Food Security Mexico Project #16359

Food and basic needs for the poor.

by Voice Of the Bride Ministries

Project Report | Aug 16, 2019
"What is the answer?"

By J. Wayne Kiger-Rice | Director/Founder/Project Leader

“I am 57 years old and I had lived in the US since my parents brought me there when I was 2 years old. I went to school and college and worked a career and paid taxes for over 30 years until the day I was deported recently. I have only been to Mexico once as a young boy and feel completely alone here. My wife, children, grandchildren, and new great grand child all live in the US.

What would you reply, if you were told this story?

This is a story we are often confronted with. We have shared in recent reports our past opportunities to provide food and care for many who are in similar situations. Countless tales of men and women, who have been separated by their families in the US, because they were deported to Mexico for one reason or another. You may be thinking, “they should be deported if they have done something wrong”. Perhaps, but what if they had not? We hear of many who were brought into the U.S. as infants or small children, who made honest choices and an honest living. But, due to a sudden immigration check at their place of employment, they find themselves on the first bus to the closest border (no matter where their actual birthplace). One young man we ministered to, explained to me that he was in his third year of college working an internship for the Forestry Service, when an immigration sweep changed his life for ever.

An elementary ESL teacher friend of mine who, with tears in her eyes, shared her heart’s burden for children of immigrant families living in our country. She explained how fearful and guarded they are, as they fear the fate of their family. I was encouraged that she was in a position to encourage the little ones on this side of the border, as we may be encouraging a member of their family on the other!

Our organization does not take a particular side in the issue of immigration. Particularly not among politics. That is not our purpose. We conisider that our Biblical mandate is to feed the poor. The poor being anyone in need no matter where they are "from" or where they "belong" Our food distributions are available to anyone.

We realize this is a very sensitive subject in our country right now. And in fact we had already drafted this letter before a more recent contraversy over what was really meant by American Poet Emma Lazarus' sonnet, "The New Colossus" inscribed on a plaque attached to the Statue of Liberty. Of course there could be differing interpretations of what the poem states. You can decide for yourself.

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Border crossing of the past.

Grateful hearts.

Links:

Permalink

May 17, 2019
"Timing is everything"

By Jeffrey Wayne Kiger-Rice | Director/Founder/Project Leader

Alberto, Maria and girls meet our project director

How often have you heard the saying, "being at the right place at the right time"? Most likely something you have said yourself. Recently we got involved in a situation that started out just like that. A few months ago we shared our Global Giving cause at a hispanic church while traveling through North Carolina. We have a friend, whom we have known for a couple decades, who pastors the church there. In addition to sharing our mission in Tijuana we learned of a similar feeding program that this church has sponsored for a couple years in Nicaragua. Our pastor friend had met the young couple (we will call Alberto and Maria) leading this feeding program 10 years earlier. They had an ongoing relationship with the couple as they mentored them over the years. Eventually they began, out of their home, a humble feeding program, plus provided school clothes and supplies needed, for impoverished children in their neighborhood.

In the Summer of 2018, things in Nicaragua started to decline. The Government had spent all of the Social Security and retirement funds, so they changed the laws surrounding those benefits. The poor and middle class - and the old who were the most affected by these changes, came out in peaceful protests. These protests were countered by not so peaceful pro government groups which were later supported by the police and the military. This created an atmosphere of unrest. The country was no longer safe. Through all of this, Alberto and Maria continued to feed and care for the children and their families- even though it was difficult to do so. By March of 2019, it had become very unsafe for them, and they in fact became targets of the Government- because they showed “Christian” compassion toward some elderly protestors and provided them food and water. Because of these compassionate acts, they were accused of being anti- Government sympathizers. They had to go into hiding. Our pastor friend was able to get them the resources they needed to leave the country safely. He then contacted us to inform us that the couple was fleeing toward Tijuana with their two young girls. We awaited their arrival at the end of their 20 long, potentially dangerous, days on the roads through central America and Mexico. What a blessing it was to be able to offer them refuge with some food and a place for them to stay with some of our partners in Tijuana. They have since applied for political asylum and have an appointment with US immigration at the end of this month. In the meantime we will make sure that they, now on the receiving end, are as well cared for as they have cared for others. We are so happy that we could be in the right place at the right time to not only hear their story but to become a part of it!

