Hispanics for Jesus

Until there is some resolution to the status of undocumented worker in our country, many families continue to live in fear of that moment when they can no longer find a job, when their posessions are confiscated, and they are forced to return to the poverty that compelled them to leave their native countries in the first place. Flor is such a friend.

"Señora, if we are forced to go back, there will be no work for the men there. The small farms are gone and there is no place for Jose Luis to find a days labor. But for a woman who can sew, there may be work." A number of Korean sewing factories have relocated to southern Mexico and they employ women and girls to stitch apparel that is then sent back to Korea for wholesale. "Si puedo aprender - If I can learn, then perhaps I can work at one of those factories if we have to go back. Will you teach me?"

Flor had been selling comida tipica - common food - to the working men and boys living near her. From her earnings, she bought an old Singer sewing machine. One day recently, I took some bright pink cloth to her house and we spent the morning learning some very basic skills. It was Flor's first sewing lesson, but as you can see from the photo, she has promise!

We may not be able to build factories in impoverished areas around the world, we may not even know how to repair the broken immigration policies of our own part of the world, but we can teach useful skills - even one at a time - to men and women who have the desire to learn. Perhaps when we hold on to such knowledge, willingly or not, keeping it from those who could most benefit, it is not so unlike holding on to bread when our neighbor is hungry.

HERE IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE FIRST NIGHT OF OUR NEW ESL CLASS AS WRITTEN BY CAROL TIPTON ~ ENJOY!

Once again, the anxious faces lined up to be questioned.

“Hello, how are you?”
“What’s your name?”
“Where do you work?”
“Where are you from?”
“What did you do yesterday?”
“What will you do tomorrow?”

After eight years of doing these interviews you’d think it would be tiring, but participating in this process must have some sort of addictive quality - the anticipation of each student is like some untapped source of energy, each one concentrating, listening… giving all they have. No, these are not questions for a job interview or a border patrol check; these are questions designed to determine how much English a person already knows. How well a person responds will determine whether he is placed in a class for level 1, 2 or 3. After several hectic minutes of questioning, all the students at last are assigned to their proper teacher and the lessons begin.

I meet my newest class of Level 2 students last night. Twelve adults sat with pencils in hand, ready to practice making the “th” sound, repeat a list of familial nouns and attempt personal introductions. The 90 minutes raced by far too quickly and after exchanging telephone numbers, all but two of the students left the room to pick up their children or to hurry home for a late supper. Rocio and Rafael were whispering together as I gathered up my books and notes, then Rocio spoke in lovely broken English.

“Teacher, you understand Spanish?”

“Yes I can,” I answered.

“Do I su permiso speak to you en español? I need speak with my heart.”

“Yes, of course.” I put down my book bag and sat in the chair beside her and her husband.

Rubio, without one moment of shyness, began this story:

“Rafael and I have four children back in Mexico. Uno de ellos tiene Downs – one of them has Downs. The medical care for her is very expensive. We are here to work for our children – we each have two full-time jobs. Earning money for our children is the reason we are in the United States, but it isn’t the reason we are in Alabama. My sister came to work in Alabama several years ago. While she was here, she meet a woman of God who told her about Jesus. My sister would call us from Alabama and tell us things that this woman of God was teaching her about Jesus. We began to know that my sister was different – she had happiness, she had her real needs meet, she began to change greatly. When she returned to Mexico we could see for ourselves that she was like a new person. She said that Jesus had made her new. Rafael and I have been working here now for 1 ½ years and for all this time we have been looking for someone who can tell us about Jesus. We want to have what my sister has. We want to take this back to our children when we return to Mexico.”

I was speechless. I have never imagined a story like this before and for an instant I doubted that I was understanding her Spanish – perhaps I’d made an error in the translation. But any doubts fled as Rocio continued.

