MSF Refugee Camp (Keith's thoughts)

Darcie mentioned the makeshift truck that refugee kids would have played with; certainly not CSA approved, but at least as fun as any truck bought off the shelves of a local toy store.  The way children must be affected by being a refugee also struck me that day.  First, as Darcie said, the hope that is possible even in the darkest places.  Isaiah, our almost-three year old had a blast playing with the toy truck, and I imagine that any child, no matter where they were in the world, would enjoy it the same way.

What struck me next, though, was the challenges that refugee children must face.  I'm attaching some pictures drawn by refugee children, and they are not pictures for children.  I can't begin to imagine the experiences that would cause kids to draw these, nor would I ever want to experience what these children have.  It reminds me of the Bible stories like the flood, too real and tragic for children yet watered down as children's stories.  Refugee kids have all of the reality and tragedy without the luxury of having them watering down.  Thank God for the Love that says "Let the little children come to me."  I pray that this Love would reach the children that drew these pictures, wherever they are today.

MSF Refugee Camp (Darcie's thoughts)

Last weekend we, along with a group of our friends went downtown to check out the simulated refugee camp set up in Confederation Park by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).  The only thing lacking from what you would expect to see were the throngs of people, shelters stacked up one against another and garbage strewn about.  In about half an hour our guide (who had returned from Sri Lanka only two weeks prior) did a great job in helping us catch a glimpse of what a refugee may likely experience in their journey – from saying goodbye to loved ones at the border when guards only let some pass through, to walking for miles to a camp where they will hopefully find shelter,  to the waiting in line day after day; for food, water, the latrine, and medical attention and hopefully for the day when they can return home.  Something I didn’t expect was to feel joy bubble up in my heart  when I saw little toy trucks made out of tin cans sitting outside the rapidly erected shelters – a testament to the indomitable spirit of children – of hope in that place.  The Kingdom belongs to such as these.