April Was Too Soon

Why the End of March?

The pain and reality of being double booked required my departure from S. Texas at the end of March instead of my middle April expectation.  Sweet are the memories of those who planned and attended the departure party in the re-purposed classroom.

I am home, but taking a on line course, Module 4, at www.beadisciple.com.  I’m preparing to obtain a certified laity position with the United Methodist Church

From BeADisciple’s Web Page:

BeADisciple is also a community of people who are invested in becoming better Christian disciples. As courses are conducted in small groups with a trained facilitator or a certified instructor, students and instructors have an opportunity to get to know one another. Groups begin together, progress through materials, and end together. Individual students participate at the time of day that works best for their schedule and are not required to be online at the same time as other participants. Our courses are open to anyone, and there’s no membership fee to be a part of our community — simply enroll in a course that interests you! CEU credits are available for all of our courses.

BeADisciple.com is one of several programs of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College, a United Methodist institution in Winfield, Kansas. To learn about all of the Institute’s activities, visit http://www.institutefordiscipleship.org

Unexpected but Appreciated Help and Company

I had such a terrible experience on the roads in down town Houston on my way down, I emailed my daughter-in-law, Gale, asking her to find me a way to come home so I did not have to drive through downtown Houston. 

Her solution was better than I could have thought or imagined.  She flew down and drove me home!




My first breakfast on the the road in Texas was a dish titled, Eggs, Al La Mexicana.  It was delicious. 

Sure do love the hot sauces of Texas.

Unexpected Memory Trigger

Passing through a government check point brought back the many memories of my service with World Council of Churches in their Ecumenical Accompaniment Program Palestine Israel.

God has used that experience and the memories it triggers to help me "see" injustice that I had previously not identified and named.  

An awakening that has and is changing what I say and do.

 

Home in April

Looking out my window, I was greeted with SNOW.  Sad to see it, but VERY glad I did not have to drive in it.

The snow lasted only a day or two.   Soon we had "greenish brown" lawn again.

Even More Snow (A Primer for my Texas Friends)

April 4th I woke up to another storm.  I opened the Garage door to find a drift of about a foot high had blown against the door. 

It was garbage day and the trash bin had to go out by 6:30 AM.









Pulling the bin through the snow was not an easy task.  The strong wind made it even more difficult.







When the light of dawn came it showed the reality, the bin had been blown over by the strong wind. 

I had to go back out in the storm to set it upright.

The wind had been blowing so hard, that my previous tracks were already snow covered.

All was well, waiting.  

What I did not know was that the garbage service was canceled because of the weather.


The picture to the right is a picture of side-ways snow.

Sorry it is not really clear, 

When it is snowing and windy the snow comes down to the ground sideways.

Weather Matters

Remembering again how in Traverse City, MI the weather is an intrusion on scheduling.  I have been forced to stay home because of bad roads.  It is a good thing, however, I am getting a lot done on my class assignments!

Remember Refugees in Your Prayers

Many Are Facing Weather without Needed Protection

Another Glimpse of La Posada

Sharing My Reflections and Parts of a Newsletter

I am so happy to be able to stay connected through la Posada's Newsletter.  Below are parts of the newsletter and my reflections.  Please remember La Posada Providencia in your prayers and donations.  https://lppshelter.org

La Posada Providencia's E-Newsletter Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Those Who Inspire

 Sister Therese puts the final touches on the birthday cake.  Sister Zita is holding the individual cards each client created especially for her.  Sister Zita's love, the love of all the sisters and staff are God's Prevenient Grace flowing to the immigrants and asylum seekers at La Posada.

Program Director, Sister Zita Telkamp, CDP, is someone who comes to mind when contemplating inspiration. Anyone touched by La Posada during the past 10 years can certainly offer testimony of her daily activities that are inspiring. We are not sure when she sleeps because it seems she is always up and about attending to various client and staff needs. And, she does all of this at all times of the day and night! That is why it was very fitting that clients and staff stopped for a break to honor her and celebrate her birthday on March 23^rd, with cake and ice cream.

Thank you Sister Zita for all you do!

