A "Good" Bye to JFON

A "Good" Bye

Friends of JFON I am writing you from the back of our Justice for Our Neighbors booth at the FL UMC Annual Conference on my last full day with JFON.  As you can imagine I have many emotions and a lot to finish up today before I transition to New York City.  I will be continuing my missionary service as the Mission Interpreter for the Young Adult Social Justice Programs (Mission Intern and US2) at the General Board of Global Ministries with the UMC.  I am excited to carry and share the stories of Young Adult Missionaries and the communities they serve, but I will deeply miss the community I have made here in central Florida and with JFON.

However, the main emotion I feel today is a combination of excitement and joy I cannot fully describe.  A few hours ago we found out President Obama will make an announcement today outlining  “deferred action” for DREAMers.  This will STOP deportations of DREAMers and provide eligibility for work authorization!  (We are still learning the actual implications and language that will be used) I was met with hugs, tears, and high fives from board members and volunteers at Annual Conference.  Though many did not understand, this good news was even announced on the floor of Annual Conference I am told.


I want to thank each of you!  Days like today are what we work for at Justice For Our Neighbors and should be celebrated.  A special thank you and congratulations to all of our DREAMers sharing their stories and volunteering with JFON!  And each of you that hosted a DREAM Sabbath event, signed a petition, made a phone call or told a friend about the DREAM Act or JFON.


This is an important step.  And I am blessed to celebrate it in Florida on my last day as Education and Advocacy Coordinator.  As we celebrate, know this does not happen alone.  I hope you will continue your strong support of JFON because it takes all of us caring about our migrant brothers and sisters to find solutions to our messy immigration system. 


Lina, our immigration attorney and Marilyn will work with our volunteers and JFON board to keep up the good work and I pray that you will continue to support them in this tireless effort and celebrate together on days like today!


Humbled and with incredible joy, THANK YOU JFON FAMILY for changing my life as you change our clients’ lives!


Hannah
JFON Education and Advocacy Coordinator


Photo: Marilyn Beecher, Hannah Hanson, Paloma Acosta and Colleen Abel (L to R) celebrate and share information on JFON at the UMC Annual Conference, Lakeland Florida. 

Best Part of GC

Here is a link to the video of the rally: Video

 And an Article

If you are going to be in Tampa on April 28th, I hope to see you!

United Methodist Task Force on Immigration Rally at General Conference

Profit from Pain is Inhumane!
Dignity Not Detention!

Tampa, Florida
Saturday, April 28, 2012, 12:30 – 1:30pm

Join church and community leaders in a rally and take action to:
 Challenge the push by private prisons CCA and GEO to privatize prisons in the US
 Celebrate the UMC Board of Pensions addition of a social investment screen for private prisons
 Challenge the mass incarceration of citizen and immigrant communities of color in the US
 Challenge global detention policies that incarcerate hundreds of thousands of migrants around the world, including asylum seekers, laborers and children

For Further information contact:
Office of the Bishop, Desert Southwest Conference, assistanttothebishop@desertsw.org

JFON Newsletters

I wanted to share some of our Justice for Our Neighbors Newsletters with you!


Click here for our latest Spring 2012 Edition

Fall 2011 Edition

Posters from Organizing Basements

*And I love that the wall were the most beautiful color blue! We can even take pride in our basements.

Church Basements

I have spent a bunch of time in church basements in the last week. Its where the organizing happens. Sometimes I feel the space under where all the Sunday activities happens, has the most spirit. Its like something is bubbling and will soon spread beyond the walls of the church.

Maybe that is why I am in this program. Well really it’s more of a reminder I am in the right place. And what a joy to be reminded by a former Mission Intern of the strategy of Jesus while sharing about organizing efforts in the Bronx.

Today we gathered in a church basement to work on the birthing process of a new coalition. Sometimes planning meeting with lots of parties has so many ideas what starts as movement gets bogged down and frustrating. But not today. Today we came together because we know all of our organizations care about the rights and dignity of immigrants in our area. We know we have supported each other’s organizations, but it’s time for some strategy. We talked about the current critical issues, but also firmly placed it in the whole global migration arena.

