Good News From the Border

Building Relationships and Understanding Across Borders

The Frontera de Cristo staff and family held a staff retreat to Rucker Canyon about 35 miles north of Douglas on April 6. Click here to view additional photos.

April 30, 2015

30 de abril, 2015

"Have you ever prayed two be spit on?"

Our US Coordinator Mark Adams began his most recent Mission Connections letter this way. At last Saturday's Presbytery de Cristo meeting, James Martin one of our bi-national interns gave testimony to a rom full of church leaders of how "Jesus had spit on his eyes" throughout this past year (see reflections below). Both were speaking of how God had opened up their eyes and their understanding through bi-national ministry.

Frontera de Cristo seeks to build relationships and understanding across borders. We hope to be an instrument of God's healing touch (or spit) so that people of different nations and languages, genders and cultures, faith traditions and economic situations, legal statuses and generations can see one another as sisters and brothers created in the Divine Image called to pray and work for a more loving, peace-filled and just world!

We are grateful for your partnership in our ministry and continue to need your prayers, encouragement and support! Please consider supporting your ministry here on the border with a one time or recurring gift at our online donation site!

On behalf of your ministry on the border,

Jeni O'Callaghan Carmina Sanchez Monika Patience

President Secretary Treasurer

Adams Maldonado Mission Connection Letter

Mark Adams and Miriam Maldonado are Presbyterian Church Mission Co-workers Serving with Frontera de Cristo

Billy Adams, Mark's dad, in AP buying a popcicle from David, a former neighbor in North Carolina.

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Have you ever prayed to be spit on?

Last month, we received a letter from Chuck, one of the delegation members from the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, NM who visited us in February. In addition to sending some incredible pictures from his time with us, he commented on the final biblical reflections that we shared together at the US/Mexico border before they returned home based on Mark 8:22-26 when some people led a blind man from Bethsaida to Jesus and begged Jesus to touch him.

Before he touched the blind man, Jesus spit on his eyes . . . and after Jesus' touch the man could only see people that looked like trees walking around. It would take more than one touch for the blind man to see clearly.

Toward the end of his letter Chuck wrote: "My prayer now is that Jesus spit directly in my eyes so that I can see clearly any issue that arises." Click here to read entire story.

New Truck for Agua Para la Vida

Raul Garcia, Director of CRREDA, and Jocabed Gallegos, FDC Mexican Coordinator

We are grateful for the opportunity to have a new pick up for "Water for life Ministry" with CRREDA, let´s pray togheter so we can be a blessing for Migrants in the desert. A special thanks to Trinity Presbyterian Church of Tucson who gave a $1500 challenge grant!

Necessity caused us to have to take money from undesignated funds and we still need to raise $4,800 to pay for the truck. . .so if you d like to partner in this life saving ministry go to our web site and donate at our secure site.

Presbyterian Border RegioPresbyterian Border Regio

Migrant Resource Center

Thanks Volunteers with Music and Pictures

The Migrant Resource Center is grateful for the amazing and hardworking volunteers who give their time and energy in serving our brothers and sisters. We are also grateful for the donors and donations received to better help us serve the community.

MRC Video

The Blind Man Is Me

by James Martin, Young Adult Volunteer Serving with Frontera de Cristo

I feel that I am starting to come to the end of the first chapter of my life on the border, which has been full of lots of challenges, love, community, spirituality and pain. I also feel like the blind man in Mark 8: 22-26 where Jesus spits on his eyes to give him sight and tells him not to go back into the village.

Before I began serving as a YAV there were so many things in my own society and personal life that I did not see or chose to ignore, and now Jesus has spit on me through the suffering, pain, joy and love I have witnessed on the border and within the U.S.

It has changed me in many ways and given me sight to injustices and my own privilege, and I know that I will never be able to go back to my old self again in the village. Click here to read the rest of James' blog

If you are (or if you know of someone who is) interested in serving for a year with our amazing bi-national community here in "DouglaPrieta" please contact us.

Migrant Stations of the Cross

On April 3, 2015 Frontera de Cristo held our yearly Migrant Stations of the Cross. Over 40 participants gathered together along the US/Mexico border fence and walked the five miles along the border together. Click here to view more pictures of the event.

Doctors without Borders/Medicos sin Fronteras

Two day workshop

by Brenda Cuellar, FDC Intern serving as US Coordinator of the Migrant Resource Center

Doctors without Borders (Medicos sin Fronteras) recently led a 2 day workshop for the volunteers of the Migrant Resource (MRC) and the CAME shelter. The purpose of the training was to provide tools and strategies to better equip volunteers who interact with migrants on a regular basis to both care for themselves to avoid burnout and to care for those who are guests of the MRC and CAME.

Sister Christine Garcia of Douglas stated that "the training was extremely important because it helped strengthen those of us who are serving the migrant community in our ability to respond and be more sensitive to the realities of those we are serving." To read complete story click here.

To learn more about Doctors without Borders/Medicos sin Fronteras click here to be directed to website.

November 6-14, 2015

Coffee, Migration and Faith

Border to Border Delegation

Room still available

REGISTER NOW

Join us in building relationships and understanding across borders enjoying great coffee, wonderful fellowship, delicious food, and incredible hospitality in the rainforest in 2015!

We will probably reach the maximum number early this year so we are in the planning stages of adding a delegation in late September early October, We will announce the date in the March e-letter.

Download the 2015 flier. Email Trisha to put your name on the "Interested in 2015 Delegation" list. If you are ready to reserve a spot, please make your $200 deposit on our secure online donation site.

Click here to see the visual story of the 2014 Delegation.

The initial information packet and registration form will be sent out on Friday February 5.