我是來自巴基斯坦的Paul Maqsood。我出生在基督教家庭，但真正認識耶穌時已經是個少年。當我開始讀聖經時，就對自己說要過聖經所指引的生活。那時我感到內心有烈火燃燒，我想為上主做點甚麼，很想在我的社群裡面幫助其他的信徒。
我們居住的四周沒有教會，而我父親坐擁很多土地，於是我請求父親捐出土地讓我們興建教會。事成了我就向政府申請註冊，開始興建教會的工程。當地的穆斯林聽到消息之後，有約4,000至5,000人蜂湧而至，不斷毆打我，直到我陷入昏迷，才將我拋在教會前面。
父親因此非常擔心，勸我逃亡去香港。為了我的人身安全，我在2002年來到香港，可是父親在3年後變得非常虛弱，希望我能回巴基斯坦見他最後一面。我順利回到巴基斯坦，送別了我的父親。那時我在老家遇上一個女孩，我們相愛並在2006年結婚建立家庭。在上主的提醒之下，我在2007年再度向政府申請註冊，在區內重新開展教會。不出所料，又有一群流氓來攻擊我，把我嘴裡每一隻牙齒都打碎，連我的膝蓋都碎掉了。那次襲擊過於猛烈，我甚至無法反應過來去保護自己。再一次，於2009年，我離開巴基斯坦。
我感謝香港政府為我所做的，尤其是我初來乍到的時候。在這裡生活了超過14年，我一直希望某種程度上，事情能對我和其他尋求庇護者變得更正常。租金和食物價格不斷上漲，單靠政府給我們的津貼過活一點都不容易。這些年來租金持續上升，可是難民身份又不准我們工作，用每月1,500元的房屋準貼找地方住實在是不可能的任務。我們只准在百佳購買食物，可是大型超市的價格遠超小店。就算我在其他地方找到便宜一點的東西，我也不能用政府給予的食物卡購買。我還要每星期去屯門入境處報到，車費津貼是有的，但每月只有200元，而我每次來回屯門的車費超過30元。我不會有餘錢買質量好一點的衣服、鞋子或衞生用品。
作為一個巴基斯坦人，在香港生活總是有點困難。有些人、尤其年長一點的對我十分友善，可能因為我駕馭了些少廣東話，讓我能在公園跟他們溝通。可是，年輕人好像不太懂得怎樣跟我相處，他們有些人會做出不尊重的行為。像我乘港鐵的時候，沒有人會坐在我旁邊。我不知道他們是怕了我，還是他們覺得我不應該存在。有些人看見我甚至會用手捂著嘴巴，或發出厭惡的聲音，好像我有十級體臭一樣。我們不骯髒的，我們每天都會洗澡，但有些人令我覺得我們不是人。我不明白為何他們有這種想法。就算是有香港居民身份證的巴基斯坦人，也會遭受這些事情。我曾到過中國內地，內地人都懂得尊重我們，對我們更加友善。當然有些香港人認識我之後態度有所改變，因為他們發現我們一樣都是人。雖然我有時受到不平等待遇，但我仍然相信要彼此相愛，所以我嘗試不讓那些難受的時刻侵佔自己的腦袋，繼續用愛與尊重去對待每一個人。
作者按：現時Paul投入參與服侍其他尋求庇護者，幫助他們尋找盼望和生命意義。他一步步實現服侍上主的初衷，幫助和關懷身邊每一位鄰舍。
My name is Paul Maqsood, I am from Pakistan. I was born a Christian but came to know Jesus when I was a teenager. I read the Bible and decided I want to live like the Bible teaches. I felt like a fire inside me and I want to do something for God in my Community to help the other Christians.
There was no church in my area and my father had a lot of land. I asked him to donate some land so we can build a church in my area. I registered my church with the government and started to build and when the Muslims in the area heard about me building a church, 4000 to 5000 people came and they started beating me until I was unconscious and then threw me in front of the church.
My father was very disturbed by all of this and told me to leave and go to Hong Kong. I came to Hong Kong in 2002 for fear of my life. In 2005 My father became very ill and wanted me to come back to Pakistan before he passed away. So I came back that year to see my father before he died. When I came back, I fell in love with a young girl and we married in 2006 and started a family. Inspired by God’s word, in 2007 I made another registration with the government to start a church in my area. Again a mob of people came and beat me, they broke every tooth in my mouth, broke my knee and it was so intense I couldn’t respond, to protect myself. I left Pakistan for fear of my life in 2009.
I appreciate what the Hong Kong government has done for me, especially in the beginning. Living here for over 14 years I have hoped somehow things could become more normal for me and other Asylum seekers. It is not easy to live on the allowance that we receive, especially as prices of housing and food have increased so much over the years. It is illegal for us to work, and with rising prices it is impossible to find a place to stay for 1500 HKD a month. We can only shop in Park N Shop for our food, the prices are more and more expensive in the big stores. I can find cheaper prices in other shops, but I can’t use the coupons in those shops. I am required to travel to Tuen Mun to register every week. I am given some money for transportation, but only 200HKD. It is more than $30 to get there and back home. I have no money to buy good clothes and shoes or hygiene items.
Living here as a Pakistani is a little difficult. Some people treat me nicely, especially the older people. I can speak some Cantonese and so I talk to the people sometimes in the parks. The younger people don’t know how to relate to me. Some of them misbehave and don’t treat me with respect. If I take a seat on the MTR, no one will want to sit next to me. I don’t know if they are afraid or they don’t like me being in Hong Kong, sometimes when they see us they put their hand over their mouth or they make a sound of discussed or like I am smelly. We are not dirty people, we shower every day, but it makes us feel like we are not people. I don’t know why they feel this way. Even those of us that have HK ID are treated in the same way. I have been to the mainland and the people there treat us with respect, they treat us much better. When I have gotten to know some local people, their attitude changes and they see that we are people just like them. I do believe we should love one another and even though I am treated, at times much differently, I try not to let it bother me and keep in my mind an attitude of love and respect to everyone I meet.
Author's Note: Paul is involved now in serving other asylum seekers, helping them find hope and purpose in life. He has always wanted to serve God in some way and has pursued that road, helping and caring for the “neighbors” around him.