It was moving forward together and for now everyone able to articulate ideas so we stay on the same page. I respect the people around the table so much. Everyone was coming from important work and running back to important things, but we know together will make a better difference. We know together we will be able to respond.

It is so energizing that just like that a coalition was born that will fill an important void. (And it was a lot more work than just like that, but it was just such an exciting spark of a meeting. And since everyone was present we still have a few more people to sign off on the ideas. But I think it is super exciting to remember it may be hard work, but its really not that hard to organize, and strategize and start taking action. Even in our business or doing other great things, we can come together and share our strengths even for 2 hours and start something and set expectations to make it sustainable and grow. We can do that with a spark and some strategy - and we are called to by Jesus example.)

And at Holy week, I guess gathering around a table in a church basement reminds me of Jesus and the disciples. Maybe it’s from Seders in church basements or the type of conversation. I hope you understand.

But it is all a good reminder that the life conquers death.

Toll Roads

Toll Roads
Have I told you yet, my feelings on toll roads…

When I first got to Florida I was very conscious to avoid toll roads.

a. They cost money (at another time we can get into the cost of roads through taxes - I do realize roads cost money, just play along as you continue)
b. Sometimes you need to have exact change (toll roads without toll workers are the particular toll roads the frustrate me)
c. I wanted to actually see the community
d. I think it’s a way people are separated by class and communities next door to each other can avoid each other
e. They were even farther steps away from public transit

I really think toll roads have very little to do with social justice. I think it was even more intense for me due to the large amount of tourists who never see anything but the dreams of a cute mouse and fairy dust in Orlando. You can largely avoid seeing your neighbor in most places, but for some reason it became even more clear here.

The things you don’t have to see…

(I do understand some people that deal with some many struggles in the daily life may want a vacation where they can just let go and look for some artificial magic. And I am not trying to judge individual people in this. It is more the overall sentiment of how much stays hidden on a larger scale.)

And so I took out all these feelings on the toll roads.

Toll roads became of focus for my feelings on injustice. Which may sounds strange, but is definitely healthier than other places I could have placed my emotions.

The only main downside was the amount of time used. Also I don’t think I belong just driving through people’s communities without being invited in. But I think main roads through communities helps you understand. (I am still planning to do my photo essay on Division Street through Orlando, a true divide that often seems is not crossed)

Eventually by last fall I gave in and got a sunpass. This helps with a. and b. and google directions that always try to take me on toll roads. I gave in due to needing to drive far distances and very complicated you can’t get there from here without toll roads. But in a state connected by toll roads and not accessible transit for all, I know the privilege I have with that little sticker. I know in a car I can’t really see the people around me (one of the reasons I love public transportation so much, but that is also generally divided in some way. Growing up in DC the people who rode the bus were often from very different places than the people who only rode the metro.)

The truth is I have a toll road three blocks from where I live, but if you road on it you would never be able to see me. You’d go right over my neighborhood.

I took my frustration out on the toll road, so I would remember to really see the whole community I was working in. In working with the community you need to map what the community really looks like. As a Mission Intern it is easy to do this, but closer to home sometimes it is harder to remember. Sometimes it’s harder to look and open your eyes in the areas that are closest to you.

So what are our toll roads? When do we need to use them and when do we actively need to find another path?

** I have written this blog some many different times in my head while driving in the last year, that I am afraid this does not to justice to all that.

*my feeling on a car has changed some, as I have learned to respect it as a tool to get to where important gatherings and discussions have to happen to create change in people’s hearts and communities. Now we just need bus routes to those places.

To be heard, we must listen

I was recently preaching at a church. In-between the services I stayed near the coffee to greet the people at the church. It was interesting how much people had to share with me. I truthfully did very little talking. However, in my listening we built a connection. And when we finished a conversation people thanked me for how much I had shared.