“This is our first time to be in un iglesia evanjelica – an evangelical church. Is there anyone in this big church who can tell us about Jesus? We work every day except Wednesday. But if there is someone who can meet with us on Wednesdays we will go anywhere. Maybe they can come to our home. Or maybe they will meet with us before the English class – or even afterwards. Do you know anyone like that?”

By then tears were flooding, overflowing, pouring down my face. I reached out and hugged Rocio and said, “Rocio, I promise that I will find someone for you. I promise this.”

“But how can you make this promise? How can you be certain? We have waited for so long – how can you know that you can find a teacher?”

“I know that God has given you this hunger to know Him, and I know that He has prepared someone who can teach you. He will bring it to happen.”

Rafael was overjoyed, “When can we call you? Can we call you tonight? When will you know?”

I laughed, “Perhaps not tonight. But I will know by Friday who will teach you.”

“By Friday…we will know our teacher by Friday…”

As we walked out of the classroom, I heard someone call my name, “Carol, como estas?”
It was my friend Jose Luis. “Do you know this family?” I asked.

“No, I don’t believe that I do.”

“Rafael and Rocio, let me present Jose Luis, our pastor. Jose Luis, this family has expressed a great desire to know Jesus and I’m wondering if you can meet with them here next week before English class.”

Rocio was astounded, “God truly does answer your prayers!”

“No,” I replied, “He answered your prayers.”

“But when did I pray to God?” she asked.

“Just now, Rocio. Just now.”

MEN'S COFFEE/FELLOWSHIP TIME

MEN NEED ACCOUNTABILITY ~ NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

Sharing in each other's lives represents blessing, encouragement, growth, and the opportunity to know and share in the unique perspective God has given us to benefit others.

PRAYING TOGETHER BRINGS RELEASE AND STRENGTH

Turning over our burdens, concerns, struggles, and desires to God as men together is an uplifting, freeing, experience that binds us together.

"With good will render service, as to the Lord...knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord..." Ephesians 6:7

A team of 20 Iglesia Biblia de Alabaster church members served their brothers in Christ in the devastation of the city of New Orleans, and returned with pictures, stories of pain, love, mercy and blessing. Working in the stifling heat and humidity of Louisiana in July, this group shingled roofs, installed sheet rock, cleaned (and cleanedsome more!), participated in a children's bible school, visited families, and much more, with the greatest accomplishment being service to others (Christ) with a giving and open heart. These 20 represented many more who could not go, and the remainder of the church met and prayed so that the love of Jesus would penetrate each person with which the team came in contact.

 

"Each one of you has your own story of 'exodus'. For many different reason, all good reasons, each of you left your own villiages, your family and everything familiar, to finally arrive here in America."

This is how I began to introduce the art exhibition "Through the Eye of a Needle" that we went to see at the Art Museum. The 32 hand stitched panels on display were created to illustrate the exodus of two little girls out of Poland during the Nazi occupation. Some showed the girls playing in their village home, others showed them traveling along dangerous roads with a companion their mother had paid to guide them away, and in others we could see them hiding in forests or encountering Nazi guards along the road. As I faced my little group of 15 women, I was moved to tears as I saw their own tears begin to flow. Representing five different countries, each one of them was identifying with some aspect of the little sisters' trails. We walked through the exhibit quietly, thoughtfully. It was a moving experience for us all.

I hope that I can inspire some of the women to "illustrate" a chapter from her own exodus in some way. They are an important part of the continuing story of America - a part that needs to be recorded.

I am recalling the verses in the Bible that refer to Jesus giving up His own place in order to become an immigrant here on Earth. He left everything in order to give His children an opportunity for Life. How much more powerful these verses are to me now after the experience at the museum.

If you choose to view the attached photos, I hope you will think to pray for these ladies, most of whom have become Christ Followers in the last year. As their tears indicate, they carry with them such great wounds. May the God of peace heal those deep places and may their sacrifices, somehow, someday, bring Life.

Blessings to you!
Carol