I’ll Be There When You Need Me

By Mirnawati Moeljono

 

“I may not always be with you but I’ll be there when you need me”—that is what I say to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

As an immigrant to the United States myself, I realize that words can give strength and hope. Sometimes I cannot help people with their immigration needs, but I can give them hope.

Here are some of the people I have met through my work:
“Pin-Pin” – a Chinese Christian woman who fears persecution in Indonesia because of her Chinese ethnicity and Christian faith. She has applied for asylum.
“Happy” – a 32-year-old man working as a sushi maker to support his family in Indonesia
“Andy” – a refugee with whom I had opportunity to share my faith in Jesus Christ.

From these new friends I am learning many stories and the politics of the immigrant situation. When, like “Pin-Pin,” Indonesians apply for asylum, the US courts respond that the Indonesian government has committed to suppress ethnic and religious violence. They set a very high standard for asylum-seekers and many Indonesian immigrants who fear persecution remain in the US without documentation.

As a Christian I want to be a spiritual friend, patient and positive. As an immigrant myself, I understand how immigrants think about life, God, family and the future. I understand their struggle to survive.

I feel blessed to be here, where I am needed.
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Mirnawati Moeljono recently completed a term of service with West Coast MCC where she worked with Indonesian Mennonite churches in Southern California. In her service assignment, and now as associate pastor at Gereja Kristus Injili (an Indonesian Mennonite church) and an MCC volunteer, she connects church members to immigration and other services.

Article adapted from MCC Washington Memo Jan-Feb 2008