Sifting, by Alex

Last weekend my housemates and I went on a trip to Tucson, AZ for a long weekend. We travelled down with an organization called Borderlinks to learn about and witness firsthand the issue of illegal immigration. Before the trip, I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to learn about border issues and to decide where I stand on the issue.


We were asked to blog and share about our experience. Before the trip, I thought this would be an easy task. How silly of me. Unfortunately, things are never black and white. Because of that, this blog may seem a bit like an excerpt from a James Joyce novel, with no clear direction or focus. I saw and heard so much over the course of the weekend that it will take me a long time to process and further research. My heart and brain are both muddled messes right now. I cannot at this point say where I stand on the issue, but I invite you to join my internal conflict.

Imagine with me for a minute: Travelling by foot through desert into a new land. To a country with a language you don’t speak or understand. Leaving family, friends, customs, comfort and security behind. You may not even really like the country you are going to. You simply know that you have a better chance of being able to support your family in this new foreign place. You barely have enough to feed your children each day, let alone pay for an emergency doctor visit or prescription.



Now, imagine a second scenario: You are a recently laid off father of four (living in the States your whole life). You aren’t necessarily a “skilled worker” and now you can’t find a job paying more than $9.00 an hour because there are plenty of individuals in your city more than willing to work for this rate. You have a mortgage, car payments, a credit card and really hope to send your kids to college.

How do I look at this issue with the eyes of Christ? He says to love my neighbor. Which ones? It seems to me what may help one neighbor here may hurt another. Or is this stupid worthless worry?

Do I show my love to my neighbor by taking down all fences and walls? But aren’t boundaries and fences sometimes good and necessary? (Think of fences around swimming pools that keep kids from drowning.)  Am I to give amnesty to all people living in the country without papers? What about my brothers and sisters who have been waiting for 14+ years to enter my country legally? How much will that delay their entry?

If I don’t know where I stand, how do I get involved? Am I called to be involved? How many issues can I be involved in at one time and earnestly care?  I don’t know.  I don’t have an answer, and I’m not sure I will for a long time (if ever).

In the meantime, I know that it is my job to help those in need. To give a brother or sister their daily food if they are in need. To walk alongside. To love. But above all this, to continue seeking Christ first.

Lord, give me your eyes for the world. Help me see where you want me to serve and help me to always see my neighbors in need.

The Illusive American Dream, by Alayna

Why do we chase after the “American Dream?”  

My housemates and I spent a weekend in Tucson last month learning about immigration and border issues [with the Borderlinks program]. At a house for immigrants on the Mexican border, I had dinner with a man who had lived in the States for several years before being deported. He was a young, single man with no children. Friendly and well-spoken, he was open to answering any questions we had. He spoke of returning to live in the US, and I saw dollar signs dancing through his dreams; he talked about his desire to have a nice house, two cars, and money to spare.

This is a common dream–and not just among Mexican and Central American immigrants. American citizens have the same dream. A spacious house with a white picket fence, a couple nice cars in a large garage, a big-screen TV in the family room, the newest technology–that’s America.

But why?

We hear all sorts of stories about how money makes people miserable, how lottery winners’ lives fall apart after they collect, how the rich old man dies alone. Some of the happiest people I’ve seen are those whose lives aren’t cluttered by material possessions. I’ve heard friends talk about how much happier kids that they met at a Haitian orphanage are–laughing, content to play outside and use their imaginations rather than argue over the latest video game. You hear stories from Africa about people sharing their limited food or possessions with whoever they can and finding joy in the process. Please don’t mistake me to be lauding poverty or starvation; I mean simply to draw attention to the fact that the greatest joys often seem to be found in the lives of those who do not “have it all.”

When we’re chasing after The Dream, what we have never seems to be enough.There’s always another promotion, a newer phone/car/computer, a bigger house. It creates a culture of greed and dissatisfaction.

So why do we chase it? Why do immigrants risk their lives to achieve it? Is my understanding of the allure limited because I don’t know what it’s like to truly be in want? Can we really biblically justify the co-existence of the American Dream and the Christian lifestyle?

Opening DOORs Celebration and Silent Auction, Friday May 13th

We cordially invite you to learn about the exciting ways God is moving here in Hollywood, through the hearts of our neighbors, our Dwellers, and our many local agency partners. Admission free, handmade tamales from the Gregory Avenue neighborhood. 

We will conduct a community building silent auction, with "items" like:
- a private BBQ for 6 with Pastor Dan and Anne Baumgartner
- VIP tickets and tours of local TV sets like NBC's hit, "Community"
- a private Bible Study session with Dale Bruner
- tamale-making lesson at Mama's Hot Tamales downtown
- CEO tours of many local social service agencies
- original artwork from our church and local community
- music lessons, free massages, and more!

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to fund a "Neighborhood Ministry Coordinator" position for a new Dweller, in the spirit of the former Hollywood Urban Project.

Please call Matthew at 323-872-3174 with any questions, or click HERE TO RSVP