Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Following the incarnated Christ

As we enter into this advent season, preparing to celebrate God coming to earth and being born a human, the incarnate Christ is all the more prominently on my mind. Incarnation is a core principal for Servants, it is the reason team members move into the slums. We worship and follow a God who is not far off but has come close, sharing our flesh, our blood, our tears, our joys.  

Henri Nouwen writes in Lifesigns:
"This is the mystery of the incarnation…God so much desired to fulfill our deepest yearning for a home that God decided to build a home in us...We cannot live in intimate communion with Jesus without being sent to our brothers and sisters who belong to that same humanity that Jesus has accepted as his own. Thus intimacy manifests itself as solidarity and solidarity as intimacy...It is not a nervous effort to bring divided people together, but a celebration of an already established unity…those acting within the house of God point through their action to the healing, restoring, redeeming, and recreating presence of God."  
Nouwen's words are especially poignant to me here as I seek to recognize the shared humanity with brothers and sisters who can seem so different from me.  The way of Christ, is the way of relationship, of entering into our world. In the same way, Servants seeks to move in and share life with the poor, not as part of a project or program or group to fix, but as neighbors and friends.  The poor are no longer a group of people they come to help, but friends, neighbors, that they learn from and depend on in ways. Ideas for community development sprout within the context of relationship, constantly submitting ideas to what the community actually desires and will benefit from.  It's challenging for sure, but seeking God and His kingdom in the context of relationship-even to the point of being neighbors and sharing the same roof- seems to be a beautiful way that the incarnate God of love is made known. I'm challenged and grateful for the taste I have had of this way of ministry--a balance of 'method, message, spiritual discipline, and Christ's model' (John Hayes).  

This Christmas season, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth, as we let ourselves be embraced by the incarnated Christ, may we also be challenged by the radical move of Jesus into our world.  

Monday, November 11, 2013

Kolkata

After a gorgeous Himalayan trek with Kenny in Nepal, I've been in India a bit over a week now, experiencing the incredible combination of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.  I arrived in the thick of Kali puja-a festival for the god of destruction. Loud music and fireworks abounded, heavy spiritual atmosphere, as did beautiful lights lining the paths, women dressed in their finest of saris, the feeling of celebration and richness of community in the air.  Pandals- temples created just for puja time- are around every corner, usually blaring Bollywood music.
I visited some temples the first night of my homestay, with the mother and her daughter. The largest, and only one we actually entered, had an hour-long cue to get in. Once in, I couldn't help but be reminded of a Halloween haunted house with people dress up in skeleton costumes wielding large knives, other live scenes on the way into the main room, which had a massive Kali statue- and as my host mom pointed out-images of a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist all worshipping Kali. Quite intense! I find it interesting that Kali puja, Halloween, and Dia de Los Muertos all are celebrated around the end of October/beginning of November. 
In other news, my host family has been great, more than generous as they warmly welcome me into their small living quarters (even sharing the one bed, with mom and daughter), sharing their delicious food (mainly roti, rice, potato curry, and dal/lentils), and patiently engaging with me and my limited Bangla (Bengali). I have been pleased, however, that they speak more English than expected. We've had 'Bang-lish' convos about very thing from arranged marriages to the prime minister, puja traditions to names of foods. There is also more greenery than expected, with coconut trees nearby and banana and mango trees that they've planted in the area around the house.  The house is along a canal, surrounded by many other similar one-room houses.  I am also near a Servants team member, who has kindly helped oriented me to life in the slum and Kolkata in general.
Early in the week, we went to visit Mother Teresa's house/Missionaries of Charity, with its museum, Mama T's (as she's called) bedroom, and tomb.  We spent some time in the beautiful simple sanctuary with other nuns--a sacred space in the midst of Kolkata's chaotic streets.
I've also enjoyed time with servants team members, Kenny, and time with other ex-pats at a new home church.  As expected, besides trying to learn Bangla,, I'm learning to be, to listen, to intercede,  to humbly accept help and advice, to move slower, take the Bengali afternoon nap, and draw close to God in this time.  I welcome your ongoing prayers.  

Thursday, October 3, 2013

India!


I am thrilled about my upcoming opportunity to go to India for 3 months, and want to tell you a bit about it!  

