Refugees Desperate for Hope

Hundreds of refugees have passed through the Macedonian border from Greece unhindered, a day after police used stun grenades to try to prevent them from crossing over the border.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons said the refugees were boarding trains to take them from Macedonia to Serbia, in the hope that they will make it to Hungary and other EU member states.

According to another Al Jazeera reporter, Jonah Hull, reporting on the Greek side of the border, “There is a free flow of movement as the Macedonian police allow small groups through. There are lines and lines of refugees making their way to this point and there is no sign … that this flow is going to stop or slow down anytime soon.”

One Syrian refugee told Al Jazeera what is happening to them is not what they expected when they fled Syria.

“We just want to pass, or at least let those who are sick or with children pass. We are humans. We are not animals. We ran away from death and came here to die from the border police? Or from the cold?” the refugee said.

“Is it our fault there is fighting in our country? This is not fair. We are nothing to them, our passports are nothing to them. Imagine if this were you in our place, we have children. Don’t you have children? Wouldn’t you want the same?”

• Pray for the refugees across Europe, and thousands still trying to get to Europe. Pray that they will find compassion and fair treatment, for protection from those who want to exploit their situation and find fresh hope for themselves and their families.
• Pray that Countries across Europe and other parts of the world will open their hearts to these desperate people and receive them with love and understanding.
• Pray for Christians working amongst the refugees, that they will share the hope of the Gospel and many will come to know Christ, His healing love and grace.
• Pray for an end to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and North Africa, and for people to be able to return to their homes.

Isaiah 25 vs 4: “For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. “

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news