Today I was going over some blogs that my friends write, and I felt pretty blessed that Jackie, a wonderful lady I met here at a party this spring, found my blog and got in contact with me. Of course, I had to go check out her blog too! :-) She participated in an activity that that Lisa over at www.travelinginstyle.blogspot.com came up with, and I decided it looked like fun too, so here goes...
1. How long have you been with your husband?
Jorge and I have been together for a little more than 2 years; we were married last October.
2. Can you remember one funny miscommunication because of language barriers?
I'm sure there have probably been several! Off the top of my head, I can't think of one... Jorge speaks English fluently, and when we aren't around his family or our friends here, we speak mostly English.
3. What city/state have you relocated to?
We are in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in sunny Mexico. Many of my American friends assume I mean NEW Mexico when they first find out where I am. It's interesting to hear their reactions when I correct them! LOL
4. Do you and your hubby have any children? How old?
We have a houseful, between the two of us! Joaquin is 10; Bobby is 9; Moises and Isaiah are both 8; Belen and Cliffy are both 6, and Noe is 5.
5. What is one thing your blogger friends do not know about you?
I am an artist. I do hand-drawn charcoal and graphite portraits, mostly from photos my clients email to me. I have had clients in the US, Mexico, Australia, England and India. The last few years I have really slacked off on my work, and now I don't market it at all. Most of what I currently do is for family and friends. But maybe in the near future I'll start working on bigger projects again!
6. What are some of your favorite hobbies or past times?
Well, my art. Reading. I love to sing! I like to cook, and many times you'll find me in the kitchen just because I feel like making something! My Grandpa instilled in me a strong love of gardening, and I love to get my fingers dirty in good rich soil. I also enjoy reading my Bible and listening to my husband preach! :-) There is nothing like the feeling I get, listening to him teach the Word, the passion burning in his eyes... Not a hobby exactly, but something I certainly enjoy!
7. How did you stumble upon the blogging community?
I have been active on FaceBook for years. Last spring, my friend Amanda had a St. Patrick's Day cookout for all of her friends, and we went. While there, I learned about her blog, and also Jackie's blog. I didn't start my own until this summer, but now that I am here, I love it!
8. Have you learned something new about yourself during this whole process that has changed all of our lives?
Well, I don't know if the things I have learned have changed anyone ELSE's life, but they have certainly changed mine! I learned that we have this little community of like-minded people, and that we all struggle with a lot of the same things. I have been inspired by ladies who face harder situations than mine, and never hesitate to keep going. My faith has grown from some of the testimonies shared, and I know now that I am not ever alone- there is always someone to listen, someone to share with, who will not judge based on the common biases found in US culture. My life has been enriched because of every person I have met here- thank you all!
9. Something that you love about Mexico and something that you cannot stand or miss living without.
I love the people here! I haven't once encountered any kind of judgement or bigotry. Everyone seems to think it's great that the guera speaks Spanish and is willing to get right in there and work with them or laugh with them. They have welcomed me into their churches, both large and extremely tiny, with arms wide open and nothing but love. There is none of the racial tension I have seen in the US!
I also love the hand-made items I find in places like Tonala. I just don't make it out there often enough to enjoy it to the max! :-)
I know there are a lot of things that could be mentioned here, but really, the thing that irritates me the most is waking up in the morning to the smell of car exhaust fumes. The city has horrible air quality, and when we take the motorcycle out, we come home feeling like there is grit on our faces. Apart from this, there are small things, but nothing worth mentioning!
The thing I miss the most about the US- our children!!! I think that's pretty self-explanatory...
10. Did you know your in-laws before moving and has it been a big adjustment being closer to them?
I laughed at some of the comments made about this question! I knew my in-laws by phone before moving here- which is totally different than arriving and living with them! LOL It has been an adjustment, for sure, but part of that is our current living situation. Anyone who has ever lived with someone knows it is challenging, no matter how amazing the person you live with is. My in-laws are very loving people. But we do live with them. :-)
11. If you were going back to the States next week, where is the first place you would go, of course after seeing your family?
I would go to the little pizza place in New Buffalo PA, and buy a giant BBQ chicken deluxe calzone (or maybe the pizza version if I had to share! LOL)!!! I haven't experienced anything like it ANYwhere else, in the US or in Mexico!
Now that I am home HERE, in GDL- first on the list is a nice huge arrachera dinner! Mmmmmm!
I feel very blessed to be part of a community of such strong, determined women. My hat's off to you girls! Love you all!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Home Sweet Home!
It's been quite awhile since I have posted! Life got pretty crazy at the end of my time in the US. It was hard taking the boys home- making the 10 hour trip on a day that was extremely hot- 100 degrees- didn't help, nor was it a wonderful thing when the air conditioning died! We stopped every hour or so to have the boys wet their shirts down, so they didn't get heat exhaustion, but it was still really hard on them!
