My Sister, Part II

(Several entries ago, I described a nanny/maid who was being treated almost as a slave. Here is an update about the situation.)

What would you do if someone you knew was treating another human being like a slave? Appeal to the employer's conscience? Remind her of a person's basic human rights? Confront her with a mediator?

We were pondering all these questions as we handed the situation over to university officials a few weeks ago. Not long after, one called me back and said, "Here's what we are going to do - I'll talk with the employer and tell her that an unhappy nanny could be dangerous - she could go psychotic, she could kidnap the children, she could hurt them - so the nanny should be sent home as soon as possible."

I resisted the urge to burst out laughing - or crying.

I had thought through dozens of confrontation scenarios, but I sure hadn't considered the psychotic maid approach! So that's why I can never seem to figure out the Moroccan style of communication! Never direct, but round-about, convoluted, and face-saving at all costs. That's why Americans are considered rude in so many cultures. We say what we mean, by golly.

The conversation happened and the employer agreed that the maid should go. Whew! Step one accomplished!

But the employer had made the issue into a Christians vs. Muslims issue - the last thing we need around here.

And during that next week, the maid was not allowed to leave her house or speak to anyone. The curtains were always closed and no one saw her for days except a few glimpses when she peeked out. I realized with a sickening feeling that I was not going to be able to say goodbye and that I had no way of even knowing if she was OK. Her employer held all the cards and one bad move - me getting caught in the house - could ruin everything for the maid.

Those of us from western cultures nearly went crazy. Why can't we just march in there and confront? Why can't we remove the maid from the situation? How is it OK for someone to hold another hostage and not be in trouble for it? Why do we have to sneak around like spies just to catch a glimpse of our friend? Working within the framework of another culture is confusing.

But as that long week drew to a close, we found out to our joy that the employer had bought a ticket for the maid to go home! I wrote a goodbye letter to the maid, contact information, some verses, and some money from the church and sent it in with the housing manager who was going in to fix something in the house.

Less than a week after the conversation, a Moroccan friend of ours happened to see the employer and maid leave for the airport and rushed out to give a gift to the maid. "Don't give anything to her," protested the employer, "she's a Christian - you won't get any points to get to heaven for helping her." But our Muslim friend insisted on giving the maid a gift anyway.

Since then, we have heard nothing from the maid. What if her employer found and confiscated my letter? What if she was dumped in the desert somewhere? I was very uptight about all this until last week when I had a sudden feeling of complete relief and peace about the situation - as if God were telling me I no longer need to worry - the maid - my sister - has made it home.