   As many of you know, I've had an increasing interest in spending a longer time overseas as well as connecting more substantially with organizations that work with women getting out of the sex trade.  Since my trip in April to Thailand, quite a few opportunities have arisen to learn from people who are seeking to address the roots of poverty and the sex trade, as well as walking alongside people in life and recovery. Bob Ekblad (TN's co-director and founder) is an elder for one of the organizations, Servants, and others in our leadership recognize the importance of this trip for me to learn and share--cross-pollinate as we say. So, during this time, I will be on ‘special assignment’ with Tierra Nueva.  

   For the first part, I will be doing an internship with Servants, who takes being incarnational very seriously, actually moving into houses in the slum and living among the poor. I have a deep respect for these team members who have committed themselves for 3+ years.  
It is a true dying to self, 
laying down everything, 
seeking to love and learn from neighbors, 
and seeking to find Jesus in the slum. 
It is coming with openness to learn from a community of people who are often looked at as having nothing to offer.  
(If interested in more reasons, see this article.)

For me, it will involve a home-stay where I will both be learning from my host family how to survive and from the Servants team as they love their neighbors in a slum community.  I am increasingly aware of how challenging this will be for me, laying down my 'skills', even English & Spanish language skills, to once again be very dependent and need to be taught how to do virtually everything.  I am under no illusion that I will be 'helpful', but am hopeful that I will learn how to love better, be a blessing to those around me, and encountered and be encountered afresh by God in this time. 

    After this first month, I will also be connecting with SariBari, Freeset, and potentially Grandma's, all working with women getting out of the local sex trade.  Each provides alternative work options making beautiful bags and household goods in a holistic environment.  I will get to provide support to some of their social workers.  I also will be sharing with all some of the training I have received on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Stewardship, Genesis Process Relapse Prevention, and Tierra Nueva’s trainings on holistic liberation. 

   I’m really grateful to be able to go to India, to learn, discern, and share some of what I have learned with others.  I welcome your prayer covering as I make this journey and pursue God’s kingdom in a beautiful and heart-wrenching land. If you feel led to contribute financially, there are added costs such as the flight, quite a few costly vaccines, and medicine I will be bringing.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support in so many ways!

To watch some videos, about the work of some of the organizations, click on below: FreesetConneXions was started by Servants and is now fully run by locals ConneXions India: Fighting Extreme Poverty

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

treated like a criminal


The tragedy of our broken immigration system was shoved in my face again this week: as the father of one of the families I’m closest to was picked up again by immigration. 

Arriving at his family’s house (where he doesn’t live any more because fear of 'la migra'), officials blockaded his oldest kids as they tried to drive to work. After telling these teens they were looking for a ‘bad man’ and interrogating them, they entered without showing warrants, and started shining flashlights around looking for him.  Surprised, they only found his two youngest daughters hiding in a closet, terrified. They handcuffed the 18-year-old son, and him put in the back of the car, telling him to take them to where his dad lives and place of work. 

Later that morning, I heeded the request of the father’s teenage sister, to go to his place of work and see if he was okay.  As we drove around looking for him, a car started following us.  I eventually stopped in a church parking lot, to have two officials come and show me their badges, and then a picture of the man. ‘Do you know him?’  My heart raced, as I replied in affirmation.  Feeling myself like a criminal, and yet not having done anything wrong.  They continued with a very nerve-wracking ‘field interview’, as I sought to be honest and careful. 

After finding no reason to detain us longer and reminding us to steer clear of their investigation, they let us go, and followed us…for about 20 minutes back to Mt. Vernon.

I’ve had friends tell me these officials have followed them.  I didn’t really understand until now, what that feels like.  Here I am an English-speaking US Citizen with no warrant let alone criminal history.  I have nothing to fear yet I was near traumatized, as were the kids in my car, and the ones back at the house. 

Now the father is back in Mexico, his family separated once again.  His crime? Wanting to provide food, shelter, and good education for his kids. Although I believe people who do commit crimes should also be treated with dignity and respect, it doesn't seem to just to treat these neighbors as if they are dangerous and a threat to society. 