I flew home to Guadalajara on the 26th of July. I boarded the train in Waterloo Indiana- a half hour from Mom's house- two hours late, praying they would still get me to the airport in Chicago on time. We pulled in to Union Station only 45 minutes late- somehow the conductor made up a significant chunk of time during the trip, and that helped me get to the airport with a little time to spare. God is good!
I had an hour layover in Atlanta, where I realized that there were two others traveling all the way to GDL with me from Chicago. That was the first time anyone ever made the whole trip with me. I really didn't think there was much likelihood of that happening all the way from Chicago, but it was nice to see familiar faces the whole way... We all three had a hard time finding our gate- it was nice to know I wasn't the only one feeling lost!
I didn't realize how much I have missed being surrounded by the Spanish language until we all sat down at the gate and the babel surrounding us started to separate into individual voices- all speaking Spanish! It felt like a relief to me. This might seem strange to some of my readers, but it was definitely a feeling of belonging for me, in spite of being the only guera in the whole waiting area! LOL
We came into Guadalajara out of grey storm clouds, over the beautiful green mountains and big lakes of water that weren't here when I left. I love the rainy season here! The city was like a gem from above, all the jumble of roads and buildings and LIFE running together, creating a teeming mass of humanity- HOME.
Jorge wasn't able to meet me at the airport, but his family was there- our niece and nephew came running when I walked out of the secure area, smothering me in hugs and kisses, nearly knocking me off my feet with their enthusiasm!
We arrived at the house and the phone rang almost immediately- my husband has an amazing sense of timing, and he knew somehow we'd be home. I fell asleep that night exhausted from the travel, but feeling very blessed to be back here, where we can build our lives...
Jorge graduates from his program on Wednesday, and he still has no idea about his party, even though he did find out I was coming home early. My husband will be home in two days- I can't wait! :-)
God is good!
I flew home to Guadalajara on the 26th of July. I boarded the train in Waterloo Indiana- a half hour from Mom's house- two hours late, praying they would still get me to the airport in Chicago on time. We pulled in to Union Station only 45 minutes late- somehow the conductor made up a significant chunk of time during the trip, and that helped me get to the airport with a little time to spare. God is good!
I had an hour layover in Atlanta, where I realized that there were two others traveling all the way to GDL with me from Chicago. That was the first time anyone ever made the whole trip with me. I really didn't think there was much likelihood of that happening all the way from Chicago, but it was nice to see familiar faces the whole way... We all three had a hard time finding our gate- it was nice to know I wasn't the only one feeling lost!
I didn't realize how much I have missed being surrounded by the Spanish language until we all sat down at the gate and the babel surrounding us started to separate into individual voices- all speaking Spanish! It felt like a relief to me. This might seem strange to some of my readers, but it was definitely a feeling of belonging for me, in spite of being the only guera in the whole waiting area! LOL
We came into Guadalajara out of grey storm clouds, over the beautiful green mountains and big lakes of water that weren't here when I left. I love the rainy season here! The city was like a gem from above, all the jumble of roads and buildings and LIFE running together, creating a teeming mass of humanity- HOME.
Jorge wasn't able to meet me at the airport, but his family was there- our niece and nephew came running when I walked out of the secure area, smothering me in hugs and kisses, nearly knocking me off my feet with their enthusiasm!
We arrived at the house and the phone rang almost immediately- my husband has an amazing sense of timing, and he knew somehow we'd be home. I fell asleep that night exhausted from the travel, but feeling very blessed to be back here, where we can build our lives...
Jorge graduates from his program on Wednesday, and he still has no idea about his party, even though he did find out I was coming home early. My husband will be home in two days- I can't wait! :-)
God is good!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
A Wonderful Weekend...
My husband was home with his parents this weekend, just for one short night. Since his parents have internet access and a computer with a webcam, we set up a skype account and set up a "date night" for just the two of us on Saturday night...
I haven't seen my Jorge since April. Saturday came, and my excitement and sense of anticipation was growing by the minute. Mom and I took the kids to the city pool and spent 4 hours frying under the hot Ohio sun, and then we headed home. Five thirty- and our date at eleven... What to do for the remaining five and a half hours?! My computer is in my room, which I figured was a good thing, since we could have a little privacy for our first face-to-face in almost 3 months! So I set about cleaning, dusting, and straightening every inch of my room to get it camera ready. That task accomplished, I fed the kids and got them baths, then tried to get them to bed. Do you think four kids on a Saturday night of a holiday weekend would cooperate? LOL Of course not! Mom offered to keep an eye on them if they were still awake when eleven o'clock rolled around- one more thing off the pre-date check list...
By eight o'clock I was thinking about what makeup to wear and how to do my hair. By nine thirty I was made up, dressed up, and keyed up! Ten o'clock rolled around and we talked a little by phone to make sure his skype was working well, and agreed again to talk at eleven via video... At ten thirty, a call came through on my skype- "can we just do this now? I don't want to wait anymore!" LOL My thoughts exactly!
