Lita Sample
Field Personnel in San Francisco Bay Area, California
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child."
– Luke 2:1-6
I wrote this blessing based on my conversations with Afghan refugees. I can’t mention their names because of risk, but one of these refugees has become a believer and has hopes for others to come to know Jesus, too. I wrote this from his perspective.
A Blessing from a Refugee to Those Coming to America
My heart was heavy when I left my home country of Afghanistan to move to America.
I was hopeful that fleeing persecution into a free country would make me feel safe.
My family and I made this our home, and we learned the culture, the language and became part of community.
I found faith in Jesus, whom I realized I never knew. The church nurtured me as I grew in that faith.
We worked hard to become citizens and after we passed our test, we said the oath with pride.
Recently, we’ve seen others from our country who join us here out of necessity. They journey to our land because it offers protection and a new start.
They too left a familiar home and arrive with shock, overwhelmed.
But here, they begin their journey of trying to feel safe. However, today, their experience is different from mine.
These new refugees are filled with uncertainty as they are in a country that does not want them.
Where will they go if they must leave? What will they do? How will they survive yet another unfamiliar place?
My heart is heavy once again.
To them, I gently hand this blessing to be poured over them:
Where you are standing, in the dark place, filled with fear, you are not alone. I walk with you.
The uncertainty is always there no matter the circumstance, so with this, I pray for peace in the midst of this storm.
The longing to care for your family is one that I pray is strengthened in terrible times and that God will grant you wisdom.
When you feel frozen so that you don’t want to leave your house, I pray for a caring person who will bring you food and friendship.
I pray that the persecution that seems to be waiting in the shadows will be vanquished in the light of justice.
The believers in Jesus who stand with you are many. I pray that they, along with myself, will move to help the growing community who feel lost will feel safe once again.
And in the midst of all of this, I pray that you will come to know Jesus, whom I know. Because He is the one who will provide peace in the middle of war, hope in the middle of desperation, warmth in the midst of the coldness of your situation and love when all seems lost.
Jesus is my continued hope. I feel Him more now that circumstances seem hopeless, and He shows His goodness even though the world seems to take all goodness away. My hope is in Him knowing that one day, I along with others will finally find the joy and pure freedom of heaven.
I hope this for you too. This crisis is not the end but a means to hope in God who will carry all of us through to the end.
Pray...Give...Go.