So many of my Rohingya friends have stories of what has been taken from them: Home, Country, Family, Friends, Dignity, Humanity.
I once was told by Rohingya man who had recently arrived in the U.S. that his arrival in the States was the first time he was treated like a human. “Before this, I am only treated like cattle.”
I find this sentiment to be true for my friends in Malaysia. The men often work long, difficult jobs for little pay, and at times the pay is never given to them at all. Most families hover below or at the poverty line. It would make sense for them to cling to every cent earned. Yet instead of being stingy, what I have experienced is generosity.
We recently gave birth to our first child, and a few of our friends called soon afterwards wanting to come visit and see the baby. On two different occasions, Rohingya friends showed up with baby gifts in hand, ready to celebrate the birth of our son with us. It was a beautifully humbling experience to receive gifts purchased by friends that truly had to sacrifice to buy them for our son.
With a people that has had so much forcibly taken and withheld from them, I have been repeatedly struck by their generosity. We are invited into their homes for meals, fruit, and tea on a regular basis, sometimes by people we haven’t met before whose homes we are just walking past. Their generosity is one way we see the character of God on display in their culture. May they experience the fullness of God’s generosity as they hear of all He’s done for them.
—Pray that they would see God’s generosity of grace on display at the cross.
—Pray that employers and authorities would be inclined to help rather than exploit the Rohingya people.
—Pray that they would experience restoration of dignity and humanity by experiencing true life in Christ.