Oh Lord have mercy. Jesus, you who were treated like a criminal and died a criminal's death, who welcomes the stranger, and befriends the outcasts, who came that we may have life and life to the fullest. We pray for your Kingdom breaking in here on earth. 
“A Prayer of Hope”
By Archbishop Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision…
We lay foundations that will need further development
We provide yeast that produces the effects far beyond our capabilities
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation realizing that
This enables us to do something, and to do it well
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker
We are the workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs we are prophets of a future not our own
Amen

Friends, please pray for this family, as they recover and adjust to his absence, and his financial support. May they also see glimpses of His Kingdom, light amidst the darkness.  

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Farmworkers on strike

The fields, migrant camps, and conference rooms have been busy the past couple of weeks as our farmworker friends who work at the local largest berry company went on strike.  H-2A is a new guest worker program that was recently introduced. It offers jobs, housing, and transport to workers from Mexico to come north and help in migrant labor jobs. Our local workers heard that these new laborers would be getting paid $12/hr set rate, have newish cabins, and receive money for transport to Washington (see Seattle Times article for more details). It has provoked a lot of unrest and frustration with the way things have been for a long time.
Unfortunately, there seems to have been some miscommunication about what is being offered and available to the farmworkers who are already here.  The local workers can also apply for the 'guest worker' jobs. Payment options have varied, sometimes they are paid per pound, sometimes by flat, and sometimes by the hour. They are now on their second strike due to wages dropping again on Monday.  It is true, they have been paid the same wage for many years, work long hours for little pay, and sometimes face discrimination from supervisors.  Although wanting fair wages, I'm concerned they may push too much and lose both their housing and jobs.
Hearing that they may be evicted from their cabins, Bob & Gracie (TN directors), Salvio and I arrived at one of the migrant camps this morning where over 150 workers were gathering.  Messages about fair wages for all, and a united chorus of "[Name of Berry company] escucha, estamos en la lucha; listen, we are in this fight" were echoing around the campgrounds.  More newscasters were interviewing some young Triqui girls I know, who were leading the shouts both due to their passion and trilingual (Spanish, English and Triqui) skills.  
Besides checking in and discussing the situation with the families and fellow organizers,  we found ourselves interceding for peace in this situation and for it to not escalate.  Due to Bob's long term relationship with the berry company, he and a couple others went to see if they could do some negotiation.  Tomorrow a meeting is set up, hopefully a final one, between the company and a 12-person Farmworker Rights Committee.  
Please join us in praying for peace and a fair just solution. 


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Skagit Commercial Sexually Exploited Children & Youth


What can bring prosecutors, defense attorneys, juvenile detention center managers, law enforcement, SANE (sexual assault nurse examiners), sexual assault and domestic violence advocates, and youth service providers together at the same table for 3 days of training? 

…the commercial sexual exploitation of children & youth. 

Unfortunately this reality of prostituted youth or minor sex trafficking is not a foreign concept. 

Over the past 5 years I have sought to raise the level of general and professional awareness in our community around this reality.  “It may look different in Skagit, but yes it exists.”  This is a response I have repeatedly given to doubting professionals across all many disciplines as well as community members.  In Skagit Valley, we don’t have a ‘strip’, but rather prostitution that happens in and out of houses, apartments and motels scattered around the valley.  It may be familial prostitution, where a family member is pimping out a child or sibling, usually to obtain drugs.  Or it may be survival sex, where youth are trading sex for a place to sleep.  Or it may be stranger prostitution, set-up through the ever expanding capabilities of internet, smart phones, etc. 

Over the past year, I have facilitated the Skagit County CSEC Team, a partnership among agencies who believe that only genuine collaboration can yield positive outcomes for exploited youth. Our goal is to work together in a coordinated effort to improve Skagit County's response and capacity to identify and support commercially sexually exploited youth and hold accountable those who exploit them [a definition based on WA State’s CSEC protocol]. 

We recently received 1 of 5 WA state trainings for Skagit and Whatcom professionals across disciplines, intentionally bringing people together to learn common language and struggle together to develop a protocol. The training included a separate break out session for Law Enforcement and Advocates, but the foundation training we did together.  