Ever wonder who inspires someone like Sister Zita? Well, she recently told us of someone, a client, named Irma. When asked why, Sister stated “The reason why I find her inspiring is that she is 78 years old and very hard working. I have noticed her helping our cook in the kitchen, cleaning, and setting the table. She shows the energy of a younger person.”

We all need sources of inspiration to help us as we travel our life’s journey. May Providence shine on our inspirational heroes – those for whom we sing praises and those whose praises are yet to be sung.

On the Left is resident Irma.








Below are the residents helping celebrate Sister Zita's birthday.

Present Client Census: 15 Clients representing 9 different countries 5  Women:   2- Salvador, 1-Congo, 1-Guatemala, 1-Zimbabwe 3  Children:  1-El Salvador,1-Congo, 1-Guatemala 7  Men: 2-Mexico, 1-USA, 1-Cameroon, 2-Eritrea; 1-Rwanda

The Client Census above is a "snapshot" of the numbers on the Tuesday of the newsletter.  The reality is a constant flux of asylum seekers in and out. 

Family separation adds to the pain of the violence that causes the migration in the first place.  Many of the women are monitored as criminals.


The mothers have been separated from their spouses and children have been separated form their fathers by our immigration system's rules.  Above is the government bus from Dilly Detention Center bringing many to us for our care and repair.

Check out the many articles on the Internet about Dilly Family Detention Center, Dilly Texas. This detention center is where many mothers and children at La Posada were detained prior to coming to La Posada. 

Much is needed, Much is Required

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, then you are on the side of the oppressor (Desmond Tutu)

“What you did or failed to do you did for or failed to do for me,” Jesus.

Our Call to do Justice

With Liberty and Justice for All

The Immigrant's Prayer By Jorge Palacios, Jr. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Our Father, Father to all the peoples of the Earth, to the most destitute and the most powerful, Father to those who condemn us and those who welcome us, Father who protects us, who gives us life and strength to leave the only place we know as home, may your name be always cherished by our lips, chapped and broken as they may be.

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, Though we do not feign to understand your will, we pray that it may be done. Though we do not pretend to know what this new land holds for us, we pray that it may begin to look like home. on earth as it is in heaven May our outlook of heaven begin to take form here on earth, and that our material poverty and struggle may begin to dissipate, making room for our heavenly home. Give us this day our daily bread; You, Father, are the source that provides for us, completely. We rely on you, our rock and our salvation, for hope and for our physical needs. and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us Many will despise us for the languages we speak, for the color of our skin, and for the lands from which we come. They will call us trespassers. Forgive us for seeking worlds for ourselves, as we forgive those who despise us. and lead us not into temptation Do not let us forget who we are, where we come from, and how we got here. Do not let us, Lord, forget you. but deliver us from evil. Amen.   About Jorge Palacios, Jr. A Junior studying Religious Studies and Music Performance at Regis University, Jorge Palacios has become a young voice for the rights of the undocumented, refugees, and minorities. Having attended the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice for the last three consecutive years, as well as having spoken on the main stage at the Teach-in this past November, Palacios remains focused to advocating for the marginalized. Palacios hopes, as a child of immigrants, to bring together communities that seem polarized on issues regarding human dignity, knowing what it means to reconcile two different worlds.  From an Ignatian Solidarity Network Series 2017

All of Michigan is an ICE 'border zone' — here are the rights all immigrants should know

Posted By Lee DeVito on Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 2:06 pm

• Nick Hayes
• "Undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic."

It's clear by now: the Trump administration is cracking down on undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. In Michigan, several events have highlighted the extent of the efforts so far.

In October 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested and deported a father in Southwest Detroit who had previously been granted a special visa that would allow him to obtain legal status and live in the U.S. in exchange for cooperating with police.

As part of a nationwide immigration sweep, four 7-Eleven stores in metro Detroit were targeted on Jan. 10 by ICE agents as part of an investigation into undocumented workers. At least one 7-Eleven employee was detained, along with 21 across the country.

And then there's the case of Jorge Garcia, a Lincoln Park father who was deported to Mexico on Jan. 15 after living without incident in the U.S. for 30 years.

The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from random and arbitrary stops and searches. However, that doesn't necessarily apply to those who fall within the government’s 100-mile "border zone." Since Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes, it is considered such a zone — and the zone covers the entirety of the state, as you can see in this American Civil Liberties Union map. (In fact, two-thirds of the country’s population — more than 200 million citizens — lives within these border zones.)

