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 I am not going to talk to you about who you
should vote for. I just want to give you something to think about,
when you hear about the issue of a wall down in our
southern/southwestern states. I cringe when people talk about this
subject; it makes me feel worse when they talk about immigration and
wanting to stop it.
I think about immigration and how this country is built on
immigration. One just has to look at Ellis Island in New York City,
if it were not for this island; I really do not think anyone of us
would be here now. All we have to do is look back a few generations
to see our ancestors that came to this country with a hope of
freedom to speak, go wherever we want, read whatever we want, and to
worship Christ. This country was built on Christianity, you can see
this in the history books, our government books, and our Declaration
of Independence. Unless you are one hundred percent Native American,
you are descendants of immigrants!
I would like to share with you several stories of families who were
forced into immigration. The first, a friend of mine, his name is
Michael and his wife is Mary. They are Sudanese refugees, they had
to flee Sudan, so they fled on foot with their children. They took
nothing with them, their lives were all that mattered to them. They
crossed a desert, on foot mind you, into a neighboring country. It
was there, they were put into a camp, this was not a KOA campground
with all the goodies such as a swimming pool, game room, store, this
was a refugee camp with barbwire surrounding it. They were given
food, but it was hardly enough for his family. They were able to
apply for a visa to the United States on a refugee hardship/wartime
status. The church I belonged to at the time, sponsored Michael and
Mary and their children, we paid for them to come to the Quad
Cities, set up housing for them, bought them food and clothing.
Helped them to purchase a car, and helped Michael find employment.
Michael holds several college degrees, he served as a Pastor of a
Church in Sudan. Michael was able to go right to work. This family
may not have had a good life until now, but you won’t find them
without a smile on their face. They might not be rich in money, but
you can ask Michael if he is rich, and he will answer you that they
are rich in the goodness of Christ.
The second family, was a couple and a newborn, they were forced to
flee their homeland by a vicious ruler. They fled by night, crossed
a rugged terrain, and then they also crossed a desert. Here, they
lived as refugees for several years, until it was safe for them to
return to their homeland.
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When you are forced to leave your homeland because of
eminent danger to your family, you will leave your homes, cars,
possessions behind. They no longer are important to you, only the
safety and the lives of your family matters.
This second family, had to flee, because of the king ordering the
killing of all sons, two years and younger. Do you know who it is?
Think about these two families this Christmas Season and the New
Year. If it happened to them, could it not happen to us as well?
Merry Christmas,
God Bless you for all you do and who you are,
See you in church,
Pastor Bill and Wendy Ramsdale and family
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