Norwich doctor's poem in national campaign

A former Vietnamese boat person, who is now a doctor in Norwich, has written a moving poem for a campaign calling people to welcome migrants this Christmas.

 

Dr Phuoc-Tan Diep (pictured right) was three years old when his family fled war-torn Vietnam to the UK in 1978. His story, portrait and poem, form part of an exhibition and campaign launched by the Evangelical Alliance this week.

 

The Don’t Be a Stranger campaign examines the relationship between the church and migrants, and calls on British people to be good neighbours to migrants in their area this Christmas.

 

“The church was influential in us settling in,” said Dr Diep, who now attends Holy Trinity church in Norwich.

 

“They were a God-send – they came and gave us clothes and whatever we needed. We didn’t have anything, it was an empty house. It was amazing. We went to church and there was a lot of support and help from them. Our only family holiday was in the Lake District and they provided it for us.”

 

Dr Diep’s poem, Migration, evokes the smells and sounds of different continents, the echoes of the migrant’s earlier life and longings for the future.

 

He said: “I had a tin sweet-box when we left Vietnam, painted on it were images of England - of hope. I wanted to convey this hope that we all need, a hope that enables us to choose life rather than death.

 

“This poem is also a poem of thanks to England, a country that still welcomes strangers with kindness.”

 

The poem is in a style invented by Dr Diep, called Cleave poetry, which represents fusion and co-operation. It is first read as two separate (vertical) poems and then read left to right as one whole synergistic ‘cleaved’ poem.

 

Dr R David Muir, Head of Public Policy at the Evangelical Alliance, said: “Jesus doesn’t ask us just to love those we would naturally share Christmas dinner with – instead, he challenges us to re-evaluate who our neighbours are and to welcome those we consider to be strangers.

 

“Dr Diep’s story shows that some churches have really taken this challenge seriously, and their dedication to supporting migrants is an inspiration that we hope others will follow.

 

“Inviting someone you don’t know to your home for a meal is a great way to build community, and we call on everyone – no matter your background – to give this a try this Christmas.”

 

Dr Muir is inviting members of the public to illustrate this by sending pictures and stories of friendships to add to the photographic exhibition, which will tour the UK as part of the ‘Don’t be a Stranger’ campaign.

 

Don’t Be a Stranger was launched at the Evangelical Alliance’s annual Temple Address of 27 November 2008. Guest speaker at the event was the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

 

The Archbishop challenged listeners to use the economic crisis to turn away from society’s “rampant consumerism and individualism.” He called for us to re-create a community of responsibility, mercy and compassion for those in need – including asylum seekers and migrants.

 

“The opportunity which is before us as a nation is to use this time of crisis to create a renewed shared vision of community based on service rather than caring for number one, on covenant rather than contract, on duty rather than entitlement,” he said.

 

He referred to the case of Ama Sumami, from Ghana, who was deported after her visa expired, despite facing certain death from cancer on her return as she would be unable to afford the medical treatment she had started in Cardiff.

 

More detailed stories and resources are featured on the Don’t be a Stranger website, www.nostrangers.org.uk, where readers are encouraged to send in their own stories and photographs.

To read our previous story about Dr Diep, click here

 

If you would like the photographic exhibition to tour to your church or community, please contact Nicole Holmes at n.holmes@eauk.org.

 

 

those that can't leave expect a cold winter - they smirk at my battered sweetbox