"Where I am, there My servant will be also..."
Living John 12:26 in the desert of Al-Mafraq, Jordan
From 2016-2018, I lived in Al-Mafraq, Jordan. Al-Mafraq is a dusty, desert town on the border of Syria. Just outside the city limits lies the 2nd largest United Nations refugee camp in the world, Zataari, holding over 100,000 Syrian refugees. At the time, the Syrian war was still raging. There was extraordinary need in the area, with so many people needing help. Apart from the camp, there was an estimated 40,000 refugees or so that lived in the city area, just trying to make it without UN assistance. Many lived in shacks, poorly made shelters in the middle of desert fields. It was an overwhelming need.
I worked as an English teacher at a local church in Al-Mafraq, and taught Syrian refugees that were soon to leave for host countries that spoke English (Europe, Canada, USA). There were many volunteers from around the world that came to Al-Mafraq. Our church community was extremely diverse, hardy, and faced many challenges. Looking back, I have never been around such a dedicated and missional community as I had been there, facing such adversity.
About a year into my stay in Al-Mafraq, a most unusual thing happened. A camp of gypsies came to camp at the outskirts of town. These Gypsies are known to be traveling, nomadic groups that traverse the desert lands through Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. Some do not have citizenship papers for any country. They truly are drifters - moving in and out.
I soon learned that these gypsies were absolutely hated in Al-Mafraq. Now, the Jordanians looked down on Syrian refugees with contempt. But the Syrian refugees looked down on the Gypsies with contempt. The gypsies were the lowest of the low - hated by all, and welcomed by none.
One day I asked my Jordanian Christian friend, Hero*, if we could go visit the gypsies. He was surprised and responded, "Luke, no one visits the gyspies. It's taboo... I love it! Let's go!" So off we went in his car to the outskirts of town.
We were greeted by dozens of children running around. They instantly started trying to take my watch (gypsy children are taught to steal from an early age). We kindly prevented them from doing so, and went to sit and greet the matriarch of the camp. We sat and talked for an hour. We spoke of travels and religion. In the end, we asked them if they would join us at our church the next day. They agreed - none had ever been invited to a church before!
The following day, me and Hero* went to greet the gypsy camp. The entire camp rose and followed us, on foot, from the outskirts of town to the church. Now, our pastor had urged discretion as we brought the gypsies, not wanting to create a commotion in town. Unfortunately, we cause quite a commotion!
The whole camp followed us as we walked downtown. All the passerby in the streets started hissing, booing, and spitting at the gypsies. Shop owners came out and started yelling. It was awful. Then gypsies were truly despised. Nonetheless, we guided them all the way downtown and straight into our church. Sorry, pastor. The commotion was stirred!
We had asked some fellow volunteers at the church to prepare a showing of the Jesus Film in the gypsy language, of which most knew Turkish, in addition to Arabic.
While the film was being presented, I led another group of volunteers for the children's program, which included playing on the playground and having a water balloon fight! With water being scarce in Jordan, this was an extra-special activity. The evening went well, until the very end. The children started missing their parents. Due to a cultural miscommunication, they became very scared thinking we were keeping them from their parents. All the kids melted down. The parents came out distraught seeing their kids like that. After clearing up the confusion, we sent the parents and children home with Bibles.
Amazingly, the next day, the gypsy camp was cleaning up and driving away. Me and Hero* got to say a final goodbye as they drove away, into the desert. As soon as they came, they were gone.
I will never forget this experience. I have never seen a group of people so hated, so publicly shamed. But, we as the church welcomed them and showed them kindness. I pray that the seed sown is bearing fruit, and the Word has proved fruitful.
Lord, we pray that all the gypsies of Jordan would be saved! Amen.
"For this Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
-Matthew 24:14
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