The Spanish text message, translated as follows, was good news when it reached my smartphone a few days ago.

“Thanks brothers/sisters and friends.  I have just left the interview and thanks to God and you all for this blessing.  Since just a few minutes ago, I am a citizen of the United States.  Kisses, Rosa”

And so, in faith, we celebrate each person who can breathe a sigh of relief that some unforeseen problem will not expel someone to another land, either separating him/her from family or wrenching children from the country they love.

In our church we do not draw attention to immigration status.  Anyone who knows anything about the Latino community knows that there is not a neat divide between documented and undocumented.  Many families are a combination of both. Our purpose, we feel, is to affirm and help stabilize all of our families, as we help them grow in their faith.

Yet, I must confess, it’s their faith that I find most impressive. In our bilingual small groups, I often worship with them as they share prayer requests in Spanish — as I join them in singing to God in Spanish, although most of them also speak English. Spanish is their heart-language, it’s the language they naturally use to pray to God, especially if they are first generation immigrants.

For many of my Latino brothers and sisters, citizenship is an impossibility under current laws. The parents of USAmericans, living in uncertainly and fear,  are determined to do what they can to raise their children as productive US citizens.  In short, they are giving us their greatest treasure and asking virtually nothing in return, except for the opportunity to support and raise them in this country.

So in spite of the threat of severe state immigration laws and federal deportation policy; knowing they have no guarantees nor legal security, they focus on their young US citizens, and on God.

And together we sing,

Te vengo a decir Oh mi salvador. (I come to you to say, Oh my Savior …)
Que yo te amo a ti Con el corazón. (…that I love you with all my heart.)

Te vengo a decir Toda la verdad  (I come to you to say the whole truth…)
Que te amo señor,te adoro señor Con el corazón. (…that I love you Lord, I adore you Lord from the heart)
Yo quiero cantar de gozo y de paz (I want to sing, I want to sing of the joy of peace)
Yo quiero llorar De felicidad (I want to cry of happiness.)

Te vengo a decir Toda la verdad (I come to you to say the whole truth…)
Que te amo señor,te adoro señor Con el corazón. (…that I love you Lord, I adore you Lord with all my heart.)