On January 28th I excitedly emailed the folks on our Syrian Refugee Team to say, “We’ve been matched.” That was January 28th. It is now April 7th. That means 70 days have passed. 70 days may not seem like much when you are busy with the day-to-day but when you are living in a room with your wife and infant daughter waiting to get word that you can be interviewed to come to Canada, it is beyond forever.
I am in regular email contact with the family we have been matched with. At first the excitement coming in the emails was palpable. He keenly read the Bracebridge web page and our Syrian Refuge Webpage. He said in one email, “I am already there in my heart.” When his emails slowed down I wrote to make sure he was okay. He said, “I am trying not to think about Canada. It just makes me tired.” His last email spoke of his frustration and anger. He said, “Life for us is very hard.”
My heart aches for them and, while grateful for all our government has done to welcome refugees, I am feeling very frustrated at what now feels slower than a snail’s crawl to bring in the families. Did the first piece of work just make for a great photo-op? I hate to sound so jaded and suspicious but I am really worried for the safety of so many refugees who were given hope and now find them selves stuck in red-tape limbo while their sponsoring families sit here with accommodation, furnishings and dreams all stored and ready for these new Canadians.
We are doing what we can. This weekend we will start a letter-campaign to the government but it seems like such a feeble effort against the struggle and terror that so many refugees are facing. So I find myself praying for them, praying at anytime of the day or night, praying that they will be safe, praying that they will be granted travel documents soon, praying that before too long we will meet them face-to-face. Will you pray with me? Please?