Federal agents are granted "extraordinary powers" to search people or vehicles without a warrant in these border zones. But the "extraordinary powers" granted within these zones does not mean federal agents are constitutionally exempt. Agents are not allowed to pull someone over without "reasonable suspicion" of an immigration violation or crime and cannot search a vehicle without a warrant or "probable cause."

According to the ACLU of Michigan, people have the legal right to tell border agents the following — even if they are undocumented:

• "I am not required to answer your questions about my immigration status and do not wish to do so."

• "I do not consent to a search of my belongings."

• "I wish to remain silent."

People can also:

• Video record the interaction.

• Tell others they have rights and should use them, but do not block officers from performing their duties.

To learn more about immigrant rights, click here.

On The Road Again, Soon!

RETURNING

The bittersweet reality of departure haunts each ending of mission service experience.  I have been a winter Texan two years and I have told God it is OK with me if I have that designation again next year.

Reality of chores waiting in Michigan is requiring focusing and prioritizing.  Praise God with me that my Daughter-in-law, Gale, has offered to fly to Texas and is going to drive/ride with me cross-country.

TIME 

We all have the same amount, but how often it seems to stand still or fly!  Walking in 80+-degree weather while in Texas, January thru March is one of the joys.

Some white pelicans show up in San Benito every 3-5 years.  This was the year and I was blessed to see them!

God continues to teach me life lessons because of my “yes” to ministry. 

 Circumstances are gifts for listening and growing in understanding God’s Providence and Prevenient Grace in our lives.

GUN ISSUES:

We are having a national conversation about guns.  It is a needed conversation.

At the same time, it is morally responsible to include in the conversation the number of deaths occurring because of the guns of war.  

How many of the bullets bombs and drones  that killed people worldwide have USA stamped on them or were produced by our military industrial complex?

Statistics of 2017, guns of war.

Start of conflict	Conflict	Continent	Location	Cumulative fatalities	Fatalities in 2017
1978	War in Afghanistan ·       Current phase	Asia	Afghanistan	1,240,000–2,000,000[2]	23,065[n 1]
2003	Iraq conflict ·       Iraqi Civil War	Asia	Iraq	268,000[10][dubious – discuss]	13,187[10]
2006	Mexican Drug War	North America	Mexico	106,000+[13][14][a]	14,771[15][b]
2011	Syrian Civil War	Asia	Syria	156,780–482,150[n 2]	39,000[28]

[i]

Jesus shows no partiality to country or persons,
we are all called to nonviolent living,
“Love Your Enemies.”

Saying “Yes” to Serve at La Posada

Tuesday in Texas is the title of the newsletter produced by La Posada where I served.  The statistics below show the realities as of Tuesday 3/20/18.

Present Client Census: 19 Clients representing 9 different countries

6  Women:   3-El Salvador, 1-Mexico, 1-Congo, 1-Guatemala
5  Children:  2-El Salvador, 2-Congo, 1-Guatemala
8  Men: 1-Mexico, 1-Eritrea, 2-Cuba, 1-Nigeria 1-USA, 1-Cameroon, 1-Congo

These are names and numbers to anyone who reads this, however, to me, now; they are people who received God’s Prevenient Grace at La Posada.  I have had the privilege of seeing Christ in them. 

It was my privilege as Sister Therese leads us in the opening of each day of school.  Each day we say the pledge of allegiance and sing together, God Bless America. 

As part of the cultural orientation in January, Sister Therese taught about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  I loved hearing these suffering asylum seekers singing, “We Shall Overcome.”

It was my joy to see the progress as everyone worked hard to learn English.  For some it was their third or fourth language.  With the young students each week, we were worked on learning the alphabet.  I discovered that for one eight year-old English is the third language going into his head. 

Serving at La Posada was my joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  We also sang This Little Light of Mine.  It is fun watching everyone do the motions and enjoy singing together. 

It is a worshipful soul re-commitment for me as I heard the multi-national singers' voices singing of God’s light.  “Jesus gave it to me, I’m going to let shine.  

The residents are here because of bombs, bullets and violence.  Jesus is the answer.  