Let me tell you- seeing his face on my computer screen was amazing!!! I hear his voice every day, and I long to touch him, but the joy it gave me just to see his face after all these months... Wow! I don't even have words to describe it (and those of you who know me well know that I am seldom, if EVER, speechless!) I spent the next few hours basking in the glow of my computer monitor, loving being in the presence of my husband- even if it WAS virtually!- and drinking in the sight of him... His face was like cool water for my thirsty soul! His eyes sparkled, he laughed, he flexed his amazingly sexy arms for me, we giggled and laughed and carried on like two teenage sweet hearts...
Being away from my husband is the hardest thing I have ever had to face. I need him like I need oxygen- he's so much a part of me that I cannot feel complete when we're apart. Days full of loneliness, nights spent in a cold empty bed- people don't ever imagine a marriage to be like this. None of us expected this when we met and fell in love with our spouse. None of us WANTED this- it's something that was forced on us. Separation is painful, but for any couple that has dealt with US immigration laws, it is something that is gone through at one point or another. I personally wouldn't wish this heartache on my worst enemy!
In the midst of all of the trials that our situation brings, it is amazing to have technology like skype so we can talk and see each other, even from 3000 miles away. It is not anywhere near as great as actually being held in those strong arms, smelling his scent and feeling his warmth, but it IS better than a faceless conversation. So much better! If I could personally thank the creators of skype, I would do it in a heartbeat. I am sure thousands of families just like mine feel exactly the same...
Tonight when we talked- by phone as usual- Jorge told me what a great weekend he had with his family, and about the Bible study he taught when he got back to the center. He led a great service, and the Holy Spirit really moved... And then he said words that warmed me clear through: "It was a great weekend Mami, and you were such a huge part of that. You are a part of every little thing I do... I love you very much!"
Skype, you faceless giant of a company, you are a blessing to this little family! Thank you for the gift of my husband's face!!! :-)
I haven't seen my Jorge since April. Saturday came, and my excitement and sense of anticipation was growing by the minute. Mom and I took the kids to the city pool and spent 4 hours frying under the hot Ohio sun, and then we headed home. Five thirty- and our date at eleven... What to do for the remaining five and a half hours?! My computer is in my room, which I figured was a good thing, since we could have a little privacy for our first face-to-face in almost 3 months! So I set about cleaning, dusting, and straightening every inch of my room to get it camera ready. That task accomplished, I fed the kids and got them baths, then tried to get them to bed. Do you think four kids on a Saturday night of a holiday weekend would cooperate? LOL Of course not! Mom offered to keep an eye on them if they were still awake when eleven o'clock rolled around- one more thing off the pre-date check list...
By eight o'clock I was thinking about what makeup to wear and how to do my hair. By nine thirty I was made up, dressed up, and keyed up! Ten o'clock rolled around and we talked a little by phone to make sure his skype was working well, and agreed again to talk at eleven via video... At ten thirty, a call came through on my skype- "can we just do this now? I don't want to wait anymore!" LOL My thoughts exactly!
Let me tell you- seeing his face on my computer screen was amazing!!! I hear his voice every day, and I long to touch him, but the joy it gave me just to see his face after all these months... Wow! I don't even have words to describe it (and those of you who know me well know that I am seldom, if EVER, speechless!) I spent the next few hours basking in the glow of my computer monitor, loving being in the presence of my husband- even if it WAS virtually!- and drinking in the sight of him... His face was like cool water for my thirsty soul! His eyes sparkled, he laughed, he flexed his amazingly sexy arms for me, we giggled and laughed and carried on like two teenage sweet hearts...
Being away from my husband is the hardest thing I have ever had to face. I need him like I need oxygen- he's so much a part of me that I cannot feel complete when we're apart. Days full of loneliness, nights spent in a cold empty bed- people don't ever imagine a marriage to be like this. None of us expected this when we met and fell in love with our spouse. None of us WANTED this- it's something that was forced on us. Separation is painful, but for any couple that has dealt with US immigration laws, it is something that is gone through at one point or another. I personally wouldn't wish this heartache on my worst enemy!
In the midst of all of the trials that our situation brings, it is amazing to have technology like skype so we can talk and see each other, even from 3000 miles away. It is not anywhere near as great as actually being held in those strong arms, smelling his scent and feeling his warmth, but it IS better than a faceless conversation. So much better! If I could personally thank the creators of skype, I would do it in a heartbeat. I am sure thousands of families just like mine feel exactly the same...
Tonight when we talked- by phone as usual- Jorge told me what a great weekend he had with his family, and about the Bible study he taught when he got back to the center. He led a great service, and the Holy Spirit really moved... And then he said words that warmed me clear through: "It was a great weekend Mami, and you were such a huge part of that. You are a part of every little thing I do... I love you very much!"
