Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Matthew 25:31-46
I was a stranger and you welcomed me. v. 35b
They sat by themselves at one of the round tables, a weathered grandfather and his granddaughter, neither speaking amidst the other excited voices of families chatting with the Spanish speaking LIRS board members. But no one spoke to this pair. No one else could interpret Kiche, their upland ancient Mayan language.
I was in Albuquerque with the LIRS board to witness the work of Lutheran Family Services of the Rocky Mts (LFSRM) which serves area immigrant and refugee people. In the lunchroom at the church, we met the asylum applicants who had seen their first friendly faces, had their first restful sleep, and finally filled their stomachs.
I sat at a table with a very busy 2 ½ year old, the same age as my little grandchild, Killian, for whom I would do exactly what his parents did to keep him alive-flee. I don’t know all their stories: who was threatened, whose crops failed, whose life was in danger. I do know that people would rather have a good life in their own land if at all possible. I did see the machete marks on the Dad’s arm, violence being a main reason people risk their lives to come north.
As I think back on this memorable day, two things stand out vividly: one is of the old Mayan grandfather and what it must have taken to risk everything at the end of his life, for the sake of his granddaughter. And the second is that of all the hopeful families I met at lunch, probably all but one family will be deported back to whatever desperate situation caused them to flee. Who are we?
–Ginny Hultquist, LIRS Board Member
PRAY: God of all peoples, we pray for all those who offer refuge and hospitality to those in need. Bless the work of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as they seek to serve the strangers who come among us. May they be a beacon of hope to those who dwell in the darkness of change. Amen.
FAST: By including refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers in your prayers.
ACT: Support local community efforts to reach out to immigrants.
OR set aside $1 for refugee work supported by ELCA World Hunger
...the least of these... 