From an icon to a saxophone – Welsh bishops are joining a challenge to think of the “one thing” they would take with them if war forced them to leave their homes immediately.
The challenge is being set by the charity Christian Aid to mark its week of fundraising, which starts this Sunday (May 11-17). It wants Wales to show solidarity with the millions of people in the world today who have been driven from their homes because of war.
People are being asked to take a photo of themselves with the item they would take, and post it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #onething. The Archbishop of Wales, the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Bishop of St Asaph, the Bishop of Bangor and the Bishop of St Davids are all taking part (see below for details).
Cathrin Daniel, head of Christian Aid Wales, said, “For a growing number of people across the world, the horror of war is a part of daily life.
“Right now, fuelled by the devastating violence in both Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the numbers of people driven from their homes by war is on the rise. It stands at 42 million people – an appalling statistic and a stain on the conscience of humanity. Often, with no time to think, they are forced to flee, leaving their belongings behind.
“This Christian Aid Week we’re sending people living in fear this message: you are not alone. We’re with you, helping you to rebuild your lives, and working for peace. We’ve been blessed with peace in Wales for almost 70 years but what if we were forced to flee our homes to escape war? We want people to join us and think about what treasured possession they would take with them if they had just one minute to rescue something.”
The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, who is chair of the Christian Aid Wales Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees of Christian Aid, is also urging people to respond to the Christian Aid door-to-door collection throughout the week. Just £5, for example, could pay for a blanket, a collapsible water container which holds 20 litres of water, cooking utensils, a jerry can, and small plates
He says, “Churches across the board engage in work often described as social responsibility because Christians are called to help those in need. It is a clear outworking of the Gospel call to love one’s neighbour, wherever that neighbour may be. I urge all people to engage in whatever way they can to enable Christian Aid to respond to those in crisis across the world.”
One of the 42 million war refugees is Anoon Aleu, who fled her home in the south of Sudan when she was just 10 years old after militias set fire to her house, killing most of her family.
For a while, life in the north was good, but with South Sudan gaining independence in 2011 and growing tensions in the north, Anoon, now 36, feared for her children’s safety and wanted a life of freedom for them in their homeland.
She was shocked by what she found on her return: ‘When we arrived it was just bush. We spent seven days living under a tree. We did not have any shelter.’ On the seventh night, completely unused to the cold night-time temperatures, Anoon’s son, David, died of pneumonia.
The family was overcome with grief. David’s father, Madut, tried to kill himself. His sister, Eliza, could not eat or speak and took to her bed. Anoon collapsed, seriously ill.
Christian Aid’s partner, Hope Agency for Relief and Development (HARD), heard about the family’s desperate situation. It provided them with basic equipment and the money to build a brick home. Bringing her family under one roof means so much to Anoon. She says, “We can now live together safely. We can now begin to forget.” It gives her a sense of dignity and the chance of a life free from fear.
To donate £5 – text GIVE to 60155