Skype, you faceless giant of a company, you are a blessing to this little family! Thank you for the gift of my husband's face!!! :-)
NY Daily News article...
Here is a link to an article written about women who are in situations just like ours... It's about time that mainstream media covered the OTHER side of the story!!!
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2011/07/03/2011-07-03_americanborn_wives_married_to_us_deported_or_banned_spouses_band_together_via_on.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2011/07/03/2011-07-03_americanborn_wives_married_to_us_deported_or_banned_spouses_band_together_via_on.html
Friday, July 1, 2011
I am pleased to announce...
that I have my ticket home!!! :-) I am flying home to GDL on July 26th. I am THRILLED! I haven't seen my husband in months!
I told Jorge that I am flying in on July 29th, but his parents and I have it planned out for them to pick my up when I fly in on Tuesday... And then, since they will be going to visit on Wednesday (like they do EVERY week) I will just show up with them... His mom said "You better bring some smelling salts to wake him back up, because when he sees you he is going to be so excited he will pass out!!!" LOL
Needless to say, I am very happy about it too...
I told Jorge that I am flying in on July 29th, but his parents and I have it planned out for them to pick my up when I fly in on Tuesday... And then, since they will be going to visit on Wednesday (like they do EVERY week) I will just show up with them... His mom said "You better bring some smelling salts to wake him back up, because when he sees you he is going to be so excited he will pass out!!!" LOL
Needless to say, I am very happy about it too...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
More of our story...
I realized today that I haven't shared much of our story, so I thought I would take us back a little today... I met Jorge two years ago. (It seems like he has been a part of my life forever! When I think it has only been two years... Wow. It surprises me! LOL) I was on vacation visiting friends, and I was asked to talk to an acquaintance who was in crises. The guy was from Mexico, working at a restaurant in the US, and had just gotten a call from his family, informing him that his sister had a huge growth that had suddenly popped out on her neck, and that it was cancer. The doctors told her family that if it wasn't removed immediately, she would die. This man was devastated- he didn't have the money to help and going home was not an option. He sat on his bed and weeped while all of his friends- there were 8 other people there at the time- tried to comfort him. Someone pulled out a wallet and suddenly all of these Mexicans were emptying their pockets to give what money they had and help. I had never seen anything like it! I stood wide-eyed as they all dropped money on his lap- they wouldn't take no for an answer. And then Jorge walked in. I had never seen him before, and probably wouldn't have paid much attention even then, if he hadn't done what he did next... He walked over to the guy, sat next to him and said "I know someone who is bigger than sickness, bigger than cancer! You know what we need to do! Let's pray!" and there in that tiny packed room he started praying... I was at a point in my life where my faith had been shaken, but there in that room I felt the Holy Spirit move, and I dropped to my knees and cried as the man who would become my husband prayed for a stranger's sister! It was the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard, and when it was over everyone there looked at me like I was a crazy little guera, sitting on the floor with tears running down my face! Jorge, on the other hand, acted like it was no big deal, and simply walked out of the room when he had prayed!
The next day I was alone in the house while everyone was at work. I was sitting with my computer in front of me, working on a portrait, and Jorge walked by. I called out to him in Spanish- it was all I had heard him speak- because I wanted to thank him for praying the night before. He stepped into the room and acted shocked that I spoke Spanish! We introduced ourselves and ended up talking for hours... along the way, I realized he speaks nearly perfect English as well!
We talked again the next day, and when I headed home, I had his phone number. Over the next few weeks, we talked daily. Friendship blossomed into something more, something much much deeper, and it wasn't long before we were talking about marriage. In my heart, I just knew that he was the man I had prayed for, the husband my heart longed for...
We talked about his legal status in the US- he was a resident, and in my nieve way of thinking, that translated as "legal" and "citizen." I was relieved that we would never have to face the trials of dealing with immigration or deportation, like alot of our friends. We talked about his desire to be a pastor, and we talked about the thing that was holding him back- the man I love was a drug addict, fighting every day to try to be free of his demons! I made the decision, after a lot of prayer, that God had put him into my life and that he was indeed an answer to prayer and the longings of my heart. I felt the Lord whispering, "just LOVE him. Love him unconditionally, as I have loved you, and I will make everything ok!"
He moved to be closer to me, and we became active in a couple local churches. We were talking classes to become pastors, and we started hosting weekly Bible studies at his house. And I was busy planning our wedding.
