{"id":24154,"date":"2020-02-21T20:48:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-21T20:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?p=24154"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:20:25","slug":"reflection-it-takes-a-village","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/reflection-it-takes-a-village\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflection: It Takes a Village"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.0.9″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.9″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off”]
\n
\n
\n
\n

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ . . .<\/h2>\n

Ephesians 4:11-12<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Last week I mentioned that Steve Wiebe and I were on our way to Adelanto to be at a court hearing for our Cameroonian friend Bertrand.<\/p>\n

So we did get there on time, and felt good that there were only two cases scheduled for that courtroom that morning.\u00a0 The first case was a father of three daughters.\u00a0 His wife had come to the USA from El Salvador with the two elder girls long ago, and now they are all US citizens; the third daughter was born here.\u00a0 The father came in without documents to join them, and was detained.\u00a0 This was to be his last court hearing, and the oldest daughter said they expected to hear either that he would be released, or deported.<\/p>\n

After four hours of tense waiting, the family came out in tears.\u00a0 They said the judge, who was \u201cmean,\u201d told them they had to come back in March for another hearing because they didn\u2019t have all the documentation in order.<\/p>\n

What that meant was Bertrand\u2019s hearing was rescheduled to the next day.\u00a0 Unfortunately, neither Steve nor I could come on Tuesday, so Bertrand was going to court with no attorney or supporters.\u00a0 But he is a very resourceful person, so had spoken with friends about how the hearings go, and he had Scripture, so he kept the following text in his heart and his mind:<\/p>\n

[Jesus said,] \u201cWhen they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.\u201d Luke 12:11-12<\/em><\/p>\n

That evening\u2014during the Presbytery Executive Commission meeting\u2014I got a call from Bertrand.\u00a0 He said the judge apologized to him that his hearing was delayed, and then asked some questions based on his declaration, especially about the NGO he worked with.\u00a0 They used a web search to confirm the legitimacy of the NGO, and his connection with it.\u00a0 The judge said she was sorry that she was banned from granting asylum, and gave him another form of leave, with her own blessing that God continue to guide and protect him.\u00a0 Because Bertrand waited in Tijuana (for three months!) until the Border Patrol allowed him in, he did not have to pay any bond, and was to be released the next day!<\/p>\n

So Bertrand called the next day, Wednesday, during our Presbytery staff meeting.\u00a0 Now it has been said (certainly not in THIS presbytery) that there\u2019s no need to contribute to shared mission giving, because it only goes to pay Presbytery staff, and what do they do with their time, anyway?\u00a0 So let me share what your staff and Presbytery friends did in the second half of this last week.<\/p>\n

Bertrand was being released that afternoon, and it was expected for someone to pick him up by 6:30 pm, at Adelanto.\u00a0 He had heard about a group who was arranging for pickups, but he couldn\u2019t reach them.\u00a0 ICE gave him one (completed) office phone call, and that ended up being me.\u00a0 Now it was 4 pm, and given east-bound rush hour traffic, we knew it would take 2.5 hours just to get there.\u00a0 And here\u2019s my confession of my Californian bourgeois life\u2014not only were my dogs at the groomers, my little electric car didn\u2019t have enough battery power to get to Adelanto!<\/p>\n

Kristi Van Nostran started organizing for the release, and gave us the voice of experience.\u00a0 Ally Lee gave me her car key to drive to Adelanto, and offered to house Bertrand.\u00a0 And thank God for family as well as staff, as my nephew agreed to pick up the dogs.<\/p>\n

Hitting the road immediately, I got to Adelanto right at the time for Bertrand\u2019s release.\u00a0 By that time it was 42 degrees in the high desert, and Bertrand was wearing a sweatshirt that Adelanto gave him.\u00a0 His bag had been taken in Tijuana the night before he was allowed entry into the US, and since they took him straight to Adelanto, they gave him clothing and toiletries during his detention\u2014but who wants a prison jumpsuit in public, and they wouldn\u2019t let him take his toothbrush.\u00a0 So he was released with a white plastic trash bag with the jacket he was wearing when he came in, his Bibles, and little else, and that was it.<\/p>\n

Thursday was busy, and he spent the day with Steve Wiebe. I have to share the sweetest moment when we arrived at PPC.\u00a0 As Bertrand and I walked into the office, Elder Ellen Harkin was volunteering at the front desk, and she smiled and said, \u201cYou must be Bertrand!\u00a0 Welcome!\u201d\u00a0 It was like the voice of heaven blessing Bertrand, and I got to witness it.<\/p>\n

The only thing Bertrand asked for was a haircut.\u00a0 Ally knew that the chair of Knox\u2019 immigrant ministry is a barber, so she and Steve arranged to get his haircut, as well as other needed supplies.\u00a0 Kristi contacted the circle of support organizations to arrange for Bertrand to get a cell phone and a ticket to North Dakota, where his sponsor lives and where he needs to report next week.\u00a0 Kristi got him a ticket through Miles4Migrants<\/a>, a non-profit that works with people who donate their unused frequent flyer miles.\u00a0 And Steve and Kristi got to witness the heartwarming phone call when Bertrand spoke with his sponsor, a family member who somehow settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota.\u00a0 Kristi and Brian Lee said farewell as he left for his new life.<\/p>\n

Through the lens of this one person among thousands, I hope you get a glimpse of this largely invisible network of people seeking to offer welcome and safe passage to so many.\u00a0 Last week I mentioned Claremont\u2019s Refugee Ministry Team, who have been active in this network, as has Knox.\u00a0 I know that Pomona Pres and Mideast Evangelical, as well as all our Latinx churches, have given safe harbor and support for people fleeing violence in the Middle East and Latin America.\u00a0 And for Bertrand, I thank God for the people of Knox and Pasadena Presbyterian, and for my staff colleagues of San Gabriel Presbytery.\u00a0 Thank God for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, whose grant pays for Kristi\u2019s work, and for Pacific Presbytery, who helped us get the grant.\u00a0 Thank God for all of them, and thank God for your support.\u00a0 And continued prayers for Bertrand as he settles in his new home, and for all who are still seeking family and safety in this world.<\/p>\n

At the same time this was happening, another staff member, Lauren Evans, has been with the family and at the bedside of long-time minister member and former interim executive presbyter Rev. Barbara Stout. \u00a0Barbara, former pastor of Trinity Presbyterian in Pasadena, fell and broke her hip last\u00a0a week ago, and her health seriously deteriorated\u00a0since. \u00a0Barbara went\u00a0<\/span>very peacefully\u00a0home to her Lord on Saturday night at 11 pm. \u00a0Please pray for Barbara\u2018s\u00a0family, and\u00a0give thanks for a lifetime of love and ministry. \u00a0We will send details about the celebration of her life as we get them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blessings,
Wendy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” hide_prev=”off” hide_next=”off”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ . . . Ephesians 4:11-12 Last week I mentioned that Steve Wiebe and I were on our way to Adelanto to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24154"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24154"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24158,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24154\/revisions\/24158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}