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Building Relationships and Understanding Across Borders
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The Delegation of FDC's staff and friends from DouglaPrieta attending the Borderlinks'
Women on the Border Event
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April 30, 2014
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30 de Abril, 2014
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We are excited to be entering a new partnership with Café Justo and with CRREDA, a drug rehabilitation center, to develop a Café in Agua Prieta that will provide :
1) an avenue to increase local sales of Café Justo and spread the economic impact of the Just Trade Model;
2) a safe meeting/hang out space for adolescents and youth as part of FDC's new drug prevention and intervention ministry;
3) an opportunity at job training and reintroduction to society for folks from CRREDA;
4) a space to hold community artistic events-- open mic nights, poetry readings, art, etc.;
5) a space for CRREDA graduates and other graduates of drug and rehab centers to have AA/NA meetings;
and
6) a bigger space to receive visiting delegations and to have weekly FDC/Café Justo reflections and meetings.
Please join us in prayer as we seek to have not only a positive economic impact, but also a positive cultural, social, and spiritual impact in the community of Agua Prieta as a part of a growing movement of people and organizations providing alternatives to the illegal drug culture.
Peace,
Jeni O'Callaghan Rodolfo Navarrete Arrieta Monika Patience Carmina Sanchez
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary
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Holy Week Migrant Stations of the Cross |
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Each year FDC and our Healing Our Borders partners facilitate a Good Friday Migrant Stations of the Cross. It has become an important discipline for many of us and we'd like you to prayerfully consider joining us for next year's: Friday, April 3, 2015 3:30 am-8:30 am. FDC and Café Justo partner extraordinaire Dan Abbott has made it part of his life of faith each year. Below is Dan's responses to some questions about his participation:
Why do you participate in the Annual Migrant Stations of the Cross?
"Good Friday is somber and a day during which we think about pain and evil in the world. On that day, Christ was crucified and the temple veil was torn, thunder and lightning occurred, and our scriptures describe images of great pain and suffering. Walking along the wall I am reminded of separation and pain and in a palpable way I am in the presence of suffering. The wall is a symbol of a sad part of my life and the life of our nation. It is a way to honor Good Friday in a way that is applicable to today's world."
Do you sense any hope during the stations?
"It was great having youth with us . . . I hope it will be an indelible image in their memories and that they will be challenged by it. I think one of the powerful expressions is the opportunity to lead with the cross . . . everyone should take the opportunity to do that. Walking by that ugly image of separation(the wall) with the cross is a powerful expression that there is the potential of new life even in the presence of pain, suffering and separation."
Read Entire Interview
Click here to see some more images.
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Growing Food, Growing Community
| | | Below is the translation of a conversation with Trinidad Anguamea Brasil, one of the members of the DouglaPrieta Community Garden. In addition to working together to grow food in the community garden, the members help each other plant their family gardens. Click here to see some photos of the group in action. |
 | | Miriam, Rosalinda, Trini, y Vicenta |
I have had a very good he experience with DouglaPrieta because I learn . . . and I teach what I know, but it's more what I learn. We eat everything we plant and there are many things that we are learning, like how to cook more healthy meals, how to use a sewing machine and how to knit.
What I like the most is the community garden. I like planting and seeing how plants grow and fruit and we can reap what we sow. What I enjoy the most is to work together with the rest of the community garden members and see how we work together having fun doing what we enjoy in the garden.
Each of us has special knowledge, but we have a special teacher who teaches us. Her name is Miriam Maldonado and we are very proud of her because she's very patient. We are also proud of our director Rosalinda Sagaste because she is providing us great leadership.
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Women on the Border
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On April 6th, a delegation of Frontera de Cristo staff and friends traveled to Sahuarita to participate in the Women on the Border Event, hosted by our partners Borderlinks. The annual event celebrates "the work of community organizations and especially highlight efforts by female community partners here on the border." This year's recipients were Maria del Carmen Cuevas of Nogales and Linda Knox of Douglas, one of FDC's faithful partners. FDC's Miriam Maldonado and Mark Adams were the honorary co-chairs of the event.