Then in the early spring of last year, Jorge fell back into his old habits and became very depressed. He ended our relationship and disappeared. Two weeks later I learned that he had been arrested on DUI and minor possession charges, in a city four hours from home. Devastated and betrayed, I refused to contact him. But every week I called the jail to check on him, and then reported back to his mom about how he was doing. Finally, three months later, he called me. It was a short conversation, and in my anger I was very short. He asked me to wait for him and begged for forgiveness. A week later, I went to see him. It was a long process, but we were able to work things out, and I was able to forgive him for hurting me. He was sentenced, and we anxiously awaited his release. We were planning our wedding for November 6th, after he came home... It wasn't to work out that way, though. A few days before his release, I got a call from a very upset Jorge, telling me that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) had picked him up. His residency meant nothing, and he was being held in ICE custody, pending yet ANOTHER trial, this time to determine his right to remain in this country or not. I spent the next few days in a haze of pain and anger. I could not understand why a man who had served his time and was here with all the correct papers should be held in ICE custody and deported! They refused to set a bond, so he couldn't even come home while we waited for his trial... But in those first few days my husband let his light shine! He would call and tell me about being locked in these horrible holding cells, packed in like cattle, without clean water to drink and nothing to sit on. And in those horrid conditions, he started to minister. The first day alone he told me that 18 of the 23 people in his cell got saved! Those moments were my rock- knowing that my Jorge was being used even in there, and that he was ok in spite of it all!
He was sent to an ICE holding facility 13 hours from home- so far there was no chance of me visiting him. And he was held there (after being moved to a different facility in a different state for just a few days) for 3 months. Somewhere along the way, my anger at having the love of my life ripped away from me, and having our wedding taken as well turned into a hard resolve. This was the man I loved and no government was going to steal our dreams! I spent days on the phone, researching to find out where we could get a marriage license without him being physically present, and how we could find a pastor to perform a ceremony by phone. The answer turned out to be right in my backyard!
Our local court house turned out to be the ONLY place in three states that would issue me a marriage license without Jorge being present. All I needed was a copy of his driver's license, and his social security number and birth information. As it turned out, the farm where he had been working helped me by providing copies of his driver's license, residency card, and social security card! I bought the license, and set my sites on the last requirement- a pastor to do our ceremony.
The church we had been attending required a month long marriage on the rock class before marrying a couple. We had never done this. The other church I had been attending was across the state line, so the pastor could not perform the wedding. I called all of the pastors I knew, and met rejection with each one. Finally, in desperation, I listened to the small voice that had been saying "call Ron!" since I began my search. Ron was a man in our ministry classes, and he had made a big impression on Jorge and I. So, humbly, I called Ron and explained our situation. I asked if he had any idea where I could find a pastor to marry us. After a brief silence, Ron asked "How much do you know about my background?" I really didn't know anything about him, and I said as much. As it turned out, Ron was an ordained mennonite minister who had not led a church in years, but was still licensed by the state. He agreed to do the ceremony in my living room, with Jorge attending by phone!
On Friday October 22, 2011, in a very small ceremony, I became Mrs. Jorge Medina. My children were there, and a couple from church served as our witnesses. They made me cry when they arrived with beautiful hand-tied pink roses. "Every bride needs a bouquet!" they explained... We exchanged vows with my cell phone set to speaker so all our guests could hear, and the groom didn't get a chance to kiss the bride. We spent our wedding night hundreds of miles apart, I with my youngest son and a cat curled up beside me, while my husband spent it sleeping on a hard bunk surrounded by 50 other men. It was two months before he was sentenced and granted voluntary departure, and sent back to Mexico, where we could begin our life together as husband and wife!
In the mean time, we were faced with hard choices. We both have children from previous marriages. Taking his with us to Mexico wasn't an option, since they lived with their mother. But I had custody of my children, and they were determined NOT to go to Mexico. The choice our government forced me to make was very painful: follow my husband to Mexico and be without my children, or be with my children and live without my husband. My kids helped me decide- they knew everything about our situation, and they all agreed that they liked the school at their dad's, and that it would be fun living there instead of just visiting in the summers. I went to Mexico with my children's blessing, and little Isaiah's words ringing in my ears: "Mommy, the Bible says ALL people have to know about Jesus, and I think you and Jorge should be the ones teaching those Mexicans about him! Besides, if you go now maybe He won't send ME when I grow up!" I laughed, but it hurt to leave them...
On December 15, after nine months of being apart, I stepped off a plane in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and into the arms of my husband!
Guadalajara was amazing, and I loved it right away, but I missed my kids and fought constant guilt over leaving them. The newness and romance of being together slowly wore off for both of us, and we found ourselves in the reality of trying to make a life in Mexico. I had no papers to work, and Jorge had spent 14 years in the US, so he was almost as clueless as I was. The stress took its toll and ended in us fighting and ultimately, in Jorge using again. In April, after weeks of struggle, I came back to the US to let him fight his battle on his own. I didn't know how to support him, I didn't know how to fight for him, and I felt betrayed by his continuing to turn to the arms of a drug for comfort. He, for his part, was hurt by our fighting and my sharp words, and felt betrayed by my lack of support. With a heavy heart, I left, not sure that I would ever even SPEAK to my husband, let alone see him... After a couple days, we finally had a chance to talk. I begged him to change, he said he wanted to but didn't know if he could, and then he would use again and the cycle would repeat. Finally, after two weeks, and without me asking, he checked himself into a rehab center and committed to 3 months of intensive inpatient therapy, something he was not even willing to consider before that.
