The last month or so has thrown up a number of difficult situations for some of the refugees we know. People reaching the end of the line in terms of appeals and facing deportation, lack of progress for others, disappointing news on visas....but finally today some good news.

M is from North Africa. She came to the UK four years ago with her husband and one child. A second child was born here. Through a sad set of circumstances, they had come to a situation where M and the children had residency but her husband was undocumented. She lives at the other end of the city, but she travelled to one of the drop-ins after a recommendation from another lady from her home country. We helped her with a couple of things, particularly drafting a letter setting out her plea to the Home Office to regularise her husband's status. She has just telephoned me to tell me that her husband received residence papers this morning! Alhamdulilah! (Praise God!) Finally, this young family can live together without the fear of being separated or deported. Right now, she is so relieved that she cannot find the words. She thanked us for all the help and promised to come and see us again soon. Finally, she told me that she will always remember us and will pray for God's blessing in our lives.

We're delighted to have been able to help in a small way and for it to have been such a good outcome. But I'm also struck by how this lady came to the church for help. She was nervous to share the details with too many people, particularly others from within the Muslim and North African communities, but she recognised the church as a place where the workers could be trusted. She came on the recommendation of another lady who has found the church to be a place of friendship, love and concern. It feels like she tasted a little of the Kingdom of Heaven and hopefully she'll be hungry for more.