just been told that they needed to register with the government. It involved filling in an application form, supplying details of all members and revealing all financial info.

As a group we speculated over the implications of this move. Clouds of uncertainty seemed to be gathering on the horizon. But we did not even start to grasp what it was that lay ahead for our brothers and sisters in Eritrea. We did not have to wait long for the picture to unfold as report after report of crackdowns reached our in-boxes. While the future looked grim and uncertain, the intentions of the government were very clear. Worship services were interrupted. National service consignees belonging to “unregistered” groups had their Bibles confiscated and burnt and they were punished brutally. Those arrested were held in cramped and suffocating cells. What followed were torture, humiliation and starvation. It became the experience of many thousands of believers. We know of at least 16 who have died as a result of the conditions.

Since those early days I have had to read, digest and write countless reports on what was happening to my spiritual family in Eritrea. I have met many believers who told me hair-raising stories of suffering. The brutality of it all was hard for me to grasp.
But to a certain degree, I was perplexed even more by the response of the Christians who lived to tell me their tale. Where I expected anger, hatred and extreme criticism in response to their suffering, I most often heard love, forgiveness, grace and a desire for good to those who orchestrate such cruelty.

Recently an older man who seems to have seen it all told me his story. In a matter-of-fact manner he told me of all that has been done to him. The longer he spoke, the more despondent I got. I grew silent as he talked, struggling with a response in line with what I felt inside. He sensed that. There was a moment of silence. Then he shifted in his seat, dropped his grey head a little and said, “Anyway, we don’t pray for a replacement of our government. We pray for their salvation.”
The man then went on to list all the things we could do to help. Every point he gave, started with, “Pray for...” Like so many times in the past, it dawned on me. The least we can do to help, is the best we can do to help. Prayer is what our brothers and sisters in Eritrea crave for, ask for and thank us for most.

Prayer is what LovEritrea is all about. There is much we could ask you to do. But what we want to ask you most urgently is to join us in prayer.

Visit our website http://www.loveritrea.org/ to stay in the loop.

Follow us on twitter @LoveEritrea for updated prayer info and spread the word by “liking” us on Facebook Lov Eritrea.

You will be helping more than you realize.