Foundation: The What, Who, How and Why of Commercial Sexual Exploitation
·       Social and cultural context of prostitution
·       Oppression, power and privilege
·       Gender construction
·       Supply and demand
·       Language and definitions
·       Vulnerable populations/risk factors
·       Pathways into prostitution (runaway, homelessness, recruited)
·       Sub-culture: “the Life”
·       Types of exploitation (pimps, gangs, families, LGBTQI)
·       Identification and red flags
·       Recruitment, grooming and “turning out”
·       Mental health impacts
·       Medical issues and physical health
·       Laws (state, federal and Safe Harbor framework)

Response: Victim Engagement and Interventions
·       The Exit Process: Stages of Change
·       Engagement with sexually exploited youth
·       Understanding priorities
·       Basic and on-going needs and services
·       Providing culturally competent services
·       How the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) will function
·       Connecting to services and building a support network  

The training was excellent, and I wish more people could have attended, even though we had reached their cap. Near the beginning, a juvenile public defender told me she didn't think she had any of these cases come through her office. As we were leaving, she told me her eyes have been opened.  "I can already think of a couple on my caseload that may be commercially sexually exploited, and I had no idea! I just haven't probed more when one told me an older woman controls her money and takes her to houses.  Now I will ask some more questions, and expect some phone calls!" 

I am grateful to have been apart of this process and feel it is now appropriate to pass off leadership of the Skagit CSEC Task Force to Skagit Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services.  I've also been hoping others in the valley would step up and do more of the community awareness and education piece. Recently, I found out that Washington Engage would be hosting a Coalition Against Trafficking (CAT) meeting in Skagit. The group will be looking at broader structural changes, needs, and awareness raising that needs to happen, and then from there proceed to what response they want to have. (http://waengage.com/community-action/ . Both of these are an answer to prayer!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

5 years at Tierra Nueva!


On June 1st I start my sixth summer at Tierra Nueva.  It’s especially amazing, since I thought that I would just come for the summer of 2008!  Little did I know what God would have in store for me and I’m incredibly grateful for the journey we’ve been on. 

I arrived at TN eager to participate in holistic ministry through entering into relationships with people on the margins of society.  Yet I was also thirsty to be encountered anew by God and within community.  I had seen movements of the Spirit, witnessed God's goodness, and believed in God's love for me and for ALL creation. However realities of social tragedies had been grabbing more of my attention through my social work classes, travel in Latin America, and working with people who are homeless and in detention.  Frustration with 'Christians’ was only increasing. I yearned for Christian to mean more than right belief or right action, for us to be truly 'little Christs' living and loving incarnationally.  I had started the Master’s in Social Work program, believing I needed to become skilled and trained in order to impact others and affect change in this world. I believed God was with me, behind me, but in a sense with hands tied except through me.


How grateful I am that God’s hands are neither tied nor dependent on solely working through our hands and feet!!!

At Tierra Nueva, I began hearing stories of God entering into the muck and grime of people's lives and transforming it in very real ways. TRANSFORMing, CLEANSing, FREEing, HEALing. I saw healings happening and God's presence coming in very real and down-to-earth ways, a bit different than the more frightening experiences of the Spirit that I had previously witnessed.  In the first couple of weeks, during a class on hearing the voice of God, a near stranger saw an image of a dry sponge for me while we were praying.  This person didn’t know how truly thirsty and dry I had been feeling.  This was one of many significant affirmations that God knows me and speaks through people.

One of most influential things I’ve learned these past years is a deeper awareness that: God speaks to us and through us!  The Holy Spirit is not solely the inspirer of Scripture but also speaks to our hearts, through people, music, images, etc. God is alive and active now in the world, and we get to participate in what He is doing. He can speak to us about how He sees us, our identity, as well as give us images and scriptures that can inform our ministry.  I am trying to make this a consistent practice, whether we are visiting families, in the day-in and day-out work of the Family Support Center, or while meeting with people in jail and during jail Bible Studies.

Recently in the jail, as we were praying for three women, I asked God what gift He wanted to give the women.  For one, the image of a rope and Psalm 18 came to my mind. In this Psalm, God breaks through the heavens to come down to earth to rescue one person who had become entangled by 'the cords of death'.  Tears filled her eyes as I shared this.  It turns out she had overdosed on drugs three times...death really had entangled her, and Jesus was offering her a rope to pull her up out of the pit.  We prayed for courage for her to grab the rope and trust Jesus. 

It is so much more fun to participate in what God is doing, hearing and being led by Him, than to just operate on my own and ask God to bless it.

