While Bobby and I were working with refugees in Austria, I befriended a mother and daughter from Somalia. Nimco was regal, beautiful, calm and tired. Part of her fatigue came from caring for her teenage daughter, Ayan.
They were living in a pension with lots of other refugees. Their room had two twin beds, a small refrigerator, a table and a couple of chairs. I liked visiting their room though it was always a little too hot and too quiet. Neither of these women spoke much English. Also, Ayan was almost always in bed, facing the wall, immobile.
The situation in Somalia was dire. They had to leave their home which had been a very comfortable, affluent one. Ayan’s father had been an ambassador to Sweden where her older sister lived at that time with her family. But Nimco and Ayan were waiting. And it was boring.
It’s not like they could bring books or other things to amuse themselves. They fled with their lives and not much more. So, now they were living in a country where they couldn’t communicate and couldn’t move on.
Enter Amy.
Though I often visited their room, we were rarely able to convince Nimco to attend our Bible study or a special concert. On the occasions she agreed, she made the evening an event. Before one concert we arrived to collect Nimco. She wore a brilliant, emerald scarf draped over her head and around her shoulders. It added to her queenly countenance and brought attention to her. But we were never able to get Ayan out of bed.
Nimco somehow communicated with me that her daughter who lived in Sweden was coming for a visit. She asked me to pick up her daughter at the airport. I did and was pleased to find a lively, educated, English-speaking woman. I was finally able to communicate with Nimco and Ayan through her and piece more of their story together.
For several days I played tour guide. Nimco’s daughter wanted to see Vienna and Baden. I drove them all over the city and took them to St. Stephen’s cathedral and the beautiful Vienna City Hall.
Before her daughter left, Nimco indicated that she wanted to give me a gift. I tried to talk her out of it. I didn’t need or deserve anything she might give. That’s when she handed me a beautiful, unique necklace and bracelet. A reminder, even now, of the impact a little effort at friendship can make.
