A New Frame Of Mind- Submission to Strangers in a Strange Land

Weaving my way through the overcrowded refugee camp, I began to wonder to myself, “What did these people do, to warrant such inhumane treatment?” From what I hear, it’s not as if they are the ones causing the horrid atrocities that are ruining their homes and killing their husbands…they, in fact are running from such atrocities.

“Don’t waste your time with those migrants Steffi. You’ll end up catching something. They aren’t worth it.” Well, I guess I was warned. The only thing is, I haven’t caught any medical disease from these poor, misunderstood, asylum-seeking people; I caught something else…empathy.

At first, I was a little hesitant about volunteering down here- heck, I was mortified at the idea of having to come in here…but, now that I am here…I see how much I am needed. All of those orphaned children, here alone….defenceless…traumatised…they need someone. They need me.

“Hello.” I was so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn’t noticed the little girl following me. Her broken, uncertain English broke me out of my daze. “Hi.” This girl could be no more than five years of age, and yet here she was standing in front of me, in an overcrowded camp with no running water and absolutely no form of sanitation, barefoot and wearing only a thin nightshirt. She hadn’t responded to my greeting, and I knew that I should continue distributing the bottled water warming up in my hands, but I just couldn’t tear myself away from those round, sad, chestnut-brown eyes that had been robbed of their innocence and spark all too soon.

Then I noticed him. A little boy, hardly able to walk, poking his head out from behind her. He was completely naked and was clutching the girl’s hand as though his life depended on it… to be honest, it probably did. Now the little girl spoke again, with her unsure and timid little voice, “Please, can I had water? He thirsty.” She was referring to her little shadow. BEEP-BEEP-BEEP. That sound… I had been longing to hear that sound all day; the sound that indicated that it was my time to go home and shower in bucket loads of antiseptic, but I saw her flinch. And I can see him try to hold in his tears. The load, obnoxious beeping of my phone had scared them. I had scared them. Honestly, I have never been more ashamed and disgusted with myself, in all of my life…

“Thanks for all of your help!” That’s it. I’m out. Well…until tomorrow, when I would, of course be back. Walking out of there, I thought two things that I never, ever expected myself to ever think. “Why on Earth can we not just open our borders to these innocent people?” And then, “I wonder if my new little girl and baby boy would like toad in the hole?”