Recognizing that it’s not what I do but what God does, has also led me into greater freedom to rest and receive. I didn’t realize how many false beliefs I had that drove my behavior and nearly drove me into burnout a couple of years ago. For example, if I believe that my worth is in what I do, then I will DO until I am spent, because I need to experience worthiness and purpose.  However, if I begin to hear from my Father how truly, deeply loved I am, no matter what I do, then I am free to receive and to give out of fullness not emptiness. I get to give, to serve, to love only so much as I have received.  I have full permission to receive God’s love for me, to rest, to play, to delight and be delighted in.  How grateful I am, that Jesus came “…that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:9-11).  

May God continue to breathe life in and through me, and apart from me!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Buzzing with Activity: our revolving clothing closet

At the Family Support Center, we continue to assist families through a variety of means, helping people navigate life.  Sometimes that is through consoling people with lost work and financial difficulties, helping apply for work, taking to appointments, and/or helping in minor practical ways.  One of the ways we do this and also build relationships with people is through providing clothing and diapers.  We recently have encouraged women who come regularly, to also donate clothing they don't need and assist in organizing new donations. It is becoming more and more a community clothing closet. 


Yesterday women from Bethany Presbyterian Church came and donated an immense amount of great kids clothes and shoes.  It was as though the word got out that our closet was overflowing with recent donations, because today in the Family Support Center we had consistent flow of families, about 12-14 women and their children, asking for clothing and diapers! It's a very small space, so 3-4 women and their kids with bags of new clothing, as well as others coming in with other questions, definitely made it feel like our small center was buzzing with activity. 

Many thanks to the generous donations of BPC and your ongoing relationship with me and our ministry at Tierra Nueva!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Time to be extraordinary!

This past weekend, I got to go to part of a Becoming a Habitation for the King conference, with speaker Graham Cooke (I recommend his teachings, especially 'Soaking in the Beloved'). Some quotes from the weekend:

God hungers for heaven on earth. All of heaven is cheering for you, interceding for you, that you'll step into your destiny and truly understand who you are in Christ Jesus. Time to be extraordinary.  Christ in me is the Hope of glory! 

Father only sees you in Jesus. He is completely magnanimous to you, wants to overwhelm you with who He is. God gives things to you not because of your inadequacies but because of Christ.  He is a magnet inside of you that attracts the goodness of God. 

When God does something in your life, you then receive permission to pass it on as many times as you like. God heals and turns healing around to give you power to release and pull person out of what you've been set free from.   

Friday, April 12, 2013

Following Jesus into the slums

simplicity, servanthood, wholism, community, celebration, creativity, beauty, and grace.
These are the core ministry principals and community values of Servants of Asia's Urban Poor- one of the groups we spent the majority of time with in Thailand. Although at times it felt like those of us from Tierra Nueva had stepped into a family reunion, we were definitely welcomed and enjoyed many inspiring conversations. Shared identity as children of God, vision and mission go along way, uniting brothers and sisters from around the world. I felt inspired and challenged by getting to know these new friends who live in the slums and redlight districts of Asia, downtown eastside vancouver, and New Zealand. What does it look like to follow Jesus into the slums, not just ministering to people, but become friends and family with neighbors?

The stories abounded: creating the Saribari (www.saribari.com) business in the red light district of Kolkata India employing women exiting sex industry, supplying low-cost energy-efficient stoves to people in slums funded by airplane users offsetting their carbon footprint (http://www.ashadesh.com.au) , empowering a Thai woman named Poo to expand her cooking and start cooking classes (www.cookingwithpoo.com), and developing mentoring relationships between young adults and children in the slums (http://alongsiders.org).

In the second week, we had more opportunities to pray with people, having sensed that there were many who were feeling burdened and worn out. It was a gift to be able to come alongside people, and pray through some of the trauma and hurt they were carrying. We witnessed God moving and lifting weight as well as physical pain from people. One person 'Lucy', who lives in a slum in India, came to me for prayer after Bob had had a word about someone with intense neck and shoulder pain earlier in the day. Her friend had told her about this, and suggested she receive prayer. Right away, the word 'curse' popped into my mind, and as I asked her about it, her eyes widened. She told me how her former landlord practices witchcraft, and had been angry and rude to Lucy since the woman's son became a Christian, blaming Lucy for this and other problems. Lucy hadn't thought about being cursed by this lady, and it immediately made sense. I invited her to forgive and bless this woman, which although hard, she was able to do with sincerity. I really felt God delighting in Lucy, and kept on saying 'here is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased'. As we finished praying, I asked how the pain was....it was completely gone! Praise the Lord.

