Sharing stories of struggle, resilience and hope
On Sunday 1 June, Melbourne Marists came together for an early Champagnat Feast Day gathering. Hosted by the Olympic Village Exodus Community, the evening began with sharing food and catching up. It was wonderful to have locals from the Exodus Community join us, along with new and old faces! Br Doug Walsh led a prayer and reflection.
Story Sharing in Ministry
Sharing story is key to our ministry in the Exodus Community. Stories of struggle and resilience. For last year’s Feast Day, locals Kerry and Maxi shared their story through film, and this year, at Br Harry Prout’s invitation, Nahla, Shireen and Khalil recounted their experience of fleeing Gaza. Shireen and Nahla are sisters, and along with their children, live in two Exodus houses in Heidelberg West.
With bombs falling around them, the families, given little time and warning, fled Gaza into Egypt. Their houses destroyed, lives upended… they experienced ongoing trauma and grief from losing family and friends. Each family has four children: the youngest, eight-year-old Mohammed and the eldest, 22-year-old Tala. After some time, they were able to raise the funds to travel and, with the help of a cousin who lives here, and through the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN), they were one of the families that were able to settle here in Australia. Most nights are spent communicating with families and friends still in Gaza, and their days are spent learning English and about this new country they are living in.
For many of us, the coverage on the news is hard to watch and seems too far away from our reality here. Hearing directly from survivors of this horrible conflict is confronting but important. We cannot become immune to what is happening.
As Pilgrims of Hope, as Marists, it is vital that we continue to listen, learn, and act! Exodus volunteers are building relationships with these extraordinary, resilient people: Harry’s adventures in the bus exploring their new home, helping with learning English, supporting in driving practice and in providing housing. All are enrolled in school or English language courses at Melbourne Polytechnic and some are still able to study online the courses they had begun in Gaza.
While dealing with trauma and significant loss, these folk are most grateful and seek ways to contribute, be involved, and to learn. Older ones would like to find jobs, as well as pursue further education – but language is the first barrier to overcome. Theirs is a story of hope, resilience, and courage that we can learn much from.
Liz Wake
Melbourne Marists
Exodus Community