These individuals get a short visa in Thailand to see if they can gain 'refugee' status. Once they gain refugee status from the United Nations it can take years to find a third country to accept them for resettlement. However, at any point in this process, if they run out of visa time, they cannot proceed to a new country... they cannot return home... and are illegally staying in Thailand. They remain in constant fear of being arrested and placed in an Immigration Detention Center - which is a jail with all that this entails. Check out detail about the IDC here: Jesuit Ministry at IDC
Husbands padlock their apartments when they leave to make it appear as if noone is home. None of them can legally work and gain sustenance for their families. Some of our friends here have a long-standing ministry among them. We delivered food parcels and special Christmas chicken to the small number of families we are able to assist.
It reminds me of another set of refugees fleeing persecution. The father's name was Joseph, his wife Mary, and their newborn son, Jesus. They had already fallen on hard times, unable to find somewhere to stay when their son was born, and this seemed just the beginning as the persecution continued and they had to flee to Egypt. A family displaced and in need of assistance. A child forced to flee with his family. When you see it up-close, it really breaks your heart. The uncertainty and the fear the permeates conversations and requests for prayer. The questions... When will this be over? Will they find us today? or tonight? Will we ever find a home again? Is God able to help us?
We met a young Christian and got a chance to answer many questions about Jesus... and we had opportunities to pray with many in the name of Jesus.
Refugees at Christmas... in need of prayer and God's intervention. Can you lift these and other refugees up to the Lord this Christmas? What would God have you do to help the least of these?