Our faith in Christ Jesus, who was himself an immigrant and
whose untimely death came at the hands of agents of a militaristic state, compels
us to speak truth to power, to cross borders and boundaries, and to stand with
those on the margins. Especially in this holy season of Advent, we are called
to embody our faith in a real and transformative way.
For many months, I have been praying for guidance on how to
respond to the crisis at the border. A
couple of weeks ago, when I heard about Global Immersion’s Day of Learning and
Solidarity, I knew immediately it was what I had been seeking. Here was a chance to learn directly from
those most affected by the immigrant caravan – those in Mexico who are working
with the travelers on the front lines – and to hear from them directly how people
of faith in the US can be helpful advocates without getting in the way.
Guidance was sought and arrangements were made and now the
time has arrived. Tomorrow, along with
my 16-year-old son Elijah, I will travel to San Diego along with more than 150
other people of faith from around the nation.
We will spend a long day in Tijuana on Saturday December 15th
and then return early Sunday morning (in time for church!).
Our day on Saturday will include a visit to a church that
has become a shelter for Haitian and Central American immigrants where we will
meet the pastor and bring supplies he requested – ponchos, sleeping pads and
activity books for children. Then we
will have a visit to the border wall, where we will spend some time in prayer
and participate in a Las Posadas litany with participants calling across both
sides of the border. Finally, we will engage with some local activists about
how to best be supportive of immigrants and activists going forward.
I’m so inspired by - and grateful for - the powerful and
faith filled testimony of American pastors and people of faith who are protesting
and have risked arrest at the border in recent days. Protest is an important aspect of our faith
expression of resistance. The particular
day Global Immersion has planned and in which I am participating is for learning
and growth and building of solidarity.
Although these are also acts of resistance, it is not our plan to risk
arrest on the 15th.
I’m so grateful for the support we have already received, especially
from my husband Jeff and from the people of Vancouver UCC. Some of you have asked how you can also support
this trip. This would be helpful for me:
-
Pray for and with all those traveling to San
Diego and Tijuana on December 15. If fasting is one of your spiritual practices,
you might declare a fast day.
-
Come to the airport to see us off! We will be gathering near the Alaska Airlines
ticket counter from 10:00-10:20 am TOMORROW Friday, December 14 for a farewell and
blessing.
-
Check social media on Saturday, December 15 – I’ll
be posting as I can throughout the day.
With love, Jennifer
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