The early morning traffic is brutal getting to the Health Department downtown (it takes 75 minutes to get there and only 20 to get back.) If you don’t get one of the first appointments of the day, you could literally spend all day getting the necessary vaccinations and records needed for Danilo to start first grade at his new school, in his new country.
The appointment was for 8:30 and that’s a great thing because at that time the lines are still short. First task, fill out all the paperwork – but it’s in English! In this country what comes first, the month or the day? Every step of the way I’m asked questions, simple questions, if you just understand the language.
Helping our newest church family, I found people all around me – from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba, Haiti and others – taking the baby steps necessary to get established in this new land they would now call home.
The staff at the Health Department was very attentive and courteous. Some could speak Spanish, but most could not. This language barrier created a lot of unwanted tension and misunderstandings for everyone. First one, then more, came by my seat asking for help with the paperwork. In several cases, I spoke up with long distance translations; on other occasions taking a few steps to help with that awkward “Que?” moment.
One well dressed lady asked: “Why are you here?”
“I’m just helping this new family get settled.” I replied.
“But why?” she insisted.
“Because I’ve been on the other side. I remember when my parents and I were in the Health Departments in another country and didn’t really understand the system or the language very well.”
“What do you do for a living?” she asked.
“I’m a pastor of an international Church here in the city.”
A reply that often shuts down a conversation quicker than just about anything else, quickly turned this encounter to one that was deep and personal. “How can I ever get over loosing everything to the government?” “I used to own a business, now I’m just a salesperson.” “I’m so afraid for my two boys – all the drugs, all the problems.” “I don’t want to get bitter, I want to help them be better!”
The answers I gave were listened to, not only by the woman asking the question but by others within range. Words of understanding, words of grace, words of hope that could be found only in a relationship with Jesus and surrounded by others who had found in Jesus their new start also.
The biggest news on immigration is not a wall, it is the world-wide migration of people brought about by horrible things that sinful men do to each other, but orchestrated by God who is “not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance.” It’s been reported that 17% of the world’s population today is NOT in their country of origin.
The biggest news on immigration is not a wall, it is the world-wide migration of people brought about by horrible things that sinful men do to each other, but orchestrated by God who is “not willing that any should perish but all come to… Click To TweetWe don’t have an immigration problem, we have a migration opportunity to reach hundreds and thousands with the Gospel and then integrate them into the Church, the hope of the world. How?
Get to know someone around you that is obviously new. Take the first step; be the first to say hello; welcome them to this country. That will be so different from the attitude they usually receive that it will make a positive impression.
Ask questions about their life, their country, their struggles and hopes. As the saying goes: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Meet a need no matter how insignificant it may seem. It’s seldom the big things that make the biggest impact. It’s the consistent habit of doing the little things that mean so much to others.
Share Jesus. Building bridges to people should facilitate the sharing of the Good News of Jesus. Practice “Permission Evangelism.” It’s never wrong to ask: “May I share with you something that has completely changed my life?”
Live the Golden Rule. “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Luke 6:31 NKJV
Forget CNN & FoxNews and look for what God is doing…
Forget CNN & FoxNews and look for what God is doing… Click To Tweet
