Report From Sierra Leone Refugees

On a Sunday morning last spring, I greeted visitors to our worship service in Panama and learned that they were refugees recently arrived from Sierra Leone. More than a quarter million refugees have fled from Sierra Leone to neighboring Guinea and Liberia since the latest round of guerrilla attacks began. They include hundreds who were tortured, mutilated, or raped by the rebels.

The story of Daniel, Joseph, and Reindolf had a slightly different twist. When their homes were attacked and members of their families killed, they escaped, first hiding in the bush and later stowing away on a ship in the harbor. They were ordered to debark on the northern coast of Colombia, where another civil war was in progress. So the three Africans joined a group of South American migrants in a week-long trek across dense jungle to a remote Panamanian village. Presenting themselves to the police, they were detained as illegal immigrants, then transferred to Panama City. There, they were told to go to the UN Refugee Office, which is just down the street from our church. Daniel and Joseph are both Methodists and were overjoyed to see our sign.

They ate with us during the week and worked on church construction projects. Then, on the day they expected their temporary refugee cards, they got a letter from the UN office denying them refugee status. I called a woman I knew at Immigration. She promised to request a three-day extension to buy a little time. Then, while looking for some keys, I found a card with a Scripture quotation and shared it with our African brothers: "God works in all things for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

The woman from Immigration called back with good news. The director had authorized a four-month extension. We said a prayer of thanksgiving. Daniel smiled and said, "I feel free."