The Koinōnía Class is adapting well to our classroom (Room 134). I was excited to design signs for our classroom. I chose to incorporate imagery from the “Parents/Families of Addicted Loved Ones” (PAL) Group (https://palgroup.org/), so they would hopefully feel included in the space.
Since October, we’ve been delving into the topic of immigration. Our primary resource has been Sarah Quezada’s book, “Love Undocumented: Risking Trust in a Fearful World.” As per her website (https://www.sarahquezada.com/), “In Love Undocumented, Quezada takes readers on a journey deep into the world of the U.S. immigration system. Follow her as she walks alongside her new friend, meets with lawyers, stands at the U.S.-Mexico border, and visits immigrants in detention centers. With wisdom from Scripture, research, and these experiences, Quezada explores God’s call to welcome the stranger and invites Christians to consider how to live faithfully in the world of closed doors and high fences.”
In addition to Quezada’s book, we’ve heard the story of our own class member, Grace Tamnjong, and her firsthand experiences with the U.S. immigration system. We also watched news segments, “Inside CECOT” from “60 Minutes,” and “Inside Dilley” from “PBS NewsHour,” to gain further insights into this important topic.
On March 29th, we gathered in the evening to share a small meal before attending a presentation by my colleague Carol Thompson. In 2021, Carol worked with children affected by the policy of child separation at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. Then, we had a “Q&A” session with Sarah Quezada about her book and developments since its publishing.
Regarding “functional Christianity,” Brent Irvin is using his skills and experience to pursue admission to immigration court. His ultimate goal is to become a volunteer lawyer with Neighbors Immigration Clinic (https://www.kyneighborsclinic.org/). As per their website, they are “A non-profit law office that provides high-quality, low-cost immigration representation and proactively organizes our immigrant community to support the flourishing of Kentucky.”
Our discussion of immigration will conclude on Easter Sunday, April 5. The following week, we will begin reading Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr.