Barely Holding On

      She came to the Oasis for the first time in several months. She is from the Caucuses region and has a couple of kids. The war in her country traumatized her husband. He’s never been the same since. That and the stresses of being a refugee pushed him over the edge.  She had to separate from him to protect herself and her boys from the violence they were experiencing at his hands.  And here she was at our Womens' Clothing Room Day.

     It was easily apparent that this was a woman who was barely holding on. Her case for asylum might be decided on at any time and to be sent back to her country would be the last straw for her. In our conversation with her, she shook slightly when she gestured and her voice was sometimes trembling.  She was too thin.  She talked with us as her children wrote math problems and drew pictures on the Oasis chalk board. They too showed signs of the stress they are under. Aggression and anger sometimes eked out of them during their time at the Oasis. They are so young! 

     She was thankful for the clothes she received that day and for the special bag of goodies for her kids.

     There is so much more we wish we could do for this dear woman.  She carries such burdens!  But we can pray and God is the worker of wonders.  Please pray for  “L” that she would come to know God’s deep love for her and that she would find a new, safe place to call home both in Him and in Austria.

Tom Richards