May rivers of justice flow from each of our choices in our 24/7’s! 

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FAMILY

Finding Family at First United Methodist Church of San Benito was a joy.  

The United Methodist Women's Unit visited La Posada.

The discussions in the Sunday school class were opportunities to ponder perspectives.

The first Sunday I attended, I was invited to sit in the "Michigan Row."   I also was invited to join them for lunch after church.  

I also attended some events where most live, at Sun and Fun!

My Added Journey

I have added another “Yes” to God and am studying to becoming a Certified Lay Minister, CLM, with the United Methodist Church.  I still have CLM course work and other requirements to complete.  An area of my training, interactions with an established congregation, will be accomplished in the family of God that is the Grawn United Methodist Church.  As I learn and serve in the capacity of a Certified Lay Minister, CLM, I look forward to growing in community with all at Grawn United Methodist Church.  Part of my service will be as the Peace with Justice Coordinator for District 2 of the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. 

Pray and Act for Peace with Justice 

---

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts#10,000_or_more_deaths_in_current_or_past_year

As They Were on Their Way They Were Cleansed.

"As they were on their way they were cleansed."  Luke 17:14 I will be leaving S. Texas at the end of March.  Every going out has created cleansing opportunities in my soul.  Again, during this mission service, I am converted and reconverted in areas where I did not realize my need.   My daily prayer includes, “God, show me my blind spots.  I am now adding to that prayer, “God, I need your Holy Spirit’s empowerment so that I live into the lessons you are teaching me.” It was my joy on March 10, 2018 to be a part of the Spiritual Retreat of the United Methodist Women of the El Valle District of the Rio Texas Conference.   I was privileged to tell how United Methodist Women shaped my faith journey.    My involvement with United Methodist Women started with a 2012 United Methodist Women’s Ubuntu Journey to Sierra Leone.    As I read some background for this journey, I read the story of Beatrice Gbanga.  My heart was strangely drawn with a longing to meet Beatrice Gbanga while in Sierra Leone because of my reading of her story.”  She had fled Sierra Leone's civil war to settle in Atlanta, Georgia.  In Atlanta, despite her Master’s degree from England and her decades of service as a nurse in Sierra Leone, she had to take a low-paying job as a night parking lot attendant in down town Atlanta.  With children to support, both financially and emotionally she did what any of us UMW would do.  She worked double shifts to raise enough money to sponsor her three youngest children's entry into the United States.  I felt outrage at how she was treated here.  Our immigration system gives no credit to the college education elsewhere, even education in Great Britain.  After the war, through an offer of our General Board of Global ministries, Beatrice Gbanga answered God's call and took her skills back home to Sierra Leone, (http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2011/August/Answering-God-s-Call-in-Sierra-Leone) It was a joy to meet Beatrice Gbanga and Bishop Yambasu while in Sierra Leone in 2012. As I prepared to talk on March 10, 2018, I realized for the first time that God’s Prevenient Grace was at work in my heart because of Beatrice’s story.  That story starting my awareness of the injustices in our immigration system.  Prevenient Grace is a theological concept I first heard about on my Emmaus Walk.   It is Divine grace that precedes human decision.    Over 9,000 people from 80+ different countries have experienced God's Prevenient Grace moment by moment at La Posada.  All shelter residents are in the legal process of refuge in this country.  Tears and hope are the living reality! As United Methodist Women, we know our call is to ACT FOR JUSTICE.   The Holy Spirit living in us is equipping us to be the salt and light to our society. WE PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR. WE PROCLAIM JESUS, JUSTICE AND JOY. We are Holy Trouble Makers.  Like our foremothers, we are making trouble for the evils in our society.  We continue actions of Resisting Evil!   Pictured with me is Cindy Johnson a UMW Deacon from Brownsville, TX.  Cindy is the person who connected me with La Posada in 2017. UMW Immigrant/Civil Rights Initiative Facebook page is a resource for learning about the US broken immigration system, https://www.facebook.com/groups/UMWimmigration/?ref=bookmarks .   The Holy Spirit is active in our world.  UMW helps us realize where and we join in.  Are we ready to keep step with this bishop, Bishop Minerva Carcaño, and others acting for justice? Hear the Urgent Call,  Join the Holy Spirit's Action.