Isaac*

Today we met with Isaac (not his real name). Isaac is a refugee living in Medan. He has been here seven years awaiting sponsorship to his desired country – Canada. He was away from his home two years prior to arriving in Indonesia. He left a wife behind in his home country, a country where Christians are actively persecuted and killed. He fled because his life was in danger. He has a daughter he has never seen in person. He dreams of reaching Canada and being able to bring them to be with him as a family again.

He shared about the difficulties of being a Christian, about the goodness of God in sustaining him. About depression and the physical afflictions that it brings, such as digestive issues and radical weight loss. He shares about his love for Jesus and his commitment to his faith regardless of the massive costs this faith has demanded.

Isaac is a gentle, soft-spoken man. I can barely hear him and constantly edge my chair closer to hear him as he speaks. He talks about his love for dogs, something his Muslim upbringing disapproved of. Our dog, Kahlua, can tell he’s a dog person and fawns over him almost non-stop. He smiles, running his hands through her black coat of hair as he speaks. He invites us to attend the small house church where some of the other Christian refugees from his country gather.

Refugees in Indonesia are not permitted to take jobs or attend school. But Indonesia takes in refugees that other nations aren’t willing to. Many risk their lives to reach Indonesia, in hopes of eventually finding sponsors in their desired countries. They have no idea how long that will take. They are provided a place to live and some level of basic support, but are constantly looking for ways to earn a little extra money. They try to learn useful skills – mechanic, handyman, barber – anything that might be of use.

We spend an hour together. We had prepared tea and a light snack but since his digestive issues are complex, he declined and we abstained. His story is tragic and yet despite his struggles he is not negative or depressing, his smile is ready and soft. His dark eyes glitter with hope and anticipation even as he deals with impatience and uncertainty.

It’s hard to imagine what he has suffered for Jesus. Hard to believe the hatred some people have towards Christians, but then that hatred has it’s source in Satan who willingly led Adam and Eve into temptation, knowing full-well the immense, immeasurable depths of pain and suffering it would cause through the generations. Our lives are so easy and rich compared with Isaac’s. And yet he does not disdain us. He’s grateful for the connection. Grateful to share a little of his story.

I conclude with prayer before he leaves. We pray for his health. For his family. We pray that he might receive a sponsor in Canada that will pave the way for his life to begin again along with his wife and daughter. We pray for the Holy Spirit’s continued work among the refugees here and throughout creation. And then he is gone. We know we’ll see him again. Probably in a few weeks when we can visit his house church. Hopefully as we seek to work with refugees here in Medan, sharing the love of Christ in acts of service and care. And certainly once our Lord returns or brings us to be with him before that time.

There is much to give thanks for. But also much work to be done. Pray for Isaac and his family. For families displaced and ripped apart around the world because of war, hatred, and any number of other evils. Pray that the Church continues to look after these people to the best of her ability, meaning through each one of her members, you and I.