In her introduction, Miriam told Linda and those gathered that "more than what she does, Linda blesses us by who she is: a strong and humble follower of Jesus. Linda thank you for choosing the border, thank you for choosing DouglaPrieta."
In her remarks, Linda addressed the question that many have asked her: "Why on earth did you move to Douglas?" She responds: "There are a lot of people there who are hurting and there are a lot of people there who care about all that hurt, and we thought maybe those people could use some company on their journey."
Tucson KOLD's News Coverage
Photos of the event
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Immersion Experiences on the Border:
Experiencing, Reflecting and Taking Action
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 | | Menaul School sharing laughter with the Douglas High School Ballet Folklorico |
We are grateful to God for the following churches and schools who came and share a bit of life and ministry with us on the border over the last month:
- Mountain Shadows PC, Oro Valley, AZ
- Menaul School, Albequerque, NM
- First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NM
- Westminster Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NM
- Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, Phoenix, AZ
We are looking forward to hosting Me To We and Centennial College from Canada, a delegation organized by the Mennonite Central Committee, a Mennonite Youth Group led by our partners of HEPAC, and a group of Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteers from San Antonio in May.
If you would like to organize a delegation to the border or to Chiapas, contact Mark. Learn more by reading our Mission Delegation Manual.
More Photos of Menaul's Experience on the Border.
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Trinity PC Gives $5000 Challenge Grant:
Help Us Meet the Challenge
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Please join us in the challenge of responding in faith to the root causes of immigration and drug violence as we celebrate 30 years of binational ministry and live in to a new, exciting and to be honest a daunting ministry of drug prevention and intervention ministry.
Trinity Presbyterian Church (Tucson) has offered a $5,000 challenge grant to fulfill one part of this new ministry: replacing our beloved Fitz. "Fitz" is retired, and almost dead. Fitz, the Frontera de Cristo van, has made it clear that most of the time he is very stubborn and will only start if one's patience outlasts his stubbornness. His seats are in great disrepair, the windows fall out and the doors only open from the outside (only two of the three). The AC seldom works, and if it does, he will not go in reverse.
We ask you to prayerfully consider helping us surpass the $5,000 challenge grant matching funds so that not only will we be able to obtain a new van, but also help support the new Café that we are developing as a part of the new ministry (see above). Read Entire Letter.
Make a Secure Donation Now!
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 Bi-national Internship Ministry Partners
With Tucson Borderlands Young Adult Volunteers
FDC is partnering with the Tucson Borderlands Young Adult Volunteer site this year.
If you (or anyone you know), is interested in a year of service in bi-national ministry with us, please consider applying (or encourage your friend or family member to apply) through the YAV program!
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Save The Dates:
October 31-8, 2014
November 7-15, 2014
Coffee, Migration and Faith
Border to Border Delegation
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We are already signing up folks who are interested in joining our 2014 delegation. Because of interest, we have added another week. Join us in building relationships and understanding across borders enjoying great coffee, wonderful fellowship, delicious food, and incredible hospitality in the rainforest in 2014!
 | | David Cifuentes and family sharing with the 2013 delegation. |
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Support
Frontera de Cristo by:
1) Joining us in giving thanks to God for:
--the blessing of our call to witness that Jesus Christ is our peace across the borders that seek to divide us;
2) Praying with us for God's guidance and help in:
--Responding to the reality of the impact of drugs on the families and communities of Agua Prieta;
3) Providing Support to the Migrant Resource Center:
-The MRC invites YOU to visit or volunteer. Come, learn, and be blessed by our brother and sister migrants.
-MRC Donation needs:
-Shoelaces
-Underwear
-Socks
-MRC Volunteers commute by bike-but we need helmets and bike lights! Please consider donating to help keep us safe on
the roads.
-Financial donations will help pay MRC operating costs, but food items when donations are scarce and keep our bicycles in operating condition.
3) Donating by clicking the donate now button.
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