Luton Roma Church : Economic Migration to UK: why Bobby came to Luton!

What we do...

My work with the Roma began with English Romanies in Kent. I wrote up my experiences with them in "The Pure in Heart - An Epistle from the Romanies", 2009. Moving then to Luton I began meeting the Romanian Roma families, some who had been in the UK some time, others who had been streaming into Luton since 2007. Working in partnership with other agencies in Luton we are trying to help the Roma families integrate in a holistic way into the UK. In May 2011 we began Luton Roma Church, renting a building in the Bury Park area of town where many live and gather. Our Roma all come from Romania, but there are major cultural differences between the different groups and dialects they speak. My role has been increasingly to build bridges between these groups as well as helping the families integrate into the wider community. Learning Romani has helped me to build trusting relationships and facilitate communication in all manner of situations. In partnership with Luton Adult Learning and assisted by their ESOL expert, we have now raised up a team of volunteers to bring English Language and Literacy teaching into the Roma family homes. We see education as the key to their integration and employment. We are currently in touch with c.25 extended family homes and, with the help of our minibus, we welcome c.70 to our weekly Sunday service. The meeting provides a safe place for the families to meet up and our vision is to empower the Roma to take full responsibility for their own church and community.

Who are the Roma people?

“The Roma people hold a prophetic place in God’s world, bearing witness to the possibility of being a discreet ethnic group that does not seek its own land, its own power base, and its own desire to control others. As such the Roma body forth a vision for a stateless world, an earth which belongs to God and can be shared freely by all people.” This is just one of the remarkable statements made by Christian ministries working with some of Europe’s 10-12 million Roma peoples when EEA contacted them recently. Could the Roma be a blessing to wider society? Many would have their doubts.

According to the European Roma Rights Centre, “Since 2008, the European Roma Rights Centre has registered at least 48 violent attacks against Roma in Hungary, at least 19 attacks in the Czech Republic and at least 10 attacks in Slovakia resulting in a combined total of at least 11 fatalities and involving Molotov cocktails, hand grenades and guns, police violence, arson attacks, mob violence and demonstrations.” (www.errc.org). Last summer, France was severely condemned for expelling many Romanian & Bulgaria Roma. But this policy is common. In April alone, Amnesty International reports evictions in Italy, Romania & Serbia. Meanwhile, in Hungary, the far right Jobbik party held an anti-Roma march in Gyöngyöspata. Since then, vigilante groups have been patrolling the area harassing Roma residents. Apparently, the police have done nothing.

Why these attacks are happening is complicated. The Roma make up a significant proportion of the population throughout the Balkans and Hungary (7%). Across Europe, centuries of segregation, growing mistrust from both sides and scapegoating, unemployment, poverty and alcoholism and deep cultural differences all feed the problem. Many Roma feel that their survival is threatened.

We all hate the thought of Roma being attacked but most of us would have no idea what we could do to help. EEA has discovered it is not hard to start learning. Of course, we should all be praying and speaking up against extremism. Extremists gain power when good people remain quiet. We should demand the police act fairly and don’t allow Roma to be scapegoated. But we can also be praying for the Roma themselves, learning about their culture, supporting Roma ministries and making friends with Roma people.

Roma ministry experts gave this advice for those who do not know where to start. Listen, take time, befriend, be respectful, humble yourself and expect to learn. Don’t be scared. Don’t emphasise differences, just treat Roma as equals. Only a minority behave badly. Some have a victimhood mentality but this can be overcome. Story telling, music and worship make a deep impact. Make friends and you will discover amazing gifts and wisdom. Many Roma have no self esteem but their culture has so much to offer us, so honour them. There are many practical needs – language and literacy learning, broader education, clothing, help in finding work and housing etc. But the most important need is love and taking time to help Roma people gain hope.

There are strong and growing Roma Christian communities across Europe. Meanwhile, SIL/Wycliffe are busy with Bible translation projects. And there is much to pray for. Here are just a few suggestions.

Pray for

- Christian leadership among the Roma, people with integrity

- Roma children and young people

- For spiritual breakthrough where there is darkness (e.g. alcoholism, sexual abuse, trafficking, hopelessness).

