UMTV Web Brief 9/16/02

Soul Search – Intro:

Welcome to UMTV’s web brief, I’m Reed Galin.

They come for work … for family … for a better way of life.  They are willing to risk their lives to make it across the U.S. border.  As a part of Hispanic Heritage month, we’re focusing on the controversial issue of immigration.  It is a matter of life or death in the deserts of southern Texas.  One sheriff there has a surprising take on international law breakers. He’s involved in a very different kind of border patrol. 

Soul Search – Story:

RAFAEL CUELLAR HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO BEING A LAWMAN ALONG THE U.S.- MEXICAN BORDER. BUT HE DEVOTES HIS PERSONAL LIFE TO TRYING TO OFFER SOME DIGNITY TO LAWBREAKERS. HE OFTEN STARTS BY LOOKING FOR BUZZARDS.

Sheriff Rafael Cuellar: "A bunch of buzzards flying together indicates that there is something dead in that area."

ALL TOO OFTEN, THE SHERIFF FINDS HUMAN REMAINS – THE BODIES OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ILLEGALLY CROSS INTO THE U.S. FROM MEXICO LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY OF LIFE, BUT FINDING CRUEL DEATH.

Sheriff Rafael Cuellar: "They can dehydrate in 4 to 6 hours, and if there's no help around, you know, that's when they die.”

AN ESTIMATED HALF MILLION PEOPLE CROSS THE U.S.- MEXICAN BORDER ILLEGALLY – OR TRY – EVERY YEAR. IT'S BELIEVED THAT NOT QUITE HALF ARE CAUGHT. BUT IT'S A GIVEN THAT MORE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT MEANS MORE DESPERATE CHANCES WILL BE TAKEN.

Ray Antonario: "For us here, we'll catch anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 a month."

BACK IN HIS OFFICE, ALMOST WEEKLY, SHERIFF CUELLAR MEETS WITH GRIEVING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAD HOPED AND PRAYED THAT A LOVED ONE DID FIND SAFETY HERE, ONLY TO FIND THE WORST.

THIS IS WHERE MANY OF THE BODIES END UP – IN A PAUPER'S CEMETERY, WITH A SIMPLE TIN MARKER.

Sheriff Rafael Cuellar: " I feel very strongly for these people that they at least have a decent burial, or knowing their families know where they are. Dead or alive."

Commentary: A Better Life? – Intro:

Emma Lozano, Director Pueblo Sin Fronteras – People Without Borders – shares the sheriff’s desire to bring dignity to all immigrants.  She’s a member of the Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago, which helps undocumented immigrants who have been abused and who are suffering. 

Commentary: A Better Life? – Story:

First of all, recognize that there exists a problem, that there is a crisis, that there are people that are suffering.  

Our people cross illegally because they have to.  They suffer so much to cross the border, they have to leave everything they know – their language, their people, their churches, their neighbors, their families – to come here just to work very, very hard for sometimes less than minimum wage, no insurance, horrible working conditions, and they do that because they really feel they have no choice because they have a responsibility to raise their families.  

Once people really understand what they go through, maybe they would open their hearts to see them not as stealing jobs that other people don’t even want to do in this country, because they literally have to take the jobs that no one else wants to do, and for the worst paid salaries.

And in the midst of a country where the family is becoming more disintegrated and more individualistic, I think it’s so important that we look at these people as an example of how to keep our families together, and the love that they have for each other.  

Team Tamale – Intro:

For Hispanic immigrants – legal or not – American culture is a challenge. Language and laws make it difficult to assimilate. A United Methodist ministry in Dallas is working to make sure new Americans have support and a place to express themselves.  

Team Tamale – Story: 

“That pot we put on the stove at 7:40 and it should take an hour for them to be cooked.”

MAKING HOT TAMALES – A TRADITIONAL HISPANIC FOOD STAPLE, AND AN ART PASSED ON FOR GENERATIONS. 

“This pot is ready.”

AT SAN JUAN FELLOWSHIP, A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN DALLAS, IT IS A MONTHLY RITUAL FOR THE CONGREGATION.

The Rev. Javier Escalera: “The purpose for making tamales is to actually stay in ministry.  We are working with low-income Hispanic families that are not able to contribute, significantly, money to the church and so we do this.”

 IT IS MORE THAN A FUND-RAISER. IT IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL FOR THE HISPANIC CHURCH.  THE TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS EARNED EACH MONTH SELLING TAMALES ALLOWS THE CONGREGATION TO PAY THE LIGHT BILL AND KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.  AND IT IS A MATTER OF PRIDE.

The Rev. Javier Escalera: “Being without documents, being Hispanic, not being able to speak the language, it’s very hard.”

 JAVIER ESCALERA’S MINISTRY INCLUDES HELPING HIS NEW MEMBERS BECOME ACCLIMATED INTO AMERICA BY ASSISTING THEM IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES.   

AS A RESULT OF THE TAMALE SALES, THE GROUP WILL SOON BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEIR OWN BUILDING IN A MULTI-LINGUAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY HOPE TO EXPAND BEYOND THEIR SPANISH-SPEAKING CHURCH SERVICE. 

The Rev. Javier Escalera: “We want to be able to fulfill the needs of whoever walks into out sanctuary for worship.

 IF HUNGER IS THE NEED, THEY’VE GOT THEIR NEIGHBORS COVERED – PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. 

Elizabeth Escalera: “We give them some and we help them and it is a way of saying God loves you.”

Team Tamale – Tag:

When they move into their new worship facility later this month, the members will host an open house for the neighborhood and they will be serving their famous tamales. 

On the next UMTV web brief, a visit to a Baltimore “saving station” and how churches are taking it to the streets.

“God did not call us to sit in our pretty sanctuaries and take care of ourselves.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.