A letter from Ryan and Alethia White serving in Germany
Advent 2014 - Seeking Refuge
Luke 2:4-7: Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to ... Bethlehem ... with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Stress—and a Respite
Muhammad was an Afghani man sharing how he had arrived in Athens, Greece. He first traveled from Afghanistan to Iran, from there to Turkey, and then to Athens. Many of the refugees sitting around the circle at a recent conference organized by the Iranian Presbyterian Church in Berlin shared similar stories of traveling thousands of miles through different countries before arriving in Greece. But for many their travels were not finished.
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Ryan speaking during the morning worship at the October conference
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Kids playing at the hotel in Greece during the October conference
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Mural on the Berlin Wall showing crowds passing through
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Ariella enjoying a Persian rice dish at a favorite restaurant
The Greek economy has been struggling for many years, along with other southern European countries. These are also the same countries where many refugees arrive, seeking to begin a new life. But, like Jesus, they are finding there is no room for them. Greece and other countries do not have the resources to support the wave of immigrants arriving. As a result we heard reports that many new refugees have nowhere to stay, so they sleep in parks or on the streets.
Ali shared that he traveled from Iran to Turkey, where he was held in a detention camp for 14 months. Then he was able to travel to Greece, where he was in a camp for 4 months before receiving paperwork allowing him to stay in Greece. Some refugees have spent thousands of dollars paying people to transport them to a new country. But after their costly travels, they often find themselves in desperate situations with uncertainty about the future. Despite the experiences that many of the people have had, they still hold a hope for a better life. And many expressed their hope based on Jesus and God's faithfulness to them.
The goal of the conference was to offer these refugees a small respite from the stressful life of immigration along with teaching sessions from the Bible. One woman shared that this was the first time she and her husband stayed in a hotel in over 30 years of marriage. Many of the participants reflected on the peacefulness and joy they received from being able to attend the conference.
After the conference some refugees shared that they were so moved by the hospitality and generosity they received that they wanted to do the same for other refugees in Athens. When we left, the appreciation was evident in their faces and parting words. Please join us in praying that the message they heard will continue to take root and for the ongoing immigration process for many.
A Symbol of Freedom
On November 9 Berlin remembered the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago. For millions the Berlin Wall stood as a symbol of division, a barrier that prohibited freedom of movement. Not only did the Berlin Wall divide the city of Berlin, but it stood as the division between two political ideologies, democracy and communism. It divided families and made people feel imprisoned in their own country. The fall of the Berlin Wall allowed for freedom of movement and opened up two different worlds. It no longer stood as a dividing barrier; now crumbled, it signaled freedom.
As we live in this once divided city we are mindful of its history and celebrate with Germans the freedom now enjoyed. We are also mindful that just as West Berlin was seen as a refuge and sanctuary from the East, for many refugees Germany is now their hope for sanctuary. For some this hope is actualized as they receive permission to stay in Germany, but for others they receive letters of rejection because there is no room.
Rejection
After working with a culture where hospitality is so integral to daily life, the story of Mary and Joseph traveling such a long journey and finding no place to stay has taken on a new meaning. There was Mary, so pregnant that she would deliver the baby soon after they arrived in Bethlehem, being turned away from all the places they sought accommodation. It seems unthinkable since this was such a deep breach of the hospitality ethic. It was not just a couple being rejected, but a pregnant woman and her baby. The only place offered to them was the stable where animals slept. As Jesus was being born he was rejected by the world, only finding refuge with a host of lowly animals. The birth narrative is filled with so much foreshadowing of Jesus' later life as his rejection by society became a major element. For the refugees we work with this is a central theme for them as well. Where will they finally find refuge and be shown hospitality?
Our hearts break every time we hear of people receiving deportation documents, and it is difficult to know how to pray in these situations. We long for them to have stability and a peaceful place to live. Ideally they would not feel forced to leave their countries to find these things in the first place. Our prayer for those we interact with is that they would know God's love and hospitality no matter how long our time may be together.
As the year comes to an end, we reflect back on the relationships built here in Berlin and with those of you in the U.S.A. We are deeply thankful for your prayer and support for us who in turn extend God’s hospitality to people here in Berlin. Please continue on this journey with us. We covet your prayers, correspondence with us, and financial commitment to this ministry even as we offer up prayers of peace for you and for all those who find no room.
In Advent waiting,
Ryan, Alethia, and Ariella
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 312
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 328
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