He has made amazing progress in the program. They have an open door policy, which means Jorge can walk out and go use any time he chooses to. And they are not isolated in the building- they go downtown, they take trips to the zoo, parks, all the places where temptation is on every corner... But Jorge has stayed- he has fought tooth and nail and has allowed himself to be stretched in ways that have been physically, emotionally and spiritually painful. He has opened his heart up and taken a stand, and even though there have been days when it's taken every ounce of courage and determination he has to not walk out that door, he has persevered! He has started preaching again, which is his heart's desire. I can't wait to hear him in front of his first crowd, sharing this testamony God has given him!
For my part, I have been able to spend this time with my mom, who is battling Grave's Disease, and my little brother, who is autistic. My boys are with me for the summer, and even though I miss my husband with every ounce of my being, I know that very very soon we will be together again. And I am growing too- I realize that I was becoming the nagging wife that I never ever wanted to be, and that I was not helping my husband fight his addiction. In fact, I am sure there were days when I pushed him toward it! But God is growing me and helping me to overcome the parts of my nature and my own personal baggage, and I know that together, my husband and I will fight through this. I will not walk away from him again! And I am sure that he won't either.
Jorge graduates the program on August 3, and we are celebrating with a surprise party at the Chili's in Plaza del Sol. He has no idea about the party, but I feel the need to celebrate him, to thank him for his courage and determination. I have never been so proud of my husband or so honored to be his wife.
I am looking forward to a long life by his side. In whichever country God puts us!!!
The next day I was alone in the house while everyone was at work. I was sitting with my computer in front of me, working on a portrait, and Jorge walked by. I called out to him in Spanish- it was all I had heard him speak- because I wanted to thank him for praying the night before. He stepped into the room and acted shocked that I spoke Spanish! We introduced ourselves and ended up talking for hours... along the way, I realized he speaks nearly perfect English as well!
We talked again the next day, and when I headed home, I had his phone number. Over the next few weeks, we talked daily. Friendship blossomed into something more, something much much deeper, and it wasn't long before we were talking about marriage. In my heart, I just knew that he was the man I had prayed for, the husband my heart longed for...
We talked about his legal status in the US- he was a resident, and in my nieve way of thinking, that translated as "legal" and "citizen." I was relieved that we would never have to face the trials of dealing with immigration or deportation, like alot of our friends. We talked about his desire to be a pastor, and we talked about the thing that was holding him back- the man I love was a drug addict, fighting every day to try to be free of his demons! I made the decision, after a lot of prayer, that God had put him into my life and that he was indeed an answer to prayer and the longings of my heart. I felt the Lord whispering, "just LOVE him. Love him unconditionally, as I have loved you, and I will make everything ok!"
He moved to be closer to me, and we became active in a couple local churches. We were talking classes to become pastors, and we started hosting weekly Bible studies at his house. And I was busy planning our wedding.
Then in the early spring of last year, Jorge fell back into his old habits and became very depressed. He ended our relationship and disappeared. Two weeks later I learned that he had been arrested on DUI and minor possession charges, in a city four hours from home. Devastated and betrayed, I refused to contact him. But every week I called the jail to check on him, and then reported back to his mom about how he was doing. Finally, three months later, he called me. It was a short conversation, and in my anger I was very short. He asked me to wait for him and begged for forgiveness. A week later, I went to see him. It was a long process, but we were able to work things out, and I was able to forgive him for hurting me. He was sentenced, and we anxiously awaited his release. We were planning our wedding for November 6th, after he came home... It wasn't to work out that way, though. A few days before his release, I got a call from a very upset Jorge, telling me that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) had picked him up. His residency meant nothing, and he was being held in ICE custody, pending yet ANOTHER trial, this time to determine his right to remain in this country or not. I spent the next few days in a haze of pain and anger. I could not understand why a man who had served his time and was here with all the correct papers should be held in ICE custody and deported! They refused to set a bond, so he couldn't even come home while we waited for his trial... But in those first few days my husband let his light shine! He would call and tell me about being locked in these horrible holding cells, packed in like cattle, without clean water to drink and nothing to sit on. And in those horrid conditions, he started to minister. The first day alone he told me that 18 of the 23 people in his cell got saved! Those moments were my rock- knowing that my Jorge was being used even in there, and that he was ok in spite of it all!
He was sent to an ICE holding facility 13 hours from home- so far there was no chance of me visiting him. And he was held there (after being moved to a different facility in a different state for just a few days) for 3 months. Somewhere along the way, my anger at having the love of my life ripped away from me, and having our wedding taken as well turned into a hard resolve. This was the man I loved and no government was going to steal our dreams! I spent days on the phone, researching to find out where we could get a marriage license without him being physically present, and how we could find a pastor to perform a ceremony by phone. The answer turned out to be right in my backyard!
