Thursday, February 17, 2011

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?

He's instructed us, if we truly love Him,
to take care of them.
He feels the same way about aliens and foreigners.

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. 


3 comments:

  1. I will be praying for this situation. I don't know the details and I really don't need to know them, for God already does and His hands are on this "case" and we just ask for His guidance and blessing, for Marcos and for you and your family.
    May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
    2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

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  2. I love you, too!
    and Window - what a blessing you are! Thank-you.

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