“We wont have enough people to billet the refugees, how can we cater for all these people? Can they speak English, how will we communicate?”
These were some of the questions and anxieties that people voiced as I first raised the possibility of hosting a Refugee Healing Trail in Ballan.
Yet this weekend we did it. And what a gift it was to everyone involved.
For one of the first times, if not the first, St Paul’s Uniting Church, together with St Brigit’s Catholic Church and St John’s Anglican Church worked ecumenically on this exciting project.
The Healing Trail team was made up of newly arrived refugees from Burma. For most of the refugees, this was their first experience of rural Australia. For most of the Ballan people this was their first encounter with refugees. Both groups received enormous benefits from the trip.
On the Saturday afternoon people from the Healing Trail team spent time with their billeted families. Kangaroos and koalas were seen for the first time, sheep farms were discovered and gardens were enjoyed. There were new culinary experiences for people too; cornflakes were tasted for the first time, as well as different rice dishes.
On Saturday evening a healing concert was given. During this event refugees shared some of their culture and music. They also spoke of their journey to Australia: of their escape from military persecution, years of waiting in refugee camps, and their final arrival in Australia. The evening brought people laughter and joy. It also moved people to tears as they heard of the courage and strength of their newly made friends.
The weekend concluded with a barbecue lunch on Sunday after worship. Before waving the Refugee Healing Trail Team good bye many photos were taken and hugs shared.
After all those initial worries, in the end there were more than enough billets to host the refugees, the hospitality of the catering over the weekend was abundant and people found all kinds of ways to communicate, even with limited English.
The children among us modeled this best of all as they found ways of playing together that transcended any need for a common language.
There is a message in this for all of us. Sometimes we can be so worried that ‘there will not be enough time or talent or energy….’ we can reject exciting new possibilities.
However when we have courage, when we trust in ourselves and in the Divine: the God of welcome and extravagance, amazing possibilities can be birthed.
We experienced some of this over the weekend.
Thanks to all who had the courage to be involved.
The Refugee Healing Trail is an initiative of the Victorian Council of Churches.
Rev. Sally Douglas
The Refugee Healing Trail team and members of the three churches in Ballan
(Click photo for full size)