- Bible translation projects.

- Many more Christians to love and reach out to the Roma.

- More links between Roma Christians and ministries across Europe.

And please keep praying about the growing levels of intolerance.

Our Romani Songs

Murro/yilo kovlo/hai muto [tune: 'freely, freely']

my heart is soft and silent

ei an/de mande e /pace

within my soul there is now peace

o /svuto dux pe /mande lo

the Holy Spirit rests on me

ando / kher le Dev/lesko me be/shau

in the house of God I find my rest

suma/Dad akana / pasha mande

I have a Father now beside my side

wo traiil ande man/de

he lives within me.

somas/xasarde ande pusta

In the wilderness I was so lost

bi/devlesko somas sorro zhes

All day long without my God

le/Dushamane chi gelentar

the enemy would not leave me

numa/sanas mai zuralo lendar

but you were stronger even than he

rhugi /ma ajesh ando shib nevo

I pray today in a new tongue

prinjarau le vorbi kai aven ko Del

I recognise the words that come from God

amaro/Dad trade pesko shau pe phuv

our Father sent his Son to earth

te inge/rel me pe o drom sano

to lead me in the narrow way

gila/bau ajesh ando shib nevo

I sing today in a new tongue

skepi/sarde man amaro Del

you saved me o our Lord Jesus

lesko/glaso ashundem de opral

I heard your voice from high above

wo inger/de me pe o drom lasho

you lead me in the better way

ara/khlem le streni chore

I found the poorer stranger

kai be/shenas mashk'amende

who found his dwelling near us

amaro/Del o Jesus ushtilo

Jesus Christ our Lord is risen

hai wo/traiil mashk'amende incontin

he lives continually amongst us.

Martin Burrell

CD/EDCCFE/D FEDD/GFE C/AAGC/FGECD

EFGFE/DDC

CD/EDC/EDC/FFED/DCB DCB/C [X2] [chorus]

Devla amari zor, tu t'aves

te na nakhas ajesh o drom paro

that we don't pass by the difficult road today

te andol [in] klipe [moments] ol [one] phare [difficult] {te nevoime [needs]}

in difficult moment and the needs

hai shu chi pace, pace, pace pe ame

Aven phrala aven

aven ke amaro Del

aven sigo aven

aven ke amaro Del [x2]

Ashun kana rhugisaras [listen when we pray]

raspundisar kan' akaras [respond when we call]

te kai so avasa dui manush [for where there are 2 people]

hai shu chi pace, pace, pace pe ame [give us your peace]

Anav tumenge e pace [3x] [I bring you peace]

Anav e pace, pace, pace le Develski

Anav tumenge o duxo [3x]

Anau tumenge o duxo

ADF/A E FE/D

AAA/D A BbA/G

AABb/A E AGF /EED

A E A E/A GFE/D

AACBbA/G GGBbAG/F

FFAGF/E FFEFG/A

AACBbA/G GGBbAG/F

FFAGF/E EFEDC'/D

***

Dace duxo le devlesko e andre mande jilabau sar o David. [x2]

Jilabau, jilabau, jilabau sar o David . [x2]

Dace duxo le devlesko e andre mande rugi ma sar o David. . [x2]

Rugi ma, rugi ma, rugi ma, sar O David . [x2]

Dace duxo le develesko e andre mande me khelau sar o David. . [x2]

Me khelau, me khelau, me khelau, me khelau sar o David. . [x2]

AA/DDDEFED FEDCshE/D [x2] [D minor]

A/BbAGBbAGFAGFEG/A

A/BbAGBbAGFAGFEF/D

Hotariselom te tzau ka Jesus [3x] [Alosardem te ...]

Hai palpale, me chi mai tzau [x2]

Khantchi na miskil-a man pa drom[x3]

hai chi kamau te beshau palal [x2]

CCE/GG GAG/EC GGG/GG GAGAG CCE/GG GAG/EC GAG/E CDD/C

O ca-rano vasdelas pesko kher pe stinka x 3

hai e barval phurdelas

e barval phurdelas, o brashund delas x3

hai o kher res-is-tilas.

