A couple of months ago, having suffered huge injustices in their homeland, two brothers set out from home without their father’s knowledge in search of a new life, hoping for better prospects. Their other brother, Bashir, had already made the dangerous journey by boat and had managed to find work in a distant land, albeit with minimal wages. Unfortunately, before even getting into the country, both brothers were picked up by human traffickers, who proceeded to demand a ransom from their family. Eventually, both brothers were released and made it across the border and into the country. One brother was reunited with Bashir. The other, Daud, could not walk due to sitting in the boat without exercise for weeks. He was picked up by police soon after crossing the border.
Bashir and a friend, Ravi, were working against the clock to organise Daud’s release. Daud still unable to walk, languished in jail and became weaker and sicker.
Unfortunately, time ran out for Daud, and he was overtaken by his illnesses on a Tuesday. The police were prepared to bury him on the Thursday, but a local pastor/friend of Ravi intervened, working it out so that they would wait till Bashir arrived on Sunday to identify the body. Ravi spent much of the intervening time on the phone with the various parties involved, making arrangements.
After an uneventful 12-hour overnight journey by bus, Bashir arrived, and was met by Ravi. Together they went to identify Daud’s body.
With the help of the pastor, they were able to cut through the red tape and organise the release of the body, transport, and burial. A local charity paid for the burial costs and a reliable telephone connection was secured to enable Bashir’s father to hear the burial prayers.
On Sunday evening, to a background of lightning in the sky and thunder booming across the graveyard, Daud’s body was lowered into a simple grave. Ravi likens the storm to Genesis 4:10 when God told Cain, “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” It was as if heaven was groaning for the unjust death of a beloved. Thankfully, it appears that, according to police records, Daud had made a profession of faith, despite the persecution that would incur.
Please pray
- for Daud’s family and those ministering to him during this time of grief.
- that God will bring more justice towards the Rohingya who continue to be exploited and suffer from the greed of others.