A True terrible story or two came out of the Bob Geldof in Africa Programme, second time around, which I caught late last night.I have seen TV more than I would in a normal working week.
He told stories and interviewed children about how they were forced to kill each other on instructions from gang leaders.
Another story is the slaughter of all male babies and how some families fled to escape ..... ending up with a label called 'Asylum Seekers'.
Yesterday I spent some time with Emanuel. Sounds a bit like Christmas eh ?
I was in Costa Coffee with Xhevahir, who we all call James...... and we talked and talked and laughed and talked.
Both were - I will use these words which are such a terrible stigma to most humans in our culture - 'Asylum Seekers'.
My 'catch up' with James was relating to the court appearance I did with him on October 7th this year.
This young Kosovan man has been in the UK for some seven and a half years - five of them as a result of the failure of the Home Office to follow him up after he had 'leave to remain'.
I said in my blog then -
"He is before the court to be deported - back home to an uncertain unstable society still working to become an independent state AND 47% unemployment.
I spoke to the Court with one Judge presiding, a warm sensitive man with a duty to interpret the law - but follow it too. I spoke to the court on behalf of the Charity and also Bishop Sainsbury who is the Chairman of the National Youth Agency. Three other witnesses spoke strong , bold, sincere and heartfelt. All three British citizens from Kosovo".
The good news yesterday was - he has leave to remain for three years until the Home Office get themselves sorted. This is massive and we shook hands about six times in five minutes ......
He can continue working now and not be caught in the cycle of poverty which is 'no work-no income-no work ..... good news for the poor.
James said
"I am glad inside".
I first met Emanuel and James when they came looking for a room at the Inn - a YMCA actually.
They found food, and a bed - not a stable and not straw poverty.
No English spoken - and I could only say "You yanni persson ebooko" in Albanian (You are a beautiful human person)
Seven and a half years on we drink coffee and talk and laugh and ......... I feel the privilege of knowing them and feeling their joy.
Emanuel is now married to Shtrojera, which in Albanian means 'hiding in a corner to escape the wind' and they are expecting their second child any day now.
Coffee-laughter-coffee-conversation-remembering ........ Emanuel reminded me of the state they were in - as they escaped the horrors of Kosovo and on arrival at our 'Inn'.
"We were traumatised"
he said ........... I can remember them now ...... and the irritable catering staff member behind the servery counter - irritated because they just pointed at the strange food before them, instead of asking, and because they didn't say the usual seven 'pleases' which we say in such an exchange.
A warm handshake and a smile ........ and strong eye contact was the means of communication in those days. We still do that but also we talk-laugh-coffee ............ and I love it love it .........
The second paragraph from the top of this blog is 2000 years ago.
The paragraph above is in our recent lifetime.
Connect the two and Christmas becomes more real ....... with feeling .......
