The Friday Football club has really picked up. We’ve moved up from five-a-side to a much more crowded six-a-side with subs. When I first started organising football, the guys were almost a bit too polite. They were quite clearly holding back, not really challenging opponents for the ball.

Well, that has changed. Everyone has become quite comfortable and now the guys playing at full pelt. Two weeks ago fights nearly broke out. It wasn’t helped by the rain, which makes the astroturf unbelievably slippy. A couple of the older guys with families (who feel the pain of failing a bit more than the guys in their late teens) don’t really want to risk getting injured, so they said that they would stop coming if football became anymore physical. I suppose this was inevitable when you mix about eight different nationalities and age differences of up to 20 years in a fast paced and physical sport.

So, I decided to appoint a referee. An Iranian friend (actually, he refereed for a club in Iran -- good to have experience on our side) and I decided to split the duties. I admit that I did this with some trepidation, as I wasn’t sure how the guys would react. Thankfully, it all went very well. Though there was some hargy-bargy over the validity of some of my calls, the addition of a ref went down very well. It clamed down the atmosphere a bit and everybody enjoyed themselves. It’s also good news for my volunteers, who quite often take a few knocks!

Another great thing about our weekly meeting for football is that we’re starting to become known by the staff and others who regularly use Petershill Park. I suppose that we’re a bit of an oddity; a guy in the locker room told me the other day, "Scots, Americans, Palestinians, and Afghans playing football together? Can’t say that’s normal in Springburn." The fact that we have a mix of Celtic and Rangers tops in the mix also confuses the issue for some. It becomes a great opportunity to share and a practical expression that integration, though not always easy, is definitely possible and that the church is at the forefront.

Last week I again visited the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). I visit with an established charity; it’s a fascinating group of volunteers that visit... I suppose that the prospect of visiting people you don’t know who are in a prison (who may have made bad decisions that have landed them there) that’s an hour outside the city does not have universal appeal. So I’ve met some fascinating people – detainees as well as fellow visitors – in the past 5 months of visiting.

The more I have an opportunity to visit detainees at Dungavel, the more important I think it is. Most of the detainees have little hope, they have reached the end of the road, and are usually wrestling with regret over poor choices. Many of the detainees have only seen Scotland over the barbed wired wall that surrounds Dungavel – generally speaking, most of the detainees have been moved up from England, while those detained for immigration related issues in Scoland are moved down to IRCs in England. So isolation is a major problem. Having somebody from the “outside” helps the detainees to feel more connected to the world and it allows them to share their feelings with those who are not experiencing the same stresses. I have been told many times that the visits to Dungavel are the highlight of the week, a lifeline. Quite often we can only visit 12 detainees, and 24 have requested visits!

While I believe that there are cases of unjust detention, I do not want to come across as suggesting that detention is unnecessary or that everybody in Dungavel does not deserve to be there in some capacity (however, I do believe that the current trend of indefinite detention is harmful and a waste of resources; read the compelling reports on http://www.detainedlives.org/).

Jesus’ famous words about the marginalised, “...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (Mat 25:35-36)” is not qualified by “but, really, only do this the poor who haven’t made any mistakes.” Unsurprisingly, there is an implied element of risky grace in Christ’s words, which disconcert and challenge me to address the plank in our eye before I judge, to leave my stones on the ground as one who has also sinned.

Sometimes at Dungavel, I am tempted to be overly judgemental about some of the detainees, or choose to visit those who have much more clear-cut cases. Yet, it is perhaps the most difficult who most need a visit. It is easy to have an idealised opinion of the marginalised; yes, we must be wise in our dealings, but grace by definition is something that is undeserved. During my last visit I met with a man who wanted to visit family, so he used forged documents… yes, a unwise decision, but the pain he is experiencing being estranged from his wife and son is real and must be addressed with compassion. Jesus never advocated an attitude of “just deserts”. Many times, the visitors cannot offer anything more than a listening ear and acting as a tangible connection the world beyond the 25ft walls of the IRC, but as Gustavo Gutiérrez commented about ministry to the marginalised, that there is “importance of gestures and ways of ‘being with’ that some may regard as having little political effectiveness.”

Hi there,

As you can see, there have been some serious changes to the blog. It had been the same format for a year, so I thought that I’d try something different for a while. The new banner is of a photo I took of the Balgray Towers this past winter, looking over the shell of the old botanic gardens in Springburn park.

We’ve been on- and off-line today a number of times, but I’m pretty pleased with the results. There are a few things that should be tidied up, but now I need to head off to bed. All in good time!

Let me know your thoughts on the new layout.

Paul

"Andrew" was released from hospital on Thursday. The medical team had used Wednesday to run some pretty intensive tests to make sure there wasn't a more serious underlying condition. He said he looked like something from a science fiction film as they wired up his head to monitor his brain patterns.
He was grateful to be "free", as he put it on Thursday, though tired from the tests and a little nervous in case he might have another episode of unconsciousness. He lives alone, but there were friends calling in with him to ensure he was ok and had company. We also restocked his kitchen so that he would not need to worry about getting some food in.
The Home Office requires Andrew to sign on at their Glasgow branch every Tuesday. Realising that he would miss his appointment last week, he arranged for the hospital to fax them and confirm that he was an in-patient and was not well enough to be discharged. His solicitor was also informed. Despite this, the Home Office saw fit to send him a threatening letter informing him that his non-attendance renders him liable to detention and a fine of £4000 (Andrew is entirely dependent on just over £40 per week provided by Asylum Support). Quite a welcome home. The doctors had just given him thirty minutes of advice about managing stress and immediately his thoughts were turned to what he might face next Tuesday when he returns to the Home Office.
Thanks for your prayers for Andrew. He is very grateful for all the concern that Christian brothers and sisters have shown for him. Please continue to pray that he would soon receive permission to stay in the UK and be able to build a life here and that the Home Office staff would treat him sympathethically next week.

Please pray for our friend "Andrew", a believer from Cameroon. He’s a committed volunteer at the St. Rollox Asylum Seeker Support Project, he acted as one of the disciples in the Glasgow Passion Play, and is a well loved member of the weekly football club (his skills would put you in mind of Thierry Henry).

Last week, while walking home, he blacked out and collapsed in the street. When he regained consciousness in the Royal Infirmary, he could not speak or move the right side of his body. He was understandably terrified by the ordeal. Andrew was able to contact me on my mobile and I visited him in the hospital. He had taken a CAT scan which yielded no results as to the severity of his condition. Though he was now able to speak clearly, he was still having difficult moving his right leg.

Emma and I visited him yesterday and his condition had improved. His right leg was fine and the MRI scan was clear. The doctors are going to discharge him from the hospital tomorrow, believing that he has fully recovered. Though the reason behind Andrew’s ordeal remains a mystery, the doctors believe that it was a combination of a sinus problem and high stress.

Praise God that he has recovered, but continue to pray for his health and emotional state (his GP has been contacted about the issue and Andrew’s health will be monitored). This is the second time that something has happened to him unexpectedly: not long after he first arrived in Glasgow, he was stabbed in the back in a random attack by a mentally ill person. This clearly knocked his confidence and recent events will add to his stress. Please remember him in your prayers.

- Paul

One of the major concerns of indigenous residents of our area is that immigrants (and asylum seekers in particular) are unfairly biased when housing is allocated. When I mention to some local people about my job, one of the common complaints I usually hear something about "all of them coming over here and taking up our housing". It’s a serious concern for many people and serves as a source of tension in between the communities.

I rode my bike down to the supermarket last night for some milk. Eight months ago, this would’ve been a quick 5-minute errand. Not so anymore, I was there for half an hour. It seems almost impossible to go into the local Tesco supermarket without bumping into somebody that we know (especially in the evening when perishables are reduced). Many of the people we bump into regularly are from Middle Eastern cultures, so there is a round of niceties that must precede the conversation (e.g. how is your family? Are your mother and father ok? How is your cousin? Is your second cousin’s child doing well?). It takes time.

This is not a complaint, it’s great to feel that we are now part of the community and recognised here. It’s one of the main reasons we decided to live where the refugees are housed. Shared experience fosters relationship.

There is a cost in living in community. It means the loss of the urban anonymity to which many of us have become accustomed. Theoretically, I believe this is a good thing, but it’s not always easy. There is minor inconvenience of just trying to “nip to the shop” for a pint of milk when you’re in a hurry and getting stuck there for 30 minutes. But more critically, it’s harder to maintain a façade in community.

I have learned that one of the guys who regularly attends the project has a gambling addiction. If I meet him in Tesco, he is initially embarrassed then encourages me to dissuade him from playing the lotto. He knows it is wrong, but needs the accountability of others to actually keep him from buying the tickets. This is one of the easier issues. Sometimes I’ll catch somebody doing something they shouldn’t, but then follows an implied request: “don’t tell my family”. Personally, it means that I must be more careful about how I react to things: what do I do when somebody jumps the queue at the shop? How do I treat the bus driver when he refuses to give me change for my ticket? What do I mutter when the train is cancelled?

A wonderful aspect of living in the local community is we have the opportunity to show how our words are backed up by how we live. On the other hand, it’s a great responsibility as you open yourself and others to accountability.

The first rays of sunlight start to appear at 5:30 in the morning and it begins to get dark an hour from midnight – a sure sign summer has arrived in Scotland.

Today is the last day of school, so the projects at St. Rollox and Tron St. Mary’s have closed for the summer. Because the children are off on holiday and the crèche (linked to the school system) is closed, the volunteers would have trouble giving time to the project in the absence of childcare.

So on the surface, it looks like our schedule will be much more flexible for the next two months, but this doesn’t mean that we will be any less busy! Now that we have two more days free in the week, it means that we will be able to make time for some projects that we did not have time for otherwise. I will begin work on getting a “Life in the UK Test” study course written up and approved. I will also have time to look at ways to expand and deepen the Men’s Ministry by making more volunteer contacts and looking at potential funding opportunities. We will be making time for networking with local, as well as national, organisations (in other words, chasing up some of the contacts we made at the Churches Refugee Network conference – see the post from 8 June). So I will finally be making proper use of my office space at Bishopbriggs. The new flexibility in our schedule also means that we will be able to fit in more family visits: in other words, engaging in the hospitality that is at the core of our ministry. The time away also gives us time to pray and assess our current commitments.

In Pain

In the pain, misfortune, oppression,and death of the people,

God is silent.
God is silent on the cross,
in the crucified.
And this silence is God's word,
God's cry.
In solidarity,
God speaks the language of love.


Jon Sobrino — from “Pain-Bearers” published by Methodist Division of Ministries 1996

Emma and I just returned from London after attending the conference of the Churches’ Refugee Network. It was both encouraging and useful. We also enjoyed worship from the Ugandan Acholi Choir.

The conference was a mix of theological refection on sanctuary and practical advice, all specifically addressing the British context for sanctuary. The speakers were experts in their fields, some of them from outside a church context, which proved to be a useful perspective.

The whole conference was given an update on the legal situation and a briefing on how to best lobby politicians and get them to actually act. I attended a workshop led by Citizens for Sanctuary on engaging with the press in relation to issues of sanctuary and Emma attended a workshop about Asylum support services. All of these topics were extremely relevant; particularly our after our interface with MPs and the media with Felicite and Arouna’s case.

Another important aspect of conferences like this is the ability to meet people who are doing similar things in different parts of the country. The sharing of information and contacts is invaluable. It is also very encouraging to learn about what is happening across the UK. Many of the people we came into contact with are working on a local, contextual, and church-based level, so it often goes under the radar. This is not to say that the situation in the UK is perfect, or that there is room for complacency. Still, I am heartened by how many exciting and creative initiatives are taking place.

I’ll close this post by leaving you with some interesting links and publications:

• Canon Anthony Harvey was at the conference promoting his new book Asylum in Britain, a question of conscience which seems very good from the bits I have read. He has also written a Bible study about Asylum in Britain that engages with the issue from a Biblical perspective. You can find both on this website: http://www.ctbi.org.uk/337
  
• A representative from Citizens for Sanctuary came along to the conference and gave some great advice on engaging with the media. Their website (http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/) is a weighty resource hoping to progress in changing public attitudes toward asylum/sanctuary.
  
• The Medical Justice Network had a number of resources available about the rights of detainees. Their website has pdfs of their reports, though be warned that much of what they report is harrowing: http://www.medicaljustice.org.uk/index.php
  
• Also, Refugee Week is coming up! The "Simple Acts" campaign is a brilliant way for everybody to get involved: http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/

Unbelievable development following Felicite & Arouna's forced deportation on Thursday:

News Story click here

The Christianity Explored course has now been running for two weeks at St. Rollox. It has already proven to be a great challenge and blessing. We are not trying to be exclusive in our programmes: in other words, we don’t want to mirror the existing divisions in Sighthill between refugees and Scots in our ministry. Practically, this means that anything we do for the refugees we want to make available to the indigenous community. We decided that the Christianity Explored course should be no different. It would probably be easier if we did the course only with homogenous groups. Yet doing what is easy is not necessarily the best preparation for the long-term.

Currently, two Afghans, two Iranians, a Ghanaian believer, and two Glaswegians have attended.

As it stands, I’m not sure if Rico Tice would recognise this as the course he wrote. The structure is helpful, but we’re letting the guys’ questions give direction to the course (the course was created for man, not man for the course?). Ultimately, this stems from pastoral concern: the guys have genuine questions and hurts and it would be insensitive to ignore these issues.

I would like to hone in on two stories from recent Christianity Explored sessions:

‘N’ is an Iranian seeker with an incredibly sharp intellect. When he asked to come on the course he told me a goose-bump causing story about how he has seen Jesus in his dreams. In one particular dream, N is in the church he currently attends and singing along to the worship songs. Jesus is sitting in the back of the church and walks up to N and asks, "tell me, what are you doing here?" N says that he is still unsure, but looking for answers, to which Jesus replies "when you are ready, remember that I am waiting for you."
It is clear that N is open to the Holy Sprit to move in his dreams. He already knows a lot about Christianity, but has particular difficultly accepting the Jesus’ cry of "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" The God-forsakenness of God incarnate is a difficult concept for Christians and there is no simple, nor logical, conclusion to this mystery. I believe it will take some sort of revelation before N will take the step to believe. We know he is open to dreams, so pray that he remains open to how God might reveal himself.

‘G’ is a local who came along to St. Rollox for the first time last Thursday at the drop-in café. Life has been difficult for him. His father died and then his mother committed suicide shortly thereafter. He had an emotional breakdown and gave up on God in the wake of this tragedy. For him the question of the existence of pain and suffering is not merely an abstract question. G seems to be enjoying that the course is a safe place he can talk about his questions, as well as engage with others, as he admits that after such hurt he attempted to cut himself off from other people.

Keep these guys in your prayers, as well as James (the minister at St. Rollox) and I, as the course continues.

Felicite and Arouna are still down in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre. The deportation was halted temporarily to allow her solicitor time to compile new evidence. We have not heard much in the last couple of days except that they seem to be doing as well as can be expected. Pray on. The issue is still receiving significant press and political attention, and we will not give up.
A team of us from the St Rollox drop-in, helped by one of Felicite's closest friends, had to clear their apartment out two days ago as the Border Agency had given directions for it to be cleared. It was quite distressing to be in the apartment. The breakfast that Arouna had been unable to stomach as 7 enforcement officers and police watched his every move was still in the sink. There were opened drawers and cupboards as Felicite had hurriedly grabbed a few essentials, the Sheriff Officer's warrant papers were on the table and there were marks where they had begun to use force on the door as Felicite gave Arouna his inhaler.

The rest of the week has been busy and we're both looking forward to a long weekend. Paul and a local minister hosted the first in a series of Bible Studies for seekers / new believers yesterday and we were really encouraged by the turn out and interest. There were some very interesting comments and questions being raised. Pray for this group.

A new group of Iraqis has arrived in the city and we have made contact with a couple of them. One man has already invited us to his home, saying that his wife is feeling very shy and nervous and he would particularly like for her to meet us. We hope to find a time next week to go and visit. Paul had a very interesting first meeting with this man and we definitely feel we should follow up.

It has been a draining couple of weeks. Many of our friends seem to be particularly struggling at the moment. Pray that they will be open to the one who can carry their burdens.

- Emma

I’m sure most of our readers have received the e-mail from us about the detention of our friend Felicite and her son Arouna. We’ve been pleased that the press have picked up the story and are coming at if from a compassionate angle. There has been a huge response and people all over the city are contacting their local politicians and interceding through prayer. We're pleased some politicians have responded with concern.

Numerous Scottish papers have run the story today, and on Friday BBC Radio Scotland and Real Radio gave airtime to the story in their news slot. Tomorrow, some workers at St. Rollox and I will probably appear on a special GMTV story about Felicite and Arouna.

Below is a link to a story that appeared in today’s Sunday Herald:

Four-year-old refugee latest victim of broken vows by Westminster

This is the news report that appeared on STV which does a good job of explaining the context of Felicite’s situation (also, if you look closely, you can see me in the midst of the protesters): Anybody in the UK should be able to view the video clip, but you may not be able to get it if you’re in the States.

Campaigners protest at detention of Ivorian pair

Again, thanks for your prayer and messages of support as we try to cope with this issue.

... it’s something you might hear on a Glasgow bus. It translates as “I’ll have an all-day ticket to the town.” Clearly, the Glaswegian dialect causes problems for people not accustomed to this particular brogue (myself included).

Luckily some people are willing to help.

Click here for an amusing and encouraging article from the Scotsman.

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.

Yesterday we took part in the North Glasgow 5K Fun Run. I was surprised to see how many people turned out on what was a rather grey day. About 2,500 people attended, if you count both spectators and participants. The atmosphere was great and it was encouraging to see a positive reaction to the idea of healthier living. The organisers set up a "Health and Wellbeing Village" where local community groups offered information about cancer screening, how to quit smoking, stopping alcohol abuse, and healthy eating. The anti-smoking campaigners had even entered a man dressed as a cigarette to help draw attention to their message (there was nothing as outlandish as the London Marathon, but it was encouraging to see that the British pastime of combining running with fancy dress remains popular).

The event was organised by the North Glasgow Healthy Living Community. After living in Springburn for a while, it’s all too easy to dismiss the name of this organisation as an oxymoron, but events like the NG5K are a start. The event is now in its fifth year and it’s clear that the message is, slowly but surely, getting out there.

There is another 5k Fun Run taking place in East Glasgow in the summer. I’m hoping to get a group of the refugee guys involved. It would be a great way to make contact in the community and a positive way to bring attention to the refugee and asylum issue. More information on that as the time approaches...

As for the images themselves, they are breathtakingly beautiful. Any page would look fantastic framed on a wall. Tan has a gift for creating images that are at once familiar and otherworldly: he used photographs of Malaysian immigrants coming to Australia in the 1960s, as well as the influx of immigrants to New York at the turn of the century, as the starting point for some of his images. The opening illustration of the shadow of a dragon’s tail, as a family rushes down an alleyway, realistically and subtly portrays the fear many refugees face (this is skilfully achieved without reverting to the easier option of picturing violence). A huge variety of human emotion is captured in the story. The inclusion of playfulness and humour through the imaginary creatures alleviates the mood without taking away from the seriousness of the issues. It’s a wonderful book that I cannot recommend highly enough.

The other is an American film called The Visitor, directed by Thomas McCarthy. It’s the story of a university professor, Walter, whose life is altered by becoming friends with a Syrian refugee who is illegally living in an apartment that Walter never uses. We see the professor develop as a charter, from numb and detached, to a rejuvenated joy in life, and eventuallty to righteous anger about the treatment of his newfound friend.

The film is very funny (in an understated way) and portrays characters that seem all the more realistic due to their idiosyncrasies. Importantly, the film causes the viewer to engage with moral ‘grey areas’ when immigration law is pitted against particular circumstances and personal relationship. The Visitor also captures the sense of frustration and powerlessness that Emma and I have often experienced working with refugees. Like Walter, we rail try to rail against and change the system, but in some situations we can only listen and are faced with saying goodbye to people who have become dear friends. A poignant picture of the human aspect of the asylum debate.

The Arrival and The Visitor, both worth checking out.

- Paul

The illustrations in this post come from Shaun Tan's website. More images from the The Arrival and his other books can be found via this link: http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html

Last week, during my weekly backgammon game, I was given something very special: a Kurdish headdress. I think it was originally put on me as a bit of a joke, but I looked so fetching that my friend told me to keep it. Apparently, it makes me look like a Kurdish commando (I hope that’s a compliment). I was quite touched to receive the gift, the garment was obviously the product of fine craftsmanship.

For those of you who know backgammon, you’ll notice that by the position of the pieces that I was losing badly; as is usually the case when I face this particular opponent.

Last month, Emma wrote a blog about the anxiety caused by threatened deportations. This recent report in the Independent is a stark reminder that the fear our friends experience is not unfounded, but often a matter of life or death.

Sent back by Britain. Executed in Darfur

It has been a busy couple of weeks, but encouraging.

Last night Paul played football with a very mixed group of guys (1 Greek/Italian/American, 1 Irish, 3 Afghans, 1 Iranian, 1 Rwandan, 1 Kurdish). Thankfully, everyone seems to have got on well and had a good time. I think their footballing skills and styles varied widely as did their situations. The guys from Afghanistan have only been here about a month, and at least one of them looks incredibly young. They have been coming to the cafe at one of the local churches regularly, although they live some distance away. Our initial contact with them came through another young Afghan man who has been here a little longer.

Please pray for this little group. At least one of them is a serious seeker, if not already a believer, but communication is limited. He is working hard on his English and keen to get involved in a Bible Study / discipleship course. None of the programmes which might have had Farsi speakers have worked out with his schedule and we are trying to discern whether Paul and a member of another local ministry should take the plunge to start a group themselves, and trust God for the linguistic challenges. Potentially, this could include a couple of local Scottish guys who are at various stages in their journey.

Paul has also been making great use of his DIY skills this week, helping to do a few running repairs in the home of one of our African friends. His computer skills are used frequently too and both have opened doors allowing us to get to know some of the families with whom we had only minimal conact previously. We really must acknowledge the foresight of the Bible College tutor who bought us a toolkit as a wedding gift 5 years ago!
I continue to use some of my advocacy skills in various ways at the grassroots level where having someone to speak on your behalf can sometimes make a big difference. Frustratingly for me, as I like being able to fix things, there are frequently times when there is no answer until the injustices are challenged at an insitutional level. But love never gives up.

Finally for now, we'd ask you to pray for the area that we live in, for the Scottish residents. It is a sad area in a lot of ways. People are trapped; trapped in social problems and habits that they inherited from other generations but that few seem willing to search for a way out of. This past couple of weeks, there have been a number of sad incidents, one of which resulted in the death of a young man of just 19. For the Muslim refugees in particular, being on the margins of such a society frequently reinforces their desire not to integrate, but to remain separate from what they believe is Western (read "Christian") society. It also increases their anxiety about the safety of living here and reinforces the social isolation of some. For all of the segments of this fractured society, they need to hear that gentle whisper of hope.

Our ministry is now listed on the International Teams Refugee Ministry website. We feel very offical now.

Click here to see our little space on itrefmin.org

Please click on the link below to see something of the current situation for refugees, particularly from Afghanistan, in Greece. A group from Helping Hands visited the port of Patras last week and were overwhelmed by the needs.

Click Here

to read text only report or click on the link there to also see photos.

...to visit detainees (thought that title might catch your attention). Detention centres are a very controversial aspect of current UK asylum policy. Dungavel is the only detention centre in Scotland and detainees are taken there for a variety of reasons: coming to the end of the asylum process and awaiting removal, being in breach of Home Office reporting conditions or thought to be at risk of absconding, and criminal convictions being a few. Many of those awaiting removal have no idea how long they are going to be detained and live in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety about their future and possible removal back to countries that they fled. Due to public outcry, the government have stopped the detention of children and families at Dungavel, though there is concern whether the Home Office is really committed to abandoning this policy (click here to read a report from the Sunday Herald).

Hello, this is the sick Mr. Wilson. I got some antibiotics from the doctor and they seem to be taking effect... the eczema has also retreated, the blisters drying up into hard yellow patches (yes, it’s lovely).

I don’t deserve any sympathy though – while Emma was away in Lodon, I worked too much. Going flat out from 9am to 11:30pm, then working again early the next morning wasn’t the best idea. I already knew this, but the point was driven home: this is not a one person job! Hopefully I’ve learned my lesson.

*****

I was given a brilliant book for my Brithday: Extending the Table. It’s a Mennonite cookbook that’s essentially a continuation of their equally brilliant More-with-Less. One of the things I really appreciate about these books is not only that they give good and cost-effective recipes, but also explore the theological and spiritual implications of how we use food. Sharing meals, giving and receiving hospitality, are major aspects of our ministry in Glasgow, so these books are full of apt advice and suggestions.

There was a touching story in the forward of Extending the Table that I’d like to share:

...our interest was to seek his counsel on how... mission and service organisations should work in the years ahead. We asked how, in Argentina or the neighbouring counties, he would begin to share the gospel with other indigenous people who do not have churches among them. He paused for a moment, and then responded, "I would go and eat their food." He began to weep, and the missionary couple who were our translators wept with him... we knew that these forty-year missionaries and their colleagues had acknowledged the dignity of the indigenous people of the Chaco by eating their food, sleeping in their houses, and learning and recording their languages.
- Paul Longcre, 1990

It’s humbling and encouraging to learn that much of what we’re doing is not new, but part of a tradition of hospitality as a missional activity.

Mr Wilson is a little bit sick this week. His body decided to celebrate its 27th birthday with an inuagural outbreak of eczema (on his hands), combined with a rather nasty chest infection.

I attended a very helpful conference in London last week, hosted by the Refugee Highway Partnership. Lots of helpful teaching, networking and hearing how others are ministering in their own contexts. I also had an encouraging meeting today with a Christian Counselling Institute in the city who seem willing to offer counselling to a small number of refugees whom we refer to them.

Other than that, I have been pondering an issue that came up at the drop-in today. It's easy to help some people; they're nice about how they ask and they are very grateful for the help that you give. They ask in a way that you find acceptable from your cultural frame of reference. It makes you feel useful to help them (generally warm and fuzzy) and once you have done what was asked of you, they leave you alone to enjoy feeling good about yourself. Others are not so simple. They get in your face, they phone repeatedly, they're demanding or downright rude and seem less than grateful for what you manage to provide....you get the picture.
How often have we decided to help those whose way of asking was more acceptable to us, to ignore that person who has an annoying way about them and to deem them less deserving or less in need because they are less grateful? It seems to me that God's grace must reach to those who are annoying, demanding and harder to help, that it has extended to us when we have approached him in a way that closely resembles the hard to help. Not that we simply pander to demands but that we seek to remain in relationships that by God's grace may prove to be transformative, that our patience does not run out and we do not write people off because they make us feel less good about ourselves. It's a challenge. I'd rather help those who say please and thank-you, and don't phone me after 9pm. But somehow I don't think grace and mercy are limited to those with nice British manners.

- Emma

Glasgow is covered in a thin layer of snow, and the temperature is hovering around freezing. The unpleasant weather has coincided with a perceived new harsher policy within the Home Office that has led to many families that we know fearing detention and deportation. In the past few weeks, the goverment has been ordering those with families to bring the children with them when they make their weekly trip to sign on at the Home Office. This often means that the family will be detained, pending deportation back to their country of origin. (This method replaced the dawn raids to a large extent after a major public backlash in Scotland.)
We know of around 6 families who have recently been told to bring the children with them, and it instills terror in them as their appointment approaches. Some have complied and have been greatly relieved to not be detained but their sense of fear and insecurity that the Home Office has something planned, is not alleviated. One single parent who escaped a situation of domestic abuse was required to attend with her children this week. One of her children was ill and the doctor gave her a note, but it may only have postponed what the Home Office has decided. The fear in this lady's voice was all too evident as she explained the situation to me on the phone. For another lady and her young son, this is a sadly familiar situation. They have been detained in the past and were only released when bail was posted by those connected with a local church. Her son is clearly traumatised by that experience and has only begun to recover. There is a clear risk to the lives of some of these families if they are returned to their countries. For others, the risk to the well-being of their children through removal from school, detention and return to a country they know nothing about, is severe. The knock-on effects for other families in similar situations is also palpible. Empty chairs in a classroom take on a much greater significance.

Please pray for those imposing these policies to look with compassion on these people, to see their own sons and daughters when they look at the children and to act with mercy.

We've just experienced our 15 minutes of fame. Through a chance encounter we became models for the "Burns Bunnet". You might want to check this out:

www.burnsbunnet.co.uk

Copy and paste the above link into your browser.

We recently enjoyed a visit from our good friends, and former teammates, the Cottrell family en route back to Athens. It was great to catch up with them. As a parting gift, they left us with a bag of Australian sweets. This wrapper on a Minties sweet seemed particularly relevant given current events:

Though I hate to make reference to the tabloids, The Sun dubbed yesterday "Arctic Monday" due to freezing temperatures across Britain. I felt the headline was apt given the general mood, as Christmas decorations come down and people return to work (or worse, worry that they may not be returning to work for much longer). The frosty weather also coincided with equally cold reports from major retailers about losses and potential job cuts.

It’s also fitting that on one of the coldest days in Glasgow so far this winter, is when our boiler decides to stop working. At the moment, we’re without heating or hot water (using the kettle as a replacement for the shower is an interesting experience). The gas technician is currently in the kitchen trying to fix it... I initially thought it was a simple problem with the pilot light, but given the exasperated sighs I’m hearing, it might be something a bit more complicated.

The change in weather and rising fuel costs has also been difficult for many of our refugee friends (many of whom are much more accustomed to a warmer climate). Late winter fuel supplements are causing great stress and the wet and chilly weather is felt even more by those with ailments. As a result, the winter is a time when many refugees struggle with experiencing isolation.

