It’s hard to be “a foreigner in a foreign land,” especially in a land where foreigners are sometimes treated “arrogantly.” (See Exodus 18:1-12.) About a year and a half ago two families from southern Mexico moved next door to my wife and me in the small side of the duplex in the house beside us. Nine people moved into a two-bedroom one bath unit. We share a common driveway with them.
Our first impression was fear and worry. We had thoughts that I don’t want to mention. But then my wife had the thought to bake some muffins and to take them to them as a welcome gift. We obeyed that prompting. The two adult couples and their 5 children were grateful and delightful. Their new home looked empty except for one small table. We learned that they were all sleeping on the floor.
One of them could speak a little English, the rest only Spanish. (However, nine months earlier I had felt prompted to learn Spanish, so I had been watching videos in Spanish for at least an hour each day and reading my Spanish Bible every day and I was beginning to be a bit conversant in it.)
My wife and I went to our garage and gathered some kitchen chairs, some foam mats for sleeping, some food, some towels, and anything else we thought they could use. They were thrilled and repeatedly thanked us and hugged us.
A couple of days later we shared about them in a Spirit-led group that meets at the Cul2vate ministry in Nashville and my wife told a small women’s prayer group about them. The next thing we knew, people began arriving with amazing things: clothes, toys, food, fresh produce, beds, couches, kindness, and on and on. One young woman even ordered bunk beds for them from Amazon. In a flash they had everything they physically needed, but best of all they had love and many new friends.
That family is now like family to us and their children like grandchildren. My Spanish has gotten much better and one of them can now communicate fairly well in English, so we are able to have wonderful and joyous interaction with them. They are incredibly loving people always being kind to us. They love Jesus like we do.
Some of them cry when they talk about missing their home in the beautiful state of Chiapas in Mexico near Guatemala. They want to go back. They had to flee because a gang was repeatedly threatening their lives. They are a true treasure of great courage, hope, and dreams.
I laid in bed this morning with two short poems developing in my spirit:
Trash or Treasure
People who flee their homes
Searching for a better life
Are not the world’s trash.
They carry the treasure
Of great courage,
Hope and dreams.
Jesus First
Make the choice
To hear Christ’s voice
And to rejoice
In being led
By Jesus as
Your living Head.
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Fill Your Mind and Your Heart With Hope 
Yes. So many of the people coming to the U.S. are fleeing desperate circumstances none of us would want to live in. They are not a threat to us. They are our brothers and sisters. Most of them are wonderful people and willing to work hard. They are an asset to our country. The statistics show they are a net economic benefit to the U.S. and they have lower crime rates than those born here.
🙂 my father was one of you might be speaking.. a first generation Mexican American who stopped going to school at tenth grade in order to help his family in the fields.. a brilliant man..
You live in Tennessee? The Lord has linked my daughter and I to your state.. calling us to sometimes pray shoulder to shoulder with you all.. we have looked for homes there and are still praying and attempting to discern what the Lord is saying about the connection He has placed in our hearts…
Presently we are in crazy Ca.. it has been very very hard for us amidst the immorality.. but He has used living here…having called me to advocate for social justice and the environment through poetry.. never thought He’d call me to be a chicana poet.. but there I find myself… my daughter has been called to stand with the Christian students at her highschool… and has come home crying many times due to the immorality being shoved at the students.. but.. in the midst of it all she has been called to review Christian books through the filter of purity..
if you feel so led.. please keep us in your prayers..
Thank you for your kind comments on several of my posts today, Kimberly! I really appreciate and need the encouragement. It’s important for people with like-minded hearts for the glory of God to stand together. I prayed for you and your daughter. Stay strong, kind, and humble in Jesus! Many blessings to you both as you speak the truth in love.
Thank you:) And yes! That is exactly what was on my heart when I commented.. additionally.. such good reminders..refreshing.. for me too see- aha! He is telling others this as well.. encouraging:)
Regarding all the attributes you encouraged me to be.. it is in His presence , and by His doing that we move from glory to glory.. yes? In His perfect love that He longs to pour out.. which overflows on others ..
He… the author and finisher of our faith..
By which He not our own efforts are worthy of all honor and glory and praise..as we receive His love.. like vessels… we overflow.. outwardly
So to you I encourage:) continue to rest and be blessed by Him.. and His character will follow