TORONTO, Canada, November 20, 2002 — When Mahmoud Erfani, his wife and three daughters arrive in Canada on November 25, Gail Holland's life will suddenly get busier; much busier.
Holland is the chairperson of her Toronto church's Refugee Sponsorship Committee, and one of many Canadians who have worked behind the scenes to bring the Iranian refugee family to this country to start a new life, free from religious persecution. But, she says, the real work begins once they get here, and the sponsor committee abandon their tasks as government advocates, and pick up new roles as friends and supporters.
The Erfani family, who converted to Christianity from Islam more than 20 years ago, fled to Turkey in 1999 where they have been living as refugees ever since. During their final years in Iran, the family witnessed increasing hostility and harassment from authorities towards religious converts, including the execution of a convert Christian pastor for apostasy, in their hometown of Mashad. Erfani himself was abducted by local secret police for questioning, and the family was evicted from their home. Shortly after the eviction, they made their way across the Turkish border, and began proceedings to try to immigrate to Canada.
It has been a frustrating, lengthy process
It has been a frustrating and lengthy process, according to Holland. "(The Erfanis) were refused (formal refugee status) three times, because they had no way to prove that they had been subject to harassment because of their religion. And finally, we had just about given up hope, because when they were refused again this last time, we thought they were going to be deported from Turkey," she said.
Holland has served as chair of the sponsorship committee for "about five or six years", and as a committee member before that. It is clear she has a heart for what she does. A full-time employee of the Anglican Church of Canada for the past 12 years, Holland works as Co-ordinator of the Anglican Appeal (a fundraiser for mission partnerships). Due to retire in December, the 63-year-old mother and grandmother says she's looking forward to leaving her day job, so she'll have more time for her volunteer work.
She has worked with refugees for decades, and has even hosted many in her own home, during those times when she became aware of a need and happened to have a bedroom sitting empty. Holland says her interest in sponsorship began in the 1980's, while doing volunteer work at a Toronto food bank.
'It's a funny kind of volunteer work to do'
She remembers, "I certainly had a lot of contact with Refugees there. There were a lot of Central American Refugees coming up at that time, so I learned to speak Spanish while I was there, and really started to get interested in sponsorship. I would accompany people to their hearings, and really dove in to learn more about the process.
"It's a funny kind of volunteer work to do, because mostly what you do is sit around and wait. It takes a long time to sponsor a refugee, and it's getting longer ... 18 months wait would be an average. So, you get all excited, you fill out the papers, you send them in, and then you wait and wait and wait and wait," she added.
The Erfani family first came to the attention of Gail and her committee when Kouroesh Barani, Pastor of the Toronto Iranian Alliance Church approached them seeking help. Barani says he had known the Erfanis as a young man living in Mashad.
"I've known them for a long time," Barani commented during a telephone interview, "they were in my church back home." He went on to say they were very active in the church, "a wonderful family", and Mahmoud Erfani is a hard worker, so when he learned of their troubles, he searched for a church that had the resources to sponsor them.
'For Christians with a Muslim background, it is very dangerous'
Himself a Christian convert from Islam, who fled Iran in 1986 due to religious persecution, Barani says he spent time in jail for his adopted faith. "For those Christians with a Muslim background, it is very dangerous (in Iran). Those who reject Islam in favour of Christianity or any other religion, they're subject to a death sentence, or other persecution. They take your job. They take your home. And two (Christian) believers were executed recently," he said.
Barani went on to say that men who reject Islam are given a choice: return to that faith within 24 hours, or die. Women can be put in jail for life, or until they return to Islam. "That is Islamic rule," he added.
Gail Holland admits her church agreed to sponsor the Erfanis primarily and simply because they were made aware of their very great need. In addition to the fact the family were living as refugees in Turkey and facing an increasing risk of being sent back to Iran where they might have to answer apostasy charges, Mrs. Erfani suffers from advancing multiple sclerosis, and Mr. Erfani is frequently left to care for his wife and three daughters on his own.
Playing a part in securing the family's future 'feels good' says Holland
Knowing she has played a part in securing the family's future feels good, says Holland, but at the same time, "the important part hasn't happened yet. The real work hasn't begun. It's a different kind of work before they come, particularly in this case, because it has required a lot of advocacy and letter writing and pleading and pushing, but that's nothing. When they get here, it will be getting the kids into school, and helping them to learn English, helping Mr. Erfani to find a job. Helping the mother to learn English will be a particular challenge because (due to the fact she uses a wheelchair) it will be more difficult for her to get around."
Holland insists she isn't a person who spends hours praying each day, yet she recognizes the answers that come to unspoken prayers. "Last Sunday, someone in my parish approached me and said, 'Hey, I'd be very interested in joining the Refugee Committee', and he used to be an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, so I thought, 'Hah! He'll be able to go and give Mrs. Erfani lessons in her home!"
While she can't recall the scriptural reference, and claims that's not unusual, Holland quotes Proverbs 19:17 verbatim, saying it is one of her favourite Bible verses. "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done" (NIV). It would seem to be not only a favourite verse, but in fact a guiding principle in the life of Gail Holland.
Source: Patricia L. Paddey, Bible Network News with files from Compass Direct
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