One of the primary ways we’re trying to minister to refugees this winter is through hospitality: hosting, visiting, sharing meals. This may sound like something rather modest, but one of the major needs expressed by refugees in our area is that they feel socially isolated. I would go so far as to say that hospitality is the core practice our ministry here. A number of programmes exist to assist refugees in Glasgow, but they are no replacement for genuine human contact. One of our current projects is trying to gather a group of local volunteers who can commit to hosting and/or visiting refugees at least every other week – it’s an exciting opportunity. We’ll keep you informed as this ministry develops.

Well, the technician has just finished replacing a number of parts on our boiler (he says, "that should keep it working for a while", I hope he’s right), so I can finally head off to the drop-in at St. Rollox.

P.

We’re already nearly through the third week of Advent. We hit the ground running upon our return from the US; we’ve helped out at a number of Christmas programmes, visited some refugee families, spent time getting to know and discussing ministry with Paul Sydnor (our Associate Ministry Leader from International Teams), and I’ve attempted to fix an Algerian family’s computer on two separate occasions (unsuccessfully).

So Advent is supposed to be a time of expectant waiting; yet as I rush from one activity to the next, the discipline of waiting seems incongruous. I came across this advent reflection by Rowan Williams this afternoon and it served as a healthy reminder:

We remember in Advent the time of waiting before the birth of Jesus, and we remember that time of waiting as the Bible shows it to us as a time when people were indeed longing for something that would change everything, and yet at the same time not quite knowing what that something would be.

...It's been said so often it hardly needs saying again, but it is rather a pity that for a few weeks before Christmas we are saturated with Christmas carols. We don't have quite the sort of quiet we need to think, 'Well what would it be if Jesus really came as if for the first time into my life? What would it be for the good news really to change me.' Because for that to happen I need some reflective time; I need some peace; I need to slow down; I need, you might say, to take my time about things. And so all those bits of our contemporary culture which are about rushing to get gratification, getting the results straight away, all those habits in our culture which so drive the crises of our culture, whether it's the credit crunch or the environmental crisis, all those things we have to cast a rather cold eye on during Advent and say slow down, take time, let yourself grow and open up, rather like a flower coming to blossom - a time of expectation, a time of excitement, a time of waiting, a time of peace, a time where we're clearing our hearts and our minds a bit so we really can see clearly when Jesus arrives, and feel fully the impact of his coming.

(if you’d like to see the entire piece, follow this link: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2040)

Many of the refugees (especially the Muslims) are fascinated by all the activity that surrounds Christmas. The city of Glasgow is adorned with decorations (equally tasteful and tacky in parts), people flock to the shops, and their children are involved in Christmas crafts and activities at school. Part of me wants to enjoy the atmosphere that springs up this time of year. I find the pessimism and moaning about how "it’s not the way it should be" just as contrary to the meaning of advent as is consumerist excess. Hope, not dread, is implicit in Advent. So in that spirit, I want enjoy some of the events put on by city; Advent is an exciting time, so why not celebrate in some way? However, on the other hand, I find myself a bit embarrassed by how shallow and silly aspects of Christmas here can be. For example: a ‘High School Musical’ Advent calendar containing cheap chocolate... no comment is necessary.

So how do I bear witness to the real meaning of Christmas to my refugee friends when there is so much in our culture that I don’t want to affirm? It is a difficult question. I think we must try to exhibit joy as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation – an authentic joy that transcends and surpasses materialism. I also think we have to maintain that we are critical of our culture, but without slipping into an easy pessimism and gloom. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth" – what a compelling reason to be joyful!

P.

We're back in Glasgow. Trying to get over some serious jet-lag, and keeping warm in sub-zero temperatures! It was a great trip back to the States where we enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Importantly, we were able to visit Paul's Grandfather whose health had been worsening and who sadly passed away as we were on our way to the airport to catch our flight home. Please pray for especially for Paul's Grandmother. There will be a memorial service in California in February.

We thought you might be interested in the following BBC report regarding the situation in Athens. There is a brief clip from the ARC, as well as a comment from a great friend of ours. Click on the link below:

BBC report on Athens

-Emma

We’re heading to the States on Sunday morning for a little while. We’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving with Paul’s family, and also spending time with extended family, friends and supporters. The trip has "snuck up on us" in some ways. It always felt like it was a long time away, and then we suddenly got busy with things here...