By Tina Boyles Bailey
In July this year following the Baptist world congress in Brisbane Australia, I flew to Sydney to meet with SiYi Chin. He is one of the men that I became quite close to in the Prison Programs in Bali that I assisted for the last 10 years I lived there. To say I was excited to spend a little time with him in freedom would be an understatement.
This was what we had hoped for but were not sure if he and the remaining Bali Nine group would e
ver be free. That all changed when the president of Indonesia decided that they had been in prison long enough and put a process in motion that had them back home in Austria before Christmas last year.
I also had a chance to speak with Matthew Norman as well, about how he is doing. Although they are both happy to now be free, it is not an easy journey to rebuild a life after spending over half of your life in prison for a non-violent crime. And even though Siyi has proven, like Matt as well, by his actions that he is completely reformed… he has faced a lot of stigma and walls. It is hard to get a break.
I continue to pray for him and Matt, that when they apply for jobs with the high degree of skills they developed by helping so many others, the people that they come in contact with will give them a chance. That they are not defined by past mistakes but are seen as the wonderful men they have become. Isn’t that what grace is supposed to be? As the late Myuran Sukamaran (also one of the Bali Nine and was executed) wrote “People Can Change!” But are we willing to see it when it happens or have we already made our minds up to not see what is clearly right in front of us. I fear that in today’s world it is not so common to take time to listen and carefully. It is more common to see and listen to confirm what we have already decided about someone else rather than to update our perspective or opinion. I believe we can do better.
In my current role in Austria, I meet people from so many backgrounds and life situations. It would be unjust to think I already know who they are without taking time to listen to their stories and to get to know them. It takes time but it is worth it because what I think I know is never enough and is often incorrect. I want to keep learning and keep being surprised as my life is enriched by the truly amazing people I am meeting along this journey. Keep giving people a chance and be delighted at how you are surprised when you do.
Please pray for Si Yi and for Matt as they rebuild their lives, also please pray for those whom I am caring for who are still waiting on asylum, for those in power to listen and be willing to give them a chance and grant their asylum.