St Mary's

Some 10 years ago I was at my usual 6pm Mass at St Mary’s South Brisbane.

At the end of Mass, a young African man was introduced by Fr Peter Kennedy.

Yannick Ndikumara shared how he had spoken out against injustice in Burundi and been beaten and left for dead in a drain pipe. Someone had found him and taken him to hospital where, while recovering, the authorities discovered that he was still alive. They came after him.  Yannick literally jumped out of the hospital window and ran through 14 African countries until he arrived at Botswana where he was told he would need to try to find a country who might accept him as a refugee as he was too much of a risk for Botswana.

A kind Australia (has something happened since?)  accepted Yannick as long as he could get ongoing sponsorship. This was Yannick’s first request which struck a chord with me, although I wondered if anything went wrong how I could possibly finance the outcome. I was not the only person who put their hand up that night- testimony to a St Mary’s community that to this day, despite many obstacles still puts its hand up for justice. The paperwork was huge but led me to a further “complication.” Yannick had fallen in love with Eva over in Botswana and he wanted to marry Eva – in Australia!

We pushed on…

I will never forget the day, not long after more paperwork and further commitments made with my heart in my mouth, that Eva came to Australia – a frightened young woman who knew no English. She could not even speak Yannick’s language! The language of love is a great communicator!

A few weeks later, Eva and Yannick were married at St Mary’s South Brisbane 6pm Mass. The community put on party and there was much celebration. My husband was Best Man!

Two children later, Eva and Yannick are buying their own home in Forest Lake and Yannick has his own courier business. Eva has already sponsored her own niece to Australia after the death of Eva’s sister and Sandra’s mother. Sandra is also now studying nursing. This is success enough…but  15^th December 2012, Eva graduates as a nurse from QUT in Brisbane!

I want to shout this story from the rooftops so I am  trying to send it to every local newspaper and radio station.

Our family regards Eva, Yannick, Micki (who goes to primary school at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart primary School Darra Jindalee)  little Mika and Sandra as friends for life. Ingerid Maher from St Mary’s has been a wonderful Nurse mentor to Eva.

You can call Eva on  0410 822 029.  You would so enjoy the interview.

Narelle Mullins