I had been pretty nervous to share in a church I had never had any interaction with. Generally if I am speaking in churches it is in a small group and I learn something about the people through our dialogue. It is easier for me to meet and listen to people so that what I say can relate to them in a positive way. But standing up and talking about immigration, when you have no idea what your audience thinks is a good learning experience.

But for a lot of people I think they gained a lot more from me, because in the down time I listened to them. Some wished to instruct me and I garnered what was useful from their advice. I am not sure everyone left on the same page as my sermon…

But I am sure they heard more of what I said, because I took the time to listen and learn about them.

And I was blessed to learn about a new group of people.

International Women's Day

In gearing up for International Women's Day on March 8th, I wanted to share some posters from various events and IWD's from previous years.

"Pray for me"

"Keep ______ in your prayers"

In fact she didn't just ask me to pray for her, she asked for prayers for those I felt hurt her.

But this time being asked to just pray made me feel even more helpless, though maybe humbled, and incredibly far away.

Don't get me wrong, during this Mission Intern Program I have learned a lot about prayer. And I guess in my own context it somehow astounds me when people half a globe away are praying for me. In general I think prayer is a good discipline in some ways of focus for us. I think its a nice thing to keep someone in your thoughts. And for the most part I think its a good, but hard thing to remember their is something bigger than us that cares about all these joys and concerns.

Maybe that is what I need to remind myself right now.

But how do you balance prayer and action? How do I truly understand the power of prayer when I so deeply believe something must be down to keep someone safe?

But most importantly how do I respect the way someone else wants to handle their life? How do I hope to know the right action?

I am honestly bitter, that I'll I can do today is pray. Hopefully, it will be a lesson in prayer. Because I am too far for helpful action. And I love all the players in this drama - so it gets very messy.

But I see an injustice; it is so personal. And I'm just supposed to pray?

Maybe working with an attorney and hearing the law interpreted is affecting me. But it makes me angry when there is nothing to do. No good way to strategize or change a situation. No good way to get involved leaving my own judgements and culture at the day.

....

Its been a few weeks since she asked me to pray. And in some ways it was a gift so I could do something. In some ways its most important she asked me to do anything at all and I can honor that request.

When you want to stand with someone and walk with them through a struggle, it is so very hard to know you can only pray.

But in her struggle she is still teaching me something about faith and her belief. She believes in love. And she believe in prayer and praying to a God that can change hearts.

So I pray the prayers she asked me to pray.

Leap Year

(disclaimer, this may be a lot of processing in writing for myself that had a point when I started, but is what it is now. Happy Feb 29th!)

I am viewing today as the anniversary of being in-between South Africa and the US. I think this is fitting as Rachel and I left 3 hours before our visas expired on February 28th and arrived in the US the evening of March 1st. Today is February 29. (I had high hopes one of my cousins with Feb due dates would have had their feb due date babies as a leap year baby, and if it weren’t for a few beautiful new additions to the family prior to the 29th maybe I’d be disappointed. Since that is not the case I shall digress into the 29th being a day of reflection)

I do feel this sense of in-between or maybe it’s a sense of being connected to all places. Last night I flew back from a Missionary Roundtable conference in NJ. It seemed fitting that I was at the airport when I finally realized what the date was and received a few texts and e-mails alluding to the subject. And thanks to JetBlue’s screens in the seats, it does kind of feel like an international flight. (Yes somehow last year with all the emotions I had and on a tremendous lack of sleep and hours to fly, I did not sleep. Instead I had way too many movies to watch and be distracted by on in-flight entertainment.)

A fellow mission intern and dear friend finishes her service this week. During the roundtable we were asked what it feels like on our finishing leg as Mission Interns. I had recently been reflecting on these 3 years of service with intense and extreme transitions every year and a half. I think my fellow mission interns and I have grown so much from being stretched and blessed. But it also is a cycle of spending part of everyday to be part of the community you are in and then around month 6-9 you really have gone through the pains of transition. You begin finding people and connections special and unique to the place. And then when we are lucky we begin to find balance between the service, work, “home”, faith, rest, and people. I had reached that point in South Africa. And then once you really notice how good that is you rip yourself away for the domestic placement. And in Florida I have had to go through the process all over again. I am now getting to the point again when everyone asks what’s next.