Please pray for these teams who are working in very intense situations around the world. I'm grateful for being able to spend time with these folks, learning from, sharing with them, and hopefully being a blessing as well.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Ministering on the Margins In Rural America

See the recently published online article in Christianity Today on Tierra Nueva
thanks to my parents and sister!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Response to Sex Trafficking: Local & Global


Skagit Commercially Sexually Exploited Children & Youth
I continue to lead Skagit County’s response and coordination of services for Commercially Sexually Exploited Children & Youth (CSEC).  Last month, we applied with Whatcom County to receive intensive training and we were approved as 1 of 5 counties in Washington State! The first training will be May 22nd, so I'm in process of making sure all the 'key players' are aware and invited.  Usually our meetings have been at Mt. Vernon police department, but this month I hosted the Skagit CSEC Task Force meeting at Tierra Nueva.  It felt somewhat strange to have a Children’s Administration (CPS) supervisor, Juvenile Detention manager, prosecuting attorney, and a police detective again in our building…I know so many who interface with these systems in a very different capacity!  One of our building residents, a former gang related guy himself, helped me set up coffee while people were coming in, his arms covered in tattoos.  I couldn’t help but smiling as people glanced his way and hopefully saw a different side to someone they may have otherwise quickly stereotyped.


Thailand Trip! 
I leave on Thursday March 28th! Although I won't be interviewing organizations that work with those in sex trade, I will still be in Pattaya--the 2nd highest destination for the sex trade.  Please pray for protection (physical, emotional, and spiritual), as well as divine appointments with those who are part of the conference and out on the street. 

Walking through Open Doors....


Family Support Center & Migrant Ministry Update

The past couple of weeks we have been in the process of discerning potential changes to our drop-in center as we head into Spring and Summer seasons when our farmworker friends are the busiest.  We have had some fruitful meetings discussing where we see God moving, what we might change, and what services we are providing most often and with what impact (if known).  We are feeling more drawn to discipleship with fewer families this next season, as the numbers of people coming into our center lessens. One of the areas we have all been very encouraged by is visiting families together on Monday nights.  Although I am often in families’ homes, on Monday we meet together in a more deliberate way.  

A couple of weeks ago, Salvio, Paul and I felt led to visit two Mixtec women, 'Carolina' a mother and her daughter 'Rita'.  Ramon, who was good friends with the woman’s son until he was killed years ago, had recently asked if I had seen them. They popped into my mind immediately when we started praying.  At the same time, Salvio saw an image of a mother holding her daughter’s hand.  When I mentioned the family, he said:
     "...oh that's it! Carolina always holds her daughter's hand, as she is disabled. I guess we are      supposed to visit them again!" 
The last time Salvio & Paul had visited them in October, they had basically been asked to leave by the family that lives with Carolina and Rita.  Carolina shares her 2 bedroom apartment with a family of 8, in order to be able to pay rent. This time, we showed up and it was completely different. The other family ignored us at first, and then started offering us sodas and asking if we offer community service at Tierra Nueva.  Carolina asked us to pray for her and then went and woke Rita up so we could pray for them both. As we were leaving, she invited us to come again the next Monday.  We were all amazed!  So this last Monday we were about to leave to visit them again, when I ran to get a ‘paleta’ (Mexican ice cream ;) at a store across the street, and who did I see but the Carolina and Rita!  I invited them back to Tierra Nueva, where the woman told us the entire other family was home at their small apartment, and it would be better if we prayed at TN.  God’s timing is good!

Although we will maintain some drop-in hours, we hope to visit people more in their homes, encouraging people to come to our newly adapted Spanish/English worship service, and provide community activities (women’s group, fun trips to lakes, cooking, etc), in addition to ongoing advocacy.  

Also, we continue to participate in immigration reform advocacy. Photo of Rick Larsen (Skagit area Representative), and other immigrant rights advocates, after meeting held at Tierra Nueva.

It is good to see progress! The DREAM Act just passed through the House of Reps last week and hopefully will make its way to the Senate floor next week.