Jobs, Roots and Displacement

This week I heard about a family and two different single adults thinking of relocating to other parts of the United States.  Kay and I were talking about how some of these kinds of moves are in order that they can rejoin family relatives.  It seems that after some of the Burmese get a good job, and things are somewhat stabilized they begin to make longer term plans and their heart desire is to be close to their relatives.

The other factor seems to be the pressing need for jobs.  If the Burmese person does not have a job they will talk with refugees in other states and move to their locale for the sake of jobs.   This is practical but it also spotlights a people that can deal with displacement.   They were displaced from their villages, then they were relocated from their refugee sanctuaries to the United States.   They don’t have deep roots like a lot of Americans.  They can move on if necessary.

As a church community, this is a challenge, we develop friendships with these folks and want to see them grow in the Lord.   Perhaps our best attitude about seeing them leave is to pray that they might have a solid Christian witness and be ambassadors for Christ wherever they might move.