Get Up!
BLOGGED BY SHANNON ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33
Our first week back to plunge after Cambodia and holidays, half of us visited Villawood detention centre, while the other half visited Lakemba Mosque. My group went to Villawood. Before this year all I had heard about asylum seekers in Australia were the phrases on Political campaign ads, (“we will stop the boats!”) careless opinions thrown about by people who don’t really know what they’re talking about, and clips of footage from a storm on Christmas Island. To say the least, I had no idea about the extent of injustice that goes on in our country every day.
When we arrived we were briefed on some of the security issues that we might come up against when entering the detention centre. Serco, the company that runs the centre (not a government agency), for no apparent reason, can be quite selective in who they allow to come into the centre. We went in two groups of six, but were only allowed in at separate times so we spent about half an hour actually with the people. The centre felt more like a prison than Juniperina had, and these people weren’t criminals or anything of the sort.
Once we were inside it was an incredible experience to be able to talk with some of the men there. We shared tea and heard some stories, a few that were awfully sad, and some that were filled with hope. A man had just received refugee status that day and expected to be released about a month later. It didn’t take us long to realize that these people weren’t in our country to steal our jobs, or our land but were here because they are running for their lives. Considering the situations they’ve come from, they are prepared to work hard and earn their own living.
I believe that as Christians it’s actually our calling to love these people. I've learnt that the most effective way we can do this is with our voice. As Australian citizens we can write letters, sign petitions, tell people, spread the spirit of love through our population that we might truly love our neighbours. One small way you can start is to add your name to this petition: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/refugees/broken-detention-system/
I encourage you to research it, and find a way to join the cause for change.
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:5-8
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