Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Network

Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Network Updates
May 2021

Madre de Asunta School

Financial Help Urgently Needed!

We are grateful that many AMMPARO members are volunteering to assist asylum seeker families who are either quarantined or settling in Southern California.  There is still an urgent need to assist the many families still in shelters  in Tijuana. One such shelter, Madre de Asunta, provides not only food, shelter, and clothing to the 26 women and 42 children currently being housed, but education for the children so that they do not fall behind, and to give them a sense of normalcy during this chaotic time.  Unfortunately, donations have fallen off to the point where the funding for the teacher ($300/month) will be depleted in April.

Congregations and individuals in the Pacifica Synod and beyond have historically supported this important ministry, and we are asked to do so once again. Any amount you can spare will be truly appreciated by these vulnerable children. You may make a contribution online at www.pacificasynod.org (under the “Donate Online” tab) or by check payable to the Pacifica Synod with “Instituto Madre Asunta” in the memo line. The check may be sent to the Pacifica Synod office at 1801 Park Court Place, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Thank you!

New Ways to Assist Asylum Seeking Minors – Worship Service in Spanish

You have probably heard about the hundreds of asylum seeking minors currently housed at the San Diego Convention Center. A new way to assist them has emerged.
In April, we were asked by our Pacifica Synod and the Episcopal Diocese to provide a 30-minute worship service in Spanish for the migrant minors who are currently housed at the Convention Center. When these unaccompanied minors were asked what they needed the most, they asked for religious services and counseling.

The Roman Catholic and Episcopal Diocese of San Diego got right on board. We (the Lutherans) were invited to help this week. St Mark’s Lutheran, with synodically licensed minister Alicia Saenz, was uniquely positioned to help. The link to the service on YouTube may be found here. A PDF of the service bulletin can be downloaded here. We are grateful to the willing and eager help offered by our musicians and tech team.

This is an example of what we can do as a synod and as part of the ELCA AMMPARO network.

Prior Meeting Information & Recordings
The video recording of our April 24, 2021 meeting may be found here – Pacifica AMMPARO Meeting – 04.24.21

At our February meeting (February 27), we heard from 3 representatives of an Immigration Panel, as listed below. You can view a recording of this meeting at https://youtu.be/RxZbu4tevZA. The minutes from the February 27 meeting may be found here.

• Giovana Oaxaca – Program Director for Migration Policy for the Service and Justice Home Area of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Giovana spoke about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• Diane Coker – Partner with Larrabee Abi Coker LLP in San Diego. Diane spoke about Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).
• Katrina – Jewish Family Services addressed local infrastructure needs and migrant shelter operations in San Diego.

Presentation slides from Giovana’s ELCA AMMPARO presentation may be downloaded here.

Meeting Minutes:

April 24, 2021 – Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Minutes 4.24.2021
March 27, 2021 – Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Minutes 3.27.2021
January 23, 2021 – Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Minutes 1.23.2021

If you would like the additional information about the work of this group, please contact Pastor Karla or Deacon Roberta Wall at roberta_k_2000@yahoo.com

Ways to Respond

Under the current Administration’s policy, thousands of asylum-seekers who would otherwise be awaiting their asylum hearings in the United States are being forced to wait in Mexico. Their names are on an informal list which is now more than 9,000 names long. Approximately 40 people are allowed to come to the border to make their appeal to begin the asylum process per day. This leaves thousands of asylum-seekers, men, women, children, families waiting for months to be able to approach the US border.

The strain on charities and non-profits in Tijuana is immense. We’ve seen this firsthand at Instituto Madre Asunta, a shelter for women and children, and Casa de Migrantes, a shelter for men. Members of our synod have had a long and healthy relationship with these two institutions. We’ve seen their good work firsthand on many occasions and we want to ease their burden and assist them in any way we can. Both institutions are full beyond capacity, the women and children’s shelter about three times their normal guests. Yet they continue to shelter, feed, educate, and assist with legal, psychological, and medical needs.

Because the needs have increased beyond the need for one teacher, we urge ongoing donations to Instituto Madre Asunta’s general fund to help meet the needs of asylum-seekers and migrants as they see fit. https://www.facebook.com/asuntatijuana/

To make a donation, please send a check payable to the Pacifica Synod office and include “Instituto Madre Asunta” in the memo line. The synod office address is 1801 Park Court Place, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

We also continue the work of the Pacifica AMMPARO Network on this side of the border. We encourage you to contact your local Rapid Response network and see how you can be involved. https://ccij.sfbar.org/california-rapid-response-networks/

If you would like more information about what you can do to help your local community or those across the border, please see the lists below for opportunities in your local area or email the AMMPARO Network Pacifica Synod, ELCA at ammparonetworkinpacificasynod@gmail.com

• Immigrant Service Organizations – San Diego County
• Immigrant Service Organizations – Inland Empire & Imperial County
• Immigrant Service Organizations – Orange County

In Christ,

Pastor Karla Halvorson
Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Network

Please prayerfully participating, consider learning more about organizations serving asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants through donating, volunteering your time, or contacting any of our partners. For a detailed list of these organizations, along with ways to get involved with or financially support them, please click here.

Please contact ammparonetworkinpacificasynod@gmail.com for more information and how to connect with partners in Mexico.