We want to thank you for your generous support that helps us aid those whom cross our paths like Albert and Maria above and many others in our ongoing mission. Amelia, would be another example of one we have befriended and whom we have brought food to for 10 years now. She is an elderly woman who lives alone on just the income she can make from recycling bottles and such. Since we have known her, she has had to move around from place to place where she could occupy an affordable home. Often, this meant an abandoned place where she is permitted to stay at no cost. Particularly because the place is less than desirable to a future paying tenant. Our small organization makes every effort to have as many resources on hand to provide basic needs to those we encounter. Just this week your support provided 2 large tarps to cover Amelia’s newest “set up” home to provide a dry-er shelter for her during this rainy season. We keep a stock of tarps for such a time as this - to be in the right place at the right time. Side Note: You may notice the plants and plastic flowers. Our friend Amelia always has a way of making her home “warm” and inviting in a way few “warmer” homes ever accomplish.

Casa de Amelia

Links:

Permalink

Feb 15, 2019
A Story of Many

By J. Wayne Kiger-Rice | Founder/Director/Project leader

Many have a story that they just want to tell.

“I don’t think I am going to go with you to the rehab just yet. I feel like it is an important thing and should not be taken lightly.” This is what Eduardo said as he approached me at in the food line. The rest of my team had gathered around a few guys who were ready to try to get off drugs. I asked Eduardo what he thought “being ready” would look like. “Well, for starters,” he said, “I need to know that I am not going to load, like I plan to do later.”

Eduardo is a heroin user. He went on to explain that he “loads” 2-3 times a day, and had already used twice so far today. He was sure that he would need the third dose. As I continued to encourage him that today is probably his day to get free, he shared the rest of his story with me.

He was brought to the U.S. by his parents, before he turned 2 years old. After a lifetime of living in Orange County, he was discovered as a non-resident, and was deported a year ago. When he was first deported, he had a very hard time understanding what was happening to him. He went through culture shock, desperation, agony being separated from his family, and ultimate hopelessness. All symptoms that I have heard shared hundreds of times now in our daily work. But Eduardo said that eventually he came to terms with it, and realized he needed to make Tijuana his new home, and accept the fact that he would never be able to return to life as he knew it. Very few make it to this critical point of embracing the new life. He got a job, even got involved in serving at a local church. He said that it really helped to take his mind off of his situation, by being busy and helping others. However, recently he lost his job, and eventually his living quarters, and all the hopelessness, loneliness, and fear returned. He decided to use drugs one night, to escape his pain. The false comfort of the chemicals set in and lured him deeper and deeper.

I explained to Eduardo that it does not get easier to take the step toward freedom. That it would get harder, and today was just as good as any day that he might want to set aside. He seemed to think that he should have his life in order first before making a commitment. I hoped that I was able to convince him that it was just the opposite. That he did not have to have a job, a place to live, nor be concerned that he was planning to load. God can handle all that!

Throughout our remaining time there that day as we shared food with the many, I continued to tell Eduardo, “Today is your day!” He also shared that he did have an eye opener, earlier in the day, which proved there is no guarantee as to how long he or anyone may have. A man (actually an American drug seeker) died from an over dose right there near the border. Eduardo was there when he was discovered.

It seemed obvious that God was tugging at his heart. He did not decide to go with us, but did take information on how to reach us if he decides he was ready to go to the rehab. I hope I see him again.

While I was talking with Eduardo, another young man, Memo, came up to me with a note, and asked if I would call his family when I returned to the States. He had written down his family members’s name, phone #, and then a list of clothing items that he needed. Particularly, dress clothes so that he could interview for work. He had also clipped a newspaper sales ad of a set of tools that he needed, so that he could work if he got a job. As I drove away with his note, I could not help but think about how for Memo, and so many others, life really is just one day at a time, clinging to some good news that might come along. I thought, he has no real idea if I will place that call for him. Or if he would see me again the next week. Or if he can even trust that I can help get the items he needs. He really has placed his “message in a bottle”.

Eduardo adjusts to a new life on a different side.

A note from "Memo"

Links:

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 12 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can recieve an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.