favor

We woke up this morning

praying for favor.

Marco's first deportation hearing, 

originally scheduled for early January

was to be today at 9:00 A.M.

The presiding judge is referred to as

'The Axin' Judge'.

Now, before I go any further,

can we clear something up?

God has a special place in his heart for widows and orphans.

He's instructed us, if we truly love Him,

to take care of them.

He feels the same way about aliens and foreigners.

It's true.

To be perfectly honest,

I could have spent the rest of my life not knowing that.

It's a lot more 'acceptable' in our culture - even among Christians -

to take care of the fatherless.

maybe even the widows.

Take care of the foreigner, though? not so much.

I was there, too.

I even told Tyler through self-righteous tears,

"I want to spend my money to help somebody who would die 

without it. Not to help some criminal."

I may have even spat that last sentence.

I never gave a thought to what would drive someone

to leave everything  - and everyone - they know,

to risk imprisonment,

to go to another country.

a country that does not welcome them.

I now know what drove one person.

And I sure wouldn't wish it on any of my kids!

~

Immigration Court in Halingen, TX

offers a unique opportunity to first time defendants.

The alien is allowed to represent himself via the telephone

for his 'master hearing'.

(I called the court three different times to confirm this)

Since our government is convinced Marcos is a minor,

Tyler could represent him instead.

I dialed the phone for Tyler at 8:58.

The clerk took our number and told us the judge would call

sometime today. 

Both Tyler and Marcos had to be available when he called.

We already knew that it may be hours before Judge Axin' would call

so Tyler took the day off of work

and the guys worked on the bunkhouse instead.

All day long,

I carried my phone with me.

It was too warm for a jacket today

and I don't do phones in pants' pockets

so I put it in the pocket of a shirt

and tied the shirt around my waist.

A missed call would be the same as 

not showing up for court

and would result in an instantaneous order for deportation.

I prayed, "Lord. Please don't let him call 

while I'm on the pot..." more than once.

The phone rang a few times

but it was never the judge.

I called at 4:50.

It seems that the judge granted our change of venue request

(to a closer court - the closest one being in Memphis)

and cancelled today's hearing.

And Marcos received favor from the LORD.

Let me add -  

Tyler and I do believe that it is wrong to illegally enter the US.

We also believe that we must obey God.

We have been encouraging Marcos to do what is necessary 

to obey the laws of the land.

We believe that God has a plan for Marcos;

and for some reason,

that plan, at least for a time, includes us.