Our local court house turned out to be the ONLY place in three states that would issue me a marriage license without Jorge being present. All I needed was a copy of his driver's license, and his social security number and birth information. As it turned out, the farm where he had been working helped me by providing copies of his driver's license, residency card, and social security card! I bought the license, and set my sites on the last requirement- a pastor to do our ceremony.
The church we had been attending required a month long marriage on the rock class before marrying a couple. We had never done this. The other church I had been attending was across the state line, so the pastor could not perform the wedding. I called all of the pastors I knew, and met rejection with each one. Finally, in desperation, I listened to the small voice that had been saying "call Ron!" since I began my search. Ron was a man in our ministry classes, and he had made a big impression on Jorge and I. So, humbly, I called Ron and explained our situation. I asked if he had any idea where I could find a pastor to marry us. After a brief silence, Ron asked "How much do you know about my background?" I really didn't know anything about him, and I said as much. As it turned out, Ron was an ordained mennonite minister who had not led a church in years, but was still licensed by the state. He agreed to do the ceremony in my living room, with Jorge attending by phone!
On Friday October 22, 2011, in a very small ceremony, I became Mrs. Jorge Medina. My children were there, and a couple from church served as our witnesses. They made me cry when they arrived with beautiful hand-tied pink roses. "Every bride needs a bouquet!" they explained... We exchanged vows with my cell phone set to speaker so all our guests could hear, and the groom didn't get a chance to kiss the bride. We spent our wedding night hundreds of miles apart, I with my youngest son and a cat curled up beside me, while my husband spent it sleeping on a hard bunk surrounded by 50 other men. It was two months before he was sentenced and granted voluntary departure, and sent back to Mexico, where we could begin our life together as husband and wife!
In the mean time, we were faced with hard choices. We both have children from previous marriages. Taking his with us to Mexico wasn't an option, since they lived with their mother. But I had custody of my children, and they were determined NOT to go to Mexico. The choice our government forced me to make was very painful: follow my husband to Mexico and be without my children, or be with my children and live without my husband. My kids helped me decide- they knew everything about our situation, and they all agreed that they liked the school at their dad's, and that it would be fun living there instead of just visiting in the summers. I went to Mexico with my children's blessing, and little Isaiah's words ringing in my ears: "Mommy, the Bible says ALL people have to know about Jesus, and I think you and Jorge should be the ones teaching those Mexicans about him! Besides, if you go now maybe He won't send ME when I grow up!" I laughed, but it hurt to leave them...
On December 15, after nine months of being apart, I stepped off a plane in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and into the arms of my husband!
Guadalajara was amazing, and I loved it right away, but I missed my kids and fought constant guilt over leaving them. The newness and romance of being together slowly wore off for both of us, and we found ourselves in the reality of trying to make a life in Mexico. I had no papers to work, and Jorge had spent 14 years in the US, so he was almost as clueless as I was. The stress took its toll and ended in us fighting and ultimately, in Jorge using again. In April, after weeks of struggle, I came back to the US to let him fight his battle on his own. I didn't know how to support him, I didn't know how to fight for him, and I felt betrayed by his continuing to turn to the arms of a drug for comfort. He, for his part, was hurt by our fighting and my sharp words, and felt betrayed by my lack of support. With a heavy heart, I left, not sure that I would ever even SPEAK to my husband, let alone see him... After a couple days, we finally had a chance to talk. I begged him to change, he said he wanted to but didn't know if he could, and then he would use again and the cycle would repeat. Finally, after two weeks, and without me asking, he checked himself into a rehab center and committed to 3 months of intensive inpatient therapy, something he was not even willing to consider before that.
He has made amazing progress in the program. They have an open door policy, which means Jorge can walk out and go use any time he chooses to. And they are not isolated in the building- they go downtown, they take trips to the zoo, parks, all the places where temptation is on every corner... But Jorge has stayed- he has fought tooth and nail and has allowed himself to be stretched in ways that have been physically, emotionally and spiritually painful. He has opened his heart up and taken a stand, and even though there have been days when it's taken every ounce of courage and determination he has to not walk out that door, he has persevered! He has started preaching again, which is his heart's desire. I can't wait to hear him in front of his first crowd, sharing this testamony God has given him!
For my part, I have been able to spend this time with my mom, who is battling Grave's Disease, and my little brother, who is autistic. My boys are with me for the summer, and even though I miss my husband with every ounce of my being, I know that very very soon we will be together again. And I am growing too- I realize that I was becoming the nagging wife that I never ever wanted to be, and that I was not helping my husband fight his addiction. In fact, I am sure there were days when I pushed him toward it! But God is growing me and helping me to overcome the parts of my nature and my own personal baggage, and I know that together, my husband and I will fight through this. I will not walk away from him again! And I am sure that he won't either.
