Micah Global is a global network of Christian organisations and individuals, so named in reference to the Bible verse Micah 6:8 ‘what does the Lord require of you – to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God’. So it’s a network of organisations that are seeking to do just that, in a multitude of ways across the globe. Some member organisations serve in many nations, others are small, single-location focused, some are like me i.e. individuals with our own unique callings. But for all of us we are doing our thing to try and make a little bit of positive difference in this world that is so full of pain and grief.
This week, there is a gathering of over 100 Micah members in Sri Lanka almost all of whom come from across the Asian continent. Based in Sri Lanka, we include participants from (in no particular order) Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Malaysia – and I expect there are more countries represented, I just haven’t seen a map, or managed to meet everyone!
The title of the conference is: ‘Finding Hope: Responding to Issues of Migration and Displacement in Asia’, and so far (I’m writing this at the end of day 2), it has been incredible. In this blog I’ll just share about day 1, as it’ll be too much to share about day 2 as well – you can have that in a subsequent blog!
Day 1 started with a reflection on the Biblical story of Joseph, and all the different aspects of that story that relate to him being someone who was forcibly displaced, indeed trafficked, and living as an exile in a foreign land. The pastor did an incredible job of drawing out the parallels of Joseph’s story with the realities of life for displaced and migrant people today. So he spoke of the pain of displacement - from the painful circumstance that caused the displacement, to the loss of identity, and the brokenness and pain that is felt not just by the displaced, but also by the family left behind. And he spoke of different facets of migration – the way in which migrants can be such a blessing on the host community, the welcome or not of the host community, the challenge for the migrant of navigating two cultures (their own and that of the host community), the cultural sensitivities, and the way in hospital can lead to oppression when accompanied by political amnesia. He then went on to draw out all the aspects of injustice that are part of the lot of a forcibly displaced / trafficked person. But it wasn’t all hopeless, as we ended with looking at the examples of renewed hope that appear through the story as well.
It was an excellent entry into the topic and we then heard from two speakers about the broad contexts of migration, with examples from the lived experience of Filipino overseas domestic workers woven in.
So we got to understand the nuances between the different terminologies better, and to explore the different influences that play a part in the process of migrations. Most importantly we were reminded that there is no single migration story – every individual migrant has their own story to tell. Yes there might be many coming from the same country, or going to the same country, or fleeing the same natural disaster, or the same war, but each person has a different set of background circumstances, each person has a different set of push and pull factors influencing the outcome of their decision to uproot. So often we just hear the statistics, and how frequently those statistics are manipulated to reinforce whatever political message is underlying the announcement. But behind those statistics are real people, with names, and stories, and families – some of whom might be left behind, and painful decisions.
We thought as well about what happens when the choice narrows for the individual, and the vulnerabilities of being forcibly displaced. And we were reminded that reaching safety does not mean the end of vulnerability. Gender issues came up, and the way in which the migration system itself can create a spiral of dangers once caught up in it.
We were reminded to ask not ‘why did the individual move?’
But instead to ask
- how much choice did that individual have in the experience that they had to undergo?
- What is their story?
- What capabilities and freedoms did they have?
- What exploitative systems impacted their experience?
- What oppressions were they subjected to?
- And what were the choices that they had as opposed to the pressures that they had imposed on them by others (family, community, traffickers, systems etc)?
It was a very powerful session, and whilst much of it is stuff I’ve heard before in various guises, it’s always good to be challenged again on such subjects, and to have time to review any assumptions I might be making, or any aspects of it that I might be avoiding thinking about just for a quieter life. Reflecting on the politics of UK with regard to small boat crossings, our response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis etc, this was a particularly thought-provoking session. This issue is not just an issue that is relevant for the folks from the different Asian countries represented but is a global issue that requires everyone to take a stand and be a voice for the voiceless.
As I looked about me at friends from different countries I reflected on the experiences of their nation with regard to migration and displacement. Nepal with so many displaced as a result of the recent flooding and landslides; Sri Lanka with people displaced by natural disasters and previously by the war; Philippines as a major sender of Overseas Domestic Workers; Thailand losing so many to trafficking; Bangladesh and India as recipients of Rohinga refugees, and so the list goes on.
Yes, we each have different contexts, some nations are net sender nations, some are transit nations, some are destination nations. But as we were reminded over and over – each statistic is a person, with a story, and a family, and a context, and almost certainly pain is involved in there somewhere as well. So, the take away challenge was to avoid the temptation to homogenise the issue, and let it become an overwhelming issue that is easier to consign to the ‘political things to avoid’. Instead, it’s to keep it real, be inspired by the individual stories, and find ways to make a difference.
I’m slowly hearing those stories, and pondering what is the way in which I am being called to make a difference in this issue. But I guess the first step on that is to share this blog with you so you too can start to ponder.
Happy pondering, and I pray that those musings turn into actions – keep in touch about it and let’s make a difference.
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