O dilo vasdelas pesko kher pe kishai x3

Hai e barval phurdelas

e barval phurdelas, o brashund delas x3

hai lesko kher se phag-iles.

GG / CCCCC DD/ C BA B

G / DDDDDEE/DCBC

G/EEEEEFF/EDCD EF

GFEDC

Tu san ate, amaro Del amaro Del

tu san ate, mashkar amende

Tu san juvindo, amaro Del, amaro Del

tu san juvindo, mashkar amende

Tu san o drom, amaro Del, amaro Del

tu san o drom, hai o traio

Tu san o traio, amaro Del, amaro Del

tu san o traio, hai o chechimo

Tu jubis ame, amaro Del, amaro Del

tu jubis ame, ....

Jesus traiil, andre mande, andre mande

Jesus traiil, andre mande

Ando tuniariko, tu san o Del, tu san o Del

ando tuniariko, tu san amaro Del

Jesus Christo, tu san o Del, tu san o Del

Jesus Christo, tu san amaro Del.

Ame kamas, Jesus, Jesus

ame kamas Jesus Christo

EGEG/FEFD FEFD/ EGEG/FEFDC

****

UNA UNA We're the UNA Children Club

UNA UNA ame sam o klub shaurenge

UNA Come Along Kids Club One and All

UNA haide haide se le shauren

UNA UNA Children of God's family

UNA shau familia le devleske

Sharing,Caring His Love for everyone X2

Ashas, Yubinas, mashkar amende

God's love shining in my heart

Kamimo le Devlesko,

Shines His way to light the dark X2

streluchil andre mande

God's hope for my family

E speransa le Devleski

In our home I love to be X2

Mande khere si shukar

God's ambassador I'll be

Ambassado le Devlesko

In His world my life they'll see X2

lesko traio ande mande UNA, UNA, UNA, UNA

ECEC/DEFGFEDC/ECEC/DDCB/C x2

DDDDDEFD/EEEEEFGE/DDDDDEFD/EEEEEFGE

ECEC/DEFGFEDC/ECEC/DDCB/C x2

DDDDDEFD/EEEEEFGE/DDDDDEFD/EEEEEFGE

***************

LRC Befriending Scheme

Steps towards becoming a befriender…

1. Initial discussion with team leader, Martin Burrell

2. Shadow an experienced befriender on a home visit

3. Apply in writing, giving two references.

4. CRB application

5. Attend an initial two hour induction session

6. Visit your Roma family with Martin or Richard

7. Continue to make regular weekly visits

8. Attend a second induction session

9. Ongoing training programme for all our befrienders

10. Monthly meeting with Martin to monitor work in progress

11. Termly mentors meetings to pray, share and learn from one another

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25:40

FACE TO FACE

In the image of God he made them” Gen 1:27

Despite being the largest ethnic minority in Europe, Roma have experienced persecution and discrimination for centuries. The continuous discrimination and social exclusion of this community has resulted in various problems, including poor health; the shortest life expectancy and the lowest educational attainment of all ethnic groups in Britain; extreme poverty; homelessness; and limited employability skills and rights.

In the face of such difficulties, our aim is to communicate the unconditional love of God through befriending the Roma families in our midst. All our gifts of empathy and sensitivity are needed to build trust over a period of time. We learn to meet them where they are at, try to avoid imposing our culture on them, and come to discover the risen presence of Jesus along the way. The training sessions are aimed at helping us understand Roma culture, avoid some of the pitfalls, and be more effective as a team of befrienders.

“They are poor yet make many rich”

Here are some of the things a befriender might do…

· Read and explain official letters

· Register family with GP

· Contact people from other agencies in Luton regarding schooling, health, accommodation, employment and benefit matters.

· Help with learning English

· Help children with homework

· Learn some Romani phrases

· Maybe offer a lift to Wednesday Roma Church, or to Sunday church.

· Enjoy food offered

· Show photos of your family

· Find things they need e.g. furniture, kitchenware

· Pray for them

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile,

neither slave nor free,

nor is there male and female,

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28

Luton Roma Church

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Economic Migration to UK: why Bobby came to Luton!

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