Dilemma

[Fingerprint]

Hello, I hope everyone had a good easter or a good holiday depending upon what you believe.

I've recently started a new job as an Area Manager for Network Rail and at the moment am not doing a good job of keeping the trains running on time - so too busy getting abused by the public to spend much time on answerbank at the moment!!

Thank you for your answers on my question for athiests, just read through them and have some replies in my head - will post them when the trains are running a bit smoother.

I have a more pressing question about something that happended over Easter that I wanted to ask. Not really a religious question but thought I would ask it here anyway - it's a bit of a long one.

I'm a white Zimbabwean, I also have English family so have spent my life living between England and Zimbabwe. On Saturday I went to Church and the Priest told me that there are a new Zimbabwean family just joined the parish who are having trouble settling in the area. He asked if I could get to know them and see if I could do anything to help them settle in.

They are a black family, with 4 young daughters all under 12. I realised that the husband is a famous Zimbabwean businessman. They owned a chain of hotels and shops and were very wealthy. The husband opposed Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe, the family had all their assets and finances taken from them, they were all severely beaten and had to flee to country coming to England as asylum seekers. The husband lost his eye in the beating and actually boarded the plane to England with his eye hanging down his face next to his nose, hanging by a vein or something.

[Fingerprint]

Anyway they have nothing in England, they live in a squalid dirty home sleeping on the floor with barely enough food to keep them going. They are all traumatised from their experience and from seeing the lives they knew fall apart. To make matters worse the area they live in has a large BNP presence, people have found out that they are asylum seekers and have attacked and vandalised their home and screamed racist abuse at the young children in the streets.

I just feel hopeless because I don't know how to help them. I don't really have anything that I can give them in the way of money or furnature. I invited them for dinner with me and my wife but they refused to come as they couldn't return the favour in their home - culturally it is essential that you return the hospitality of others. I thought of asking the husband to help me plan an oven cleaning business that I have been thinking of starting, I thought he might be useful as he has been so sucessful in business but maybe he would find this patronising having been involved in much bigger business, and also I don't think he knows much about how things work in England so maybe he would not be able to help that much anyway.

Any ideas what I can do?

[wizard69]

Finger, I cant offer any practical advice but I do admire your determination to help people less fortunate than yourself and I sincerly hope that you can work something out.
I cant help but notice the difference between your post and Mani's latest diatribe. If ever I needed a friend, I know who I'd turn to first...
once again, good luck Finger

[naomi24]

Perhaps the first thing to do is to take the plunge and ask him how he feels about going into business with you. He can only say yes or no. I know to him it would be a small beginning, but when things are that desperate, even a small beginning is better than nothing, and in this family's dire circumstances, he must surely see that he needs to take any opportunities that arise. Maybe he wouldn't feel so patronised if you said that as he had been so successful you'd really appreciate the benefit of his experience, which you probably would.

He's clearly an intelligent man, and he knows that his family must begin a new life. As a businessman he will also be aware that things work differently in England and that he has a lot to learn, but if you're happy to take him on board (and be sure you are!), why not try broaching the subject just to see how he feels? It could end up being beneficial to both of you.

Fingerprint, there are several charities who provide furniture, etc, for people in need - and can even find alternative accommodation if necessary. I'm sure your church will know of some, but if not, in practically every town there's a voluntary services bureau that can probably point you in the right direction.

And Wiz's right - he is lucky to have you as a friend.

[wizard69]

whaaaaaa...
Mani get a life for goodness sakes.

[naomi24]

Yes, Mani, let them kneel in the street to pray - and wait to have their heads bashed in! You nincompoop!!

And by the way - have you given away all you own to be closer to god? You really are the limit Mani - you really are. I've come across some idiots in my time, but you take the biscuit. I've felt genuinely sorry for you up to now, but even my practically infinite patience is running out. Good grief!!

[Fingerprint]

Naomi - Thanks for the idea about the charities. I hadn't thought of that, maybe I can get some furnature for them.

[naomi24]

You're welcome Fingerprint. I was an advisor for a major charity, so worked very closely with social services and other charitable organisations set up to help people in all sorts of difficult situations. (You might recall the discussion about the Salvation Army - an excellent organisation - and I'd say about the best for giving practical help, so they might be worth approaching). If I think of anything else that might help, I'll let you know.