My friend was reflecting that our identity for the last few years really has been as a young adult missionary and even more specifically as a part of this Mission Intern program. It is the driving factor in our life and though we are multifaceted people it is the main role in life right now. So what happens when that identity changes? How much stays always part of us? Where is the sense of freedom and the sense of loss as that changes?

I have this belief that I am a combination of all the experiences I have had and all of the people I have met. So the past two days have been pretty wonderful with experiences making me feel more connected to all my worlds.

Singing songs in Swahili and being around translators again brought me back to being in Congo and our good friends with the name Kapay who translate not only languages but the whole demeanor of the speaker. And they sing with a joy in God to unite a room of hundreds.

Staying up late into the night to ponder and wrestle with changes and hopes and dreams. To discuss gender roles. Falling asleep in the midst of reflections.

Strategizing for how to equitably facilitate missionary from everywhere being sent everywhere. With discussions of being ‘routers’ and bi-cultural persons and always being learners. And knowing people those descriptions will soon not truly characterize people with parts of many cultures and countries guiding their paths and decisions.

Talking to a South Africa friend here of the streets of Joburg and the accents. And speaking of leaping, shouldn’t I be in dance class in Marshalltown.

And isn’t it amazing the leap you can take in one day. (Or the many leaps I can take between the many thoughts swirling around in my head.)

I may not have described anything I am feeling correctly. But past, present, and future. In all this in-between it is a pleasure to be reminded of all the people that connect me to all these times, all these places, and all these parts of me.

Somehow a year later, the in-between is a little less painful, but everything is still as vibrant.

It is truly an honor to be part of this Mission Intern program. I have no idea what this Leap Year holds and I don’t even know that I can completely describe the last year to you. But I can say I am thankful for it.

Rambling with love,
Hannah

a handwritten letter

I love letter writing. And cards often fall into the same category. I love getting things in the mail and putting a stamp on before sending it to someone.
If you know me well, I have probably tried to get you to write me something. And I love writing back, though to be honest it often takes me longer than I hope. I have one letter in fact I have been waiting to write to a friend all week.

I think I like letters so much, because somehow what you share is different than other forms of communication. It is much more based on what is really going on in your head and is often more intimate and open. I think letter writing is a good practice.

But here is where we take a turn in this post my friends. I just wanted to give you a sense how much emotional attachment can be connected to a letter, to handwriting, to personal thoughts.

And now I will share one of the hardest parts of my job. Last month, with our attorney on leave I had to respond to two handwritten letters. Both were personal and hand written and contained a story. Each letter had family details, and facts, and was written in a way that asked for immediate response.

Both letters were written from detention centers and were from immigrants. I imagine they sent out other letters very similar to the one we received at Justice for Our Neighbors. And the hardest part wasn’t reading the letters. They were clear about the need for assistance from an attorney and I agree. The hardest part is writing the response, and wondering if all the other people that received similar letters respond the same way.

Unfortunately with our resources to work on one of these cases would take our attorney from 30 other cases that month. So I respond to the letter. Because when someone takes the time to write you a hand written letter you really should respond, but also for all of us that work here it is important to us to give honest clear information. It is important that in some small way, even when we can’t help we acknowledge our brother. And so I write the letter with a prayer, always including other resources and organizations for them to contact.

And I know for every letter there have to be so many more we don’t receive and I know I will get a phone call from a spouse of someone else desperate to be reunited with a loved one. Sometimes who was just lead astray by another attorney and somehow got into problems with the immigration system. Sometimes for driving without a valid license. There are lots of ways, and many people’s families don’t know where their loved one is.

So I still love handwritten letters, but these letters continue to make real for me the problem with our system and the rise of immigration detention centers.

Epiphany

Today I shall direct you to another blog of my friend and brother David Hosey, a mentor to all in my class of Mission Interns.

It's about Epiphany and why it just may be important like all those other holidays we just had.

Check out the Hosey Blog

Thanks Hosey!
Hannah