"Your enemy is not the refugee. Your enemy is the one who made him a refugee"
--- Tariq Ramadan (Swiss Muslim academic, philosopher, & writer; 1962 - Present)
People are people. Period. Whether we recognize it or not, everybody is going through something. Everybody needs help. And everyone is a child of God. We may not be able to remove every hardship, but we can and must love.
**NOTE: If you wish to get in contact with missionaries of the Church to learn more, you can do so at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/missionary-visit
Click to Navigate (Table of Contents):
THE HOSTEL
When you have nothing but a wrinkled roadmap and your intuition, it's easy to lose your sense of direction. In your daily travels on foot, you loop around so many streets, that you don't realize there's a faster, more direct path to get somewhere. Well, where this story takes place was much closer than it felt. In fact, it was a mere 1000 feet down the street from our house, something that I didn't know at the time. Three blocks down and a turn and you're there, not that that was the route we took when we discovered it. Despite how close it was, we only stumbled upon it once in the 4 months that I was in Riveras. What we found there, so close to home, was the last thing I'd expected to find.
It was September 2, 2015. Elder Scott and I had plans to pop by the Mission Offices down the street just before lunch so we decide to spend the morning nearby. We come upon a big white house with a long gated dirt driveway and a large grassy front yard. It was quite a difference from the quainter homes in the vicinities but you can't judge a book on its cover. We both look at each other as if to say, “Why not?”. I don’t expect to be invited in but having nothing to lose, we knock on the gate to try our luck. A man comes out to investigate who we are in fluent English and immediately, I'm a bit cautiously (See "Tongue of Angels"; as a matter of fact, this other story was just down the street). Usually, not a good sign since a lot of gang members typically knew English. His initial expression was a cross between stern and confused as he slowly approached the gate. We respond in English that we're representatives of Jesus Christ and we had a gospel message we wanted to share. Realizing our intentions, his attitude towards us suddenly shifts to warmth and excitement and he says, “Oh, I have some people inside who might want to listen to you”. At first, I assumed he talked of his family but the way he phrased it made it sound like he had guests over. Either way, we were very happy to be invited inside since that kind of welcome didn't happen every day.
We go inside and the first thing we see is a few cheap mattresses about the floor, an old box of a TV set (rabbit antenna and all), a recycled sofa, and people. Many people. Swarming and shimmying sideways in order to pass each other going every which direction. We walk over to the room to my right which is slightly more spacious and I see another couple of mattresses, and men resting, many on the hard concrete floor, not really doing much. Different shapes and sizes of men, including a redhead among the handful of Caucasians, not just Mexicans, most each one of them revealed to be from a different nation, all quiet, each to his own.
As they invite us in, we instantly realize we are in a refugee house for illegal immigrants trying to cross the border. Elder Scott called it a hostel, which is a type of temporary lodging, but both my family and I mistook him to say “hostile”. Big difference. They were the furthest thing from hostile.
Now I'm thinking, “Oops! We probably shouldn’t be here...but we're already here so let’s do what we said we would and teach a quick gospel lesson before we leave". We had an audience. And we were graciously given the floor. The man asked everyone in the room to give us their full attention and there we were. Like a classroom of kindergarteners, but with fully grown men on the floor. What a unique opportunity to teach a sizable gathering of diverse international gentlemen, and who had nothing but time to listen! Who knew if they’d ever get the chance to hear our message again?! That's how I always felt. If we were their one opportunity in this life, then so be it. God put them in our paths so we treated them like anyone else.
It was like we were placed on a circular stage, our eye line looking down to theirs looking back up at us. It was a little intimidating at first, to be honest. Not in a scary way, but because we were two gringos trying to communicate in Spanish that could be understandable to all of them, as diverse as their nationalities were. Nonetheless, I give it a go and I teach the Restoration lesson in its entirety (See "Apostasy & Restoration"). No interruptions. Nobody nodding off. Their attention is fixed on us and as we’re testifying and looking into one another’s eyes, the spirit fills the room. It was wonderful! I don't even think my friends and family have ever given me the kind of attentiveness that they gave me then, looking me in the eyes with such humility. Them not judging me, nor I judging them. It was one of the most powerful lessons I ever had in those two years in Mexico as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Very quickly, my fears were replaced by calm.
