Unexpected Gifts

A letter from Amanda Craft serving as Regional Liaison for Mexico and Guatemala and Omar Chan serving in Mexico

April 2015

Unexpected gifts: sharing ministry activities in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez

“Although it was a sunny day in Ciudad Juarez, the chilly air inside the cinderblock community center of Pasos de Fe made me shiver.  The steamy cup of coffee in my hands helped a bit.  However, it was the unexpected exchange between a group of adolescent boys from an impoverished community in Juarez and the PC(USA) General Assembly Moderator, Rev. Dr. Heath Rada, that really warmed the room.  It truly is an honor to be part of how the Holy Spirit moves in this world.”—A reflection by Amanda Craft from the PC(USA) General Assembly moderator’s visit to Pasos de Fe, a Presbyterian Border Region Outreach ministry site

Omar and Amanda with PC(USA) General Assembly Moderator Dr. Heath Rada, his wife, Peggy, and others in the delegation during the visit to El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez

We were fortunate to host two very important delegations to El Paso and Ciudad Juarez to learn more about border ministries.  The first visit was with a group traveling with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 2014 General Assembly moderator, Rev. Dr. Heath Rada.  The second was with the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC).  Several highlights stand out from these visits.

To begin with, we were invited to host the Radas, Heath and his wife, Peggy, through a visit of several sites in Ciudad Juarez.  The general missioner of Tres Rios Presbytery, Rev. Dr. Jose Luis Casal, was instrumental in organizing the visit.  Tres Rios Presbytery appoints representatives to the Pasos de Fe board.  Jose, accompanied by his wife, Cecilia, with Rev. Dr. Dan Saperstein, co-leader for Mission and Partnership of the Synod of the Sun, and Bart Teeter, moderator of Tres Rios Presbytery, were also part of the visiting group. We discussed ministries along the border, historic and present, that have touched so many.  It was not possible to talk about border ministries without noting the challenges this part of the world has experienced since the spike in violence since 2008 and the severed ties of the two national churches—the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico—in 2011.

U.S.–Mexico border ministry has celebrated 30 years of work along the border, and World Mission has been an important partner in that ministry.  So, in spite of these current realities, we emphasized a renewed commitment by the six sites along the border to working more closely together. The organization formerly known as Presbyterian Border Ministry now has a new name, Presbyterian Border Region Outreach (PBRO), and a new mission: to address root causes of poverty and violence, especially as they affect women and children.

Next, we stood in a sacred place, a monument created in memory of the murdered or missing women and girls of Juarez. The monument was constructed on land where six young women’s corpses were found in two days, a few of the hundreds of victims of femicide in Juarez. It now stood as a reminder of these atrocities and for the ongoing need to keep investigations alive in search of the many still missing.  In this space of quiet reminder of the brokenness of this world, PC(USA) General Assembly Moderator Dr. Heath K. Rada led us in prayer to remember the lives lost, to remember those who continue to search in hope to find loved ones, and to remember those who are working to make life safer for girls and women.

Soon afterward we were treated to meeting a special group of young men who come from households that suffer from scarce resources.  They are at risk of falling into gangs and organized crime as their families struggle to provide them with meals, shelter, and education.  Hermano Isaias Ramirez started working with these and others, offering a training program in electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning ductwork.  Pasos de Fe provides space and economic and spiritual support for these individuals.  The boys in our midst, a small group representing the program, told the group that the program provides them something that will benefit them in the future and that it’s fun to do the trainings with friends.  Moderator Rada kindly encouraged them to stay involved with the program and their studies.  He could see how encouraged they were by it and he in turn was encouraged by what they can do. At the end of our gathering Dr. Rada prayed again, ending this time together and blessing the wonderful work he experienced during the visit to Pasos de Fe.  Amanda’s reflection at the beginning of this newsletter is from this moment.

Cross at the International Bridge as you leave Ciudad Juarez to cross in the United States. “Not One More” represents the women and girl victims of femecide.

With the NCC delegation we visited Casa Amiga, a partner organization of Pasos de Fe and PC(USA) churches in El Paso, Texas, to learn about how this organization is the first in Juarez to receive women who are victims of violence. Jim Winkler, general secretary and president of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, said of the visit:

“…Our group was privileged to observe a therapist demonstrate to a group of prospective counselors a technique utilizing dolls to help children open up about violence they have experienced and observed. A child is asked to point to where the doll has been hurt and then asked what size bandage is needed. The child places the bandage on the doll and is told the bandage helps the doll feel better and better. Soon the child understands and tells the therapist when the doll doesn’t hurt anymore.

“Then the child is asked what happened to the doll, what part of the doll was hurt. It’s an interview but without a lot of questions. The therapist wants to be sure the child identifies with the healing of the doll.

“Thanks is given to God that the doll feels better. This enables children to understand they, too, can be part of their own healing process.”

What a gift to be invited to experience important learning in these students’ training. We witnessed how they are uniquely caring for these individuals.

We are grateful that ministries at Pasos de Fe are growing again.  Their renewed commitment to accompanying those in their community is exciting.  God’s abundant love is evident.

The encouragement of and interest in the ministries in which we engage have kept us inspired and motivated.  We hope you understand how God’s light is shining and God’s mission is alive especially along the U.S.–Mexico border because you enable significant ministries to grow. We invite you to continue to play this key role by praying for us, learning more about the work we are a part of, and supporting us financially.

Blessings of peace to you,
Omar, Amanda, Alejandro and Matteo

The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44