She called me objective. My friend is a bit older and has seen a bit of life. When she said that to me, I took it as a compliment. The more I thought about it, I accepted that it’s true. The problem with being objective? I don’t get to have a side. Sometimes it’s lonely where God has put me, out in left field. Then again, sometimes I am not alone.
It started with a friend of my hubby’s. She is actually an ex-volleyball player that he has kept in contact with. He told me that she needed prayer. I didn’t really need to know why, but he told me anyway. She was going to Mexico, because she had to enter the U.S. correctly as part of the process to become documented. Stupid me, I was surprised! I mean, what does someone who is undocumented look like? If you have read any of my writing, you will know that I don’t typically “not” think about things. So when this came across my path, I was hooked. Pondering…. Who really are the people they are talking about on the news?
It doesn’t matter which side is talking, they tend to lump people into a big group. And while these “dreamers” may have similar stories, I know that they are also more than that. So since I have been working on some other “getting to know you” type of writing projects, I thought about doing one of these. The problem…I just wasn’t sure? That was until, I knew I wasn’t out in left field by myself.
Mike (my hubby) came to me one day and proposed another project. “How about finding out who these people really are?” Not what the news, political parties or other people say they are, but straight from them. It’s good not to be alone. We had a moment when I told him that I had been thinking the same thing. (Thirty years of marriage must count for something.) So I hope you will join us. We hope to take the “issue” and present it for what it really is, the lives of everyday people. Taking this from what was once a dream of their parents, to “A Dream of their Own”………
My name is Wendoline. In 2002, just a few months after my seventh birthday, my brother, sister and I were brought to the U.S. from Michoacán, Mexico. My brother was eight and a half, and my younger sister just five. My father had already been in the United States a few times, but he would miss us too much and would come home. Things were financially rough when we were in Mexico. My memory of Mexico is sort of blurry, as it’s been over fifteen years since I was last in my hometown. The things I do remember though, is that it’s nothing like it is here. We lived in a small village, everyone was poor, but everyone loved each other. I remember when my dad was here and we were in Mexico, he would call us every day. He would tell us how he couldn’t wait for us to see how wonderful this country is, and he couldn’t wait to buy us all the toys that he couldn’t afford for us in Mexico.
So this morning when I woke up, there were clouds in the sky and some relief from the oppressive heat. While it will still reach 100 degrees today, compared to yesterday, it is a much needed breath of fresh air. (OK it’s the valley…the air is never really “fresh”) According to the weather reports, we have at least nine more days of triple digits, which makes today’s cool breeze only a brief respite. So where am I now? I am sitting outside while I can! There is a slight breeze and the clouds are doing a good job of keeping those scorching rays at bay. As I sit here enjoying the little bit of heaven, it reminded me of a prayer that I had yesterday.
and praying for her, I just asked God to give her some normalcy. Just a little something that day to remind her of what life would be like after her treatments were done. Just a little relief from the pain and stress she is going through. It was exciting for me to hear her post later that morning, that she had taken a small but encouraging step. It was not the “end of the tunnel” for her, but just a bit of light to keep on going.
So if you’re walking that tough road, whatever it may be, look for those moments of relief. Don’t miss them. They are hope given to you today, that gives strength for the steps you will take tomorrow.
Some years ago I was at a conference listening to a Priscilla Shirer, who writes bible studies, books and speaks to encourage women. I totally enjoyed her talk, but there was one point she made that became something that I try to live by. She told the group of women, “don’t be spoon fed the gospel.”
What happens when you focus so much on yourself and your own problems that you can’t see anything else? I have gone through so many different emotions today. I woke up and was feeling pretty down. I am feeling some stress from the decisions I have made, and so I was trying to work out some of my feelings. (wow….used the word feelings a lot) Maybe that was my problem this morning? So many feelings, but so little perspective.
Well I was spending some time with someone recently that I wasn’t particularly excited about. You know…. It is one of those situations where you are going to have to hear their story again, and it is kind of heavy. He had fallen on hard times, and had started questioning God. 
“It was my goal in life to be beautiful,” she told me. Well my friend, I couldn’t help but think, you have reached your goal. Ericka Vega is a buddy that I’ve known for a couple of years now, and I wondered what she was up to these days. I messaged her on FaceBook and invited myself over for an interrogation… I mean an interview.
Cheryl Mendoza 