We end up leaving two copies of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ with them to share (since that’s all we had on us in our backpacks). So they don't have to wait to get a turn at the books, or if they don't know how to read, I ask the man running the place to read them out loud for anybody passing through, to which he agrees. I can only imagine the good those books might still be serving to this day to who knows how many travelers from however many countries.
YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME
I felt something for those hopeful refugees. I saw it in their eyes that they were good people. I don't approve of the way these men were approaching emigration but understand that many of them were mainly trying to escape from terrible things, dangers to their lives, willing to do anything to give their family a chance or to make a better life for themselves with next to nothing to their name and not a friend within a thousand miles. To put myself in their shoes, I'd be terrified! When we try to see things the way others do, we become more compassionate people. You can't tell me that God isn't a compassionate God!
The refugee situation isn't a new one, but it's one that has only worsened as political unrest continues to rage on all over the globe. I know people who have negative attitudes towards refugees or emigration for one reason or another, usually socioeconomic politics, but I think we would do well to digest what Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss Muslim academic, philosopher, and poet once said, "Your enemy is not the refugee. Your enemy is the one who made him a refugee". Before judging anyone for anything in life, we should take a step back and acknowledge that we aren't always in control of life's circumstances.
My life isn't without its trials, but when I think of how much harder others have it, I can’t help but think of Esmeralda’s sentiment in her selfless prayer “God Help the Outcasts” in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. In part, while speaking to God, it says:
“Yes, I know I'm just an outcast
I shouldn't speak to You
Still, I see Your face and wonder
Were You once an outcast too?
God help the outcasts
Hungry from birth
Show them the mercy
They don't find on earth
God help my people
We look to You still
God help the outcasts
Or nobody will
I ask for nothing
I can get by
But I know so many
Less lucky than I
Please help my people
The poor and downtrod
I thought we all were
The children of God”
Said the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58; Matt. 8:20). Apparently, the Creator of heaven and earth “and all things that in them are” (2 Nephi 2:14; 3 Nephi 9:15) was, at least in His adult life, homeless.
His ministry was one of selflessness and love and mercy. He lived His life in service to others, especially the lowly and downtrod whom others often overlooked. And He asks us to do likewise. Said He of those who will inherit His kingdom:
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.” (Matt. 25:35-36).
And the righteous will ask when they did such things: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Vs. 37-40)
A great part of the Lord’s mission was to bless the needy, “… to preach the gospel to the poor… to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives… to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). This remains an enormous mission that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shares today. And there is no shortage of people needy, poor, captive, brokenhearted, and bruised people in the world.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ teaches, “If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted…behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith” (Alma 34:28). Faith without action is incomplete. What is faith if not belief in action? The overall arching theme and command here is the greatest of all, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:39). Each of us should seek personal inspiration on how to best care for those around us; these ways don’t always have to be purely financial in nature and usually aren't. Simple acts of kindness go a long way.
In regards to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' stance on refugees, the church handbook succinctly says:
"Many people have fled their homes seeking relief from violence, war, religious persecution, and life-threatening situations. As part of their responsibility to care for those in need (Mosiah 4:26), Church members offer their time, talents, and friendship to welcome refugees as members of their communities. See Matthew 25:35; ChurchofJesusChrist.org/refugees."
It's also worth mentioning that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has for many years been thoroughly involved in all sorts of humanitarian aid and partnered with all sorts of organizations and individuals. Since 1985, Latter-day Saint Charities and its affiliates have provided over $2.5 billion worth of assistance in 199 countries and territories irrespective of religion or anything else. Many of these resources are made possible through volunteers around the world, as well as generous donations made through what is called "Fast Offerings" (See "Fast"). This branch of the Church that deals with humanitarian aid is called "Latter-Day Saint Charities" which deals with almost everything you could imagine, from emergency response, to clean water, to food and other health initiatives, and so forth with an ultimate goal to help others attain self-sufficiency. You can learn more about these efforts at https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services.
I don't mean to boast of the Church's humanitarian efforts, but time and time again, they have been such a source of inspiration to many that I would feel amiss to not make others aware of these efforts and to perhaps point them in the same direction. We don't serve to be put in any spotlights of recognition or praise. We serve because it's what God asks of us, and in so doing, we glorify Jesus Christ, whom we strive to be good representatives of.
I understand that what the men I met were doing was illegal and in no way condone their approach, but I saw them first as children of God. I saw them as husbands, fathers, and sons. What if one of them was your husband, your dad, your brother or son, your brother-in-law, etc? They were lonely as I was, far from home and loved ones. I felt for them like my own family. I don’t care who you are, the world can be a scary place, especially where we were on the Mexican Border, but that house was a refuge, a place to set aside differences and judgment and to just rest a while. Forget what they were doing for a moment and place yourself in their desperate shoes, not knowing what would happen to you from one day to the next, surrounded by greater threats and evils than you could imagine as you're reading this from your comfy home. It's been said many times, “Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his shoes”. I would never condone breaking the law but neither am I a judge or jury of souls. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. (John 8:7)
A CIRCLE
Before Elder Scott and I leave to head to the Mission Offices, I offer to leave them with a prayer. Hearing this offer, these ten or so men, without being asked, all immediately stand up and quietly fold their arms or do some variation of movement in preparation for prayer whether it was kneeling, bowing, clasping their hands, or so forth. Their humility was so moving! Because they're all doing different things, I go ahead and explain how we like to pray and they follow suit silently listening (See "Prayers"). Although they were strangers in a strange circumstance, and we only spent less than an hour with them, I felt like I’d known them forever. And I felt a deep love for them and a hope for them that life would work out for the best. Some people are just dealt a bad hand.
But before we prayed, the man in charge asked us to pray for one specific thing. Of all the things they could have asked for, they asked that I evoke blessings upon all who struggle in this world, not just them. I repeat. They asked we pray for everyone else! How selfless is that?! I felt powerful in that prayer and confident; my tongue was like a jet engine as I prayed to God on their behalf, and the behalf of all others in this world. It was awesome how fluid it all seemed. I prayed for their families and for their safety. And I prayed that they might find the best way to go about their lives.
Although Elder Scott and I agreed that it would be best not to go back there, I wished them the best in my heart.
We finished exactly on time for the appointment at the Mission Offices right after, a couple of blocks down the road. As I sat there waiting for Elder Scott to do his thing, I looked at a painting hung by the front door. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen this print of Carl Bloch’s original (I'd seen the large original which was painted in 1877 when it was on display at BYU), but as I stared this time at it, I had a new perspective. It was a painting of Jesus teaching the multitude what has come to be known as the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matt. 5-7). He was in the midst of them as they gathered around, listening attentively to what He had to say. As I stared at that painting, it was like I'd seen it recently, been there recently. Suddenly, it clicked. Elder Scott and I just gave our "Sermon on the Mount" so to speak. This just happened within the hour!
That painting was like a mirror. The second image below, a screenshot from one of the Church's Bible Videos, is even more mimetic of what the hostel scene looked like. The parallel was meaningful to me, to say the least. It wasn't a revelation that anyone pointed out to me. It was the Holy Ghost opening my eyes. If you ask me, that's the great quest of life --- to see ourselves become more and more Christ-like and to even see others as He sees them. (See "Attributes of Christ", "See Others As They May Become", and "Eternal Life: As God Is")
Comments