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This morning started dark and early as the Muslim Call to Pray was announced in Arabic over the loudspeaker from the mosque just across the way at 4am. I am told the morning call to pray is translated, “Wake up! Wake up! It is better to pray than to sleep so wake up!” Since I was up, I found myself wandering around the tall, cold and half-completed concrete building of the church. Upon entering the roof, I was in a great position to watch an amazing sunrise over the Jordanian landscape. Just before the sun peaked over the horizon, a slight sprinkle began to fall, which created this full, vibrant rainbow behind me in the western sky.
My view of what a refugee is has been changing. We are visiting Syrian people who are normal people who had to leave their homes and jobs because of the war. We met with a lawyer, a carpenter and a guy who used to work at a candy factory. They just want to go home, but they realize home does not exist anymore.
We have found an ingrained sense of community here. All the people live in family groups with lots of support and help from the people around. They are always very welcoming with opens arms and a kiss on the cheek, while greeting us with a smile.
We sit, listen and enjoy hot, sweet tea from the Syrian people. I have found them to be very expressive and smile genuinely.
We get to ask questions through the translator. I often ask about what life was like before they came and why they are here. The stories are heartbreaking and remind me of how the conflict in Syria shows the evil and sinfulness of man. To them, there is no hope. They are living in Jordan where is it illegal to work. So they sit, waiting and hoping things will change and they can go back to their homes in Syria. But they know that is not going to happen because their homes are gone, and there appears to be no end to the war in Syria. So they sit here with no money, no real place to stay and only their family.
So we sit with them and listen to them, sharing genuine concern for their well-being.
Moments like these change our perspectives very quickly. So God, let these moments change my heart to yours.
- Brian Ross