Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
“I cannot return to my house because it has been so badly damaged.”
Voice 1
Carlos Alves and his family live in a refugee camp in Dili, the capital city of East Timor. They are not alone. In East Timor there are more than one hundred fifty thousand [150,000] people living in refugee camps. These refugees left their homes at different times and for different reasons. But Carlos says they have one thing in common – fear.
Voice 3
“We are too afraid to just go anywhere we please. People sometimes attack and kill each other... I do not know how things can return to normal.”
Voice 2
Many of the refugees first lost their homes during East Timor’s fight for independence. After many years of fighting, East Timor became a country in 1999. People were full of hope. But sadly, after a peaceful period, conflict grew again. In 2006, many people suffered because of gang violence. Many places around the world have problems with gangs. These groups use violence to get what they want. They often develop because of poverty. And they often develop in places where the government is insecure and unstable.
Voice 1
And this is what happened in East Timor. In Dili, competing gangs attacked each other with rocks and other weapons. And they burned many houses. This is what caused many of the people to flee from their homes again. They ran to refugee camps. For a time, the conflict slowed. But in 2007, there was another outbreak of gang violence. People were protesting the new government leaders. The conflict forced many people to leave their homes again.
Voice 2
Sister Guillermina is a religious worker: a nun. She lives with other nuns in a convent. All of these women have promised to serve Jesus Christ. In 2006, Sister Guillermina’s convent began sheltering some of the refugees. Today, they house at least two thousand [2,000] people. The convent is very full. Families sleep any place they can find room.
Voice 1
When the camp began, it received very little help or support from aid organizations. There was not enough food. Five children died because they did not get enough to eat. Now Sister Guillermina’s camp receives support from many aid organizations. These organizations provide food for people in the camp. And, with their help, the camp has better health care and a healthier environment. But even with the help of these aid organizations, it is still hard to provide for so many people.
Voice 4
“Each month the electricity bill is one thousand [1,000] dollars. For four months, we have not been able to pay.”
Voice 2
Sister Guillermina does not only help the refugees. She also helps the gang members. To Sister Guillermina, it does not matter which side a person is from. She welcomes all people. Sometimes, this causes a problem with competing gangs. For five days in September 2006, they attacked the camp. Fighters surrounded her camp and threw stones over the walls. But Sister Guillermina persuaded them to stop.
Voice 4
“I locked the gate. I shouted ‘Please stop stoning because Sister Guillermina is coming.’”
Voice 1
She talked with the leaders of the gangs first. Then she talked with each individual boy. She says that in times of crisis she shows love to thousands of boys. But not all of her meetings with gang members end well. She has been threatened with a knife eleven times. And she has been threatened with a gun three times.
Voice 2
Sister Guillermina has rules to keep peace in the camp. First, she does not permit weapons in the camp. When gang members come to the camp, she takes away their guns, knives and even metal arrows. During one crisis she found three [3] guns and five hundred [500] bullets buried in the ground of the camp. She also does not permit any alcohol in the camp.
Voice 1
Finally, there is also a rule about talk. In the camp, no one talks about the different gangs or the areas that fight each other. And they do not ask the question, “Where are you from?” This way they can keep peace in the camp.
Voice 2
Gang members still live in the camp. But while they are there, they put away their differences. In fact, many work together to protect the camp. Sister Guillermina says,
Voice 4
“They watch the camp and I watch them.”
Voice 1
Sister Guillermina’s work does not end at the camp. She also teaches at the national university. Often, her work there is cut short.
Voice 4
“Some times when I am teaching I get a call and have to leave the students behind and rescue people.”
Voice 2
She has helped police officers, members of parliament, and children. Often, she leaves to help women have babies. She has helped to deliver one hundred and three [103] babies in the camp.
Voice 1
Sister Guillermina shows mercy to all the people who come to her camp. Many people do not think the gang members deserve this kindness. They have caused so much violence and pain. But she chooses to help and love everyone. Sister Guillermina is happy to be a nun.
Voice 4
“It is a great blessing. I am free to save everyone without preference.”
Voice 2
Many Christians would say that Sister Guillermina is showing the love of Jesus Christ to everyone she helps. Jesus healed many people. He spent time with people that did not deserve his help. And this is exactly what he teaches his followers to do. In the Bible, he explains this to his followers. He tells them:
Voice 1
“... What ever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Voice 2
This is why many Christians believe that it is important to help people in difficult situations. Jesus taught that this was one of the best ways to serve God – serving other people! Sister Guillermina is an excellent example of this service – because of her love of Jesus Christ, she is serving the people of Dili.
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