I’ll Be There When You Need Me

by Mirna Moeljono

“I may not always be with you but I’ll be there when you need me”—that is what I say to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

As an immigrant to the United States myself, I realize that words can give strength and hope. Sometimes I cannot help people because I don’t have all the knowledge and resources necessary, but I can give them hope.

Working on immigration issues is never easy. The rules change all the time and I know they have a big effect on many people. I often feel a heavy responsibility for the survival of immigrant people among unwelcoming communities.

I work withWest Coast MCC to help Indonesian immigrant churches. Together with my co-worker, Gloria James, I assist immigrants who need to complete applications for citizenship and to process other immigration forms. I translate documents and provide training and education. We often help connect clients with a local immigration attorney.

Through my work, I have recently met “Pin-Pin,” a Chinese Christian woman who applied for asylum because of her subjective fear of return to Indonesia on account of her Chinese ethnicity and Christian faith. I met a student named “Hankie” who just began his journey in the United States. I also met “Happy,” 32, who overstayed a visa and is working as a sushi maker in order to support his family in Indonesia. I also met “Andy,” a refugee with whom I had opportunity to share my faith in Jesus Christ.

From these new friends I am learning many new immigrant stories and the politics of the immigrant situation—especially in regards to those who seek asylum from my home country, Indonesia. According to the United States, the government of Indonesia has committed to suppress ethnic and religious violence. But according to those who leave, the government is unable to control anti-Chinese and anti-Christian violence. And U.S. courts have set a very high standard for Indonesian asylum seekers (requiring evidence of direct, personal threats and expert testimony in many cases). As long as the standard remains so difficult, many will probably continue to remain out of status.

As a Christian, I was taught to be a spiritual friend, patient and positive. As an immigrant myself, I understand how immigrants think about life, God, family and the future, especially when they tell stories about their own struggles to survive. I have felt rewarded that I can meet different people and learn from them—recognizing that God can use other people to teach me about immigration through our interaction. These experiences encourage me to stay with MCC, to minister in the church and with marginal and immigrant communities in southern California, especially with the Indonesian immigrant community. I feel blessed to be here, where I am needed.