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Meseret's Story... MESERET'S STORYI was moved by a commercial that debuted during the Olympic Games this past February. The scene is heartwarming – a husband at the airport, coffee in hand, waiting to welcome his wife and children to Canada. He has thought of everything – the children’s rooms in the apartment are decorated, and he has brought coats, mittens, scarves and boots for each one to endure the cold snowy winter. It is everything they need to start a new life in Canada. But this is not reality for refugees who arrive in Canada. They come with nothing – only their lives. Meseret Lema was one of those people. (To protect Meseret, I have changed her name.) Like so many others, she arrived in Canada unprepared, bare-handed, with nowhere to go. An Eritrean from Ethiopia, she had only heard that Canada would be safe. So little time had passed from the day Meseret opened the door and saw the police. She was terrified. She knew tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia were escalating – but she never expected the horrifying evacuation. With only the clothes on their backs, Meseret and her young son and daughter ran. They had absolutely nothing. It broke her heart to hear the cries of her starving children. They had no place to rest as they as journeyed to the border – so Meseret and her children slept on the ground. After many days of walking they finally arrived in Eritrea. Meseret hoped it would be a safe place to build a new life for her young children. But it wasn’t safe. Meseret was horrified at what she found in Eritrea. Christians were being imprisoned and tortured by the government. Many disappeared and were never heard from again. Churches were burned to the ground. Meseret, an ardent believer, knew she couldn’t hide forever. Their lives were still in danger. Soon Meseret’s own church was targeted. "The Eritrean Army forced us out of our church during our worship and started beating us with guns and plastic sticks... They burned our bibles and written articles." Meseret barely escaped. Scared for their lives, she and her children fled the country and went into hiding in Sudan. With the help of some friends they made their way to Canada. While every refugee claimant family is unique, one thing remains true – they have all escaped from great danger. They simply cannot stay in their homes. They seek only safety and peace. But escape is only the beginning of a long and difficult journey. Families like Meseret’s arrive in Canada with bare, empty hands. At such a vulnerable time, the unknown customs, language and even the cold weather of Canada can seem like insurmountable obstacles. For newcomers, the complex paperwork of the refugee claimant process is nearly impossible to deal with. We reached out to Meseret and her family. Our volunteers helped her find a place to stay, food, clothing and furniture. And she was able to connect to a local church to practice her faith in safety. So many people have rallied around her and her family. Meseret is so thankful for the support she has received. “I was very fortunate. Canada is safe and I can practice my faith here. My children are safe now and they can get a good education... when I was in Eritrea I never thought of this because I never felt it was possible,” she says. Story by, Eunice Valenzuala P.S. So many refugee claimants like Meseret are persecuted for their faith. They come to us seeking safety and support. MCRS helps these people through the difficult process of building a new life in Canada. Your financial gifts and prayers make this work possible. To donate, please visit our website at: mcrs.ca/donate. |