Jorge graduates the program on August 3, and we are celebrating with a surprise party at the Chili's in Plaza del Sol. He has no idea about the party, but I feel the need to celebrate him, to thank him for his courage and determination. I have never been so proud of my husband or so honored to be his wife.
I am looking forward to a long life by his side. In whichever country God puts us!!!
The Wedding Prayer
Create in us a love, O Lord.
An eternal love …
Your love.
A love that forgives any failure,
spans any distance,
withstands any tempest.
Create in us a love, O Lord.
A new love.
A fresh love.
A love with the tenderness of a lamb,
the grandeur of a mountain,
the strength of a lion.
And make us one. Intimately one.
As you made a hundred colors into one sunset,
A thousand cedars into one forest,
and countless stars into one galaxy …
make our two hearts as one,
Father, forever …
that you may be praised, Father,
forever.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Being a Wife
I love being Jorge's wife. I enjoy making him dinner and being by his side. I like being able to reach out in the night and feel him next to me. I love being in his arms. I like knowing that he is my best friend and that no matter what I need, he is there.And I get great satisfaction out of showing him how much I love him!
We have a book called The Five Love Languages. Now, I know that probably not everyone enjoys reading things like that, but we do. We like figuring out ways to love each other better. Reading books like this helps us to learn more about communicating, about loving in a way that our spouse understands. It helps us to know each other better and connect on a deeper level!
Through reading this book, I have learned that my husband's primary "love language" is acts of service. That simply means that when I do things for him, when I SERVE him, he feels loved. Example- when I stand at the sink and wash dishes, I used think of it as just a chore. But then one day my husband told me that watching me at the sink or mopping the floor or doing pretty much any other household chore has a profound effect on him. It makes him feel very loved and cared for! (You know that warm gooey feeling you get when your hubby brings flowers, or whispers romantic words, or does whatever it is that makes you melt inside? Well, THAT is what me just doing CHORES does for my husband!) A simple act of service, even if it is something ordinary, literally SHOUTS to him that I love him! Cooking dinner, cleaning the house, simply SERVING him makes him feel loved. YES, touching and cuddling and talking are still important- acts of service is his PRIMARY love language but it isn't his ONLY love language!- but just these simple little things we as wives often take for granted, can speak volumes to our men!!!
Knowing this has led me to see my housekeeping in a different light. What I used to see just as chores, now has become an act of love. I try to put extra thought into making the bed just so, or putting the dishes away instead of leaving them in the rack. I don't do this because my husband is a neat-freak. That IS NOT what I am trying to say! When my husband watches me zipping around the house or cooking his favorite meal in the kitchen, he knows that I am doing it because I LOVE HIM! And above all else, I want my husband to feel loved!
Maybe some of you are reading this and wishing you knew how to figure YOUR man out. Well, that takes communication!!! And communication is a hard thing to do. A wise person once sent me a Bible study that included this thought: "Communication takes perseverance--and the very strength and courage of God's Spirit--to replace impatience, insensitivity, and self-preoccupation with loving communication patterns."
Your relationship can only improve as you learn to communicate with your spouse. (Communicating DOES NOT just mean telling your husband what you want HIM to do for YOU- it also means asking him what HE needs from YOU.) Ask your husband (or your wife!) what makes him feel loved. Or, try what my husband recently asked me: "What are five ways I could make you feel like I really, REALLY love you?" Write down the response. And then start trying to do AT LEAST one of those things every day!!! Do this for two weeks, and see what happens! :-)
WIVES!!! I encourage you, if you have never done it, to study what the Bible says we should be for our husbands! I know that some of you think the Bible has out-dated thoughts on the subject, but I think you will find it is still very relevant! More on that later...
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Law Felt 'Round the World...
Most of the people who visit this blog are people like us- people who have been affected by harsh immigration laws, that in many cases have led to families being torn apart by deportations of the forced exile of American citizens who refuse to let go of their foreign-born spouse...
As part of an effort to convince President Obama to make changes to unfair immigration laws in the US, a group of ladies has put together a FaceBook group called Border Love. The goal of this group is to get as many families' stories together as possible, organize them, and send them ALL to the president. We need our voices to be heard and we need to put a FACE on the faceless immigration issue! Our lawmakers need to know that this is destroying the stability of American families. Please show your support by contacting Border Love at this URL: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002547773453
I will be adding our account of how immigration has affected our family to the collection. For those concerned about security, all information will be strictly confidential, and we are asking that you only include first names and not locations when you are writing your own personal story. There is an email address provided on the Border Love site where you will send your story. Please let the girls at Border Love know to expect it.
Our government was formed on the basis of BY the people, FOR the people. Let's make our voices heard and show our leaders that WE THE PEOPLE will not stand for the destruction and blatant disregard of our families! UNITED, we CAN!
As part of an effort to convince President Obama to make changes to unfair immigration laws in the US, a group of ladies has put together a FaceBook group called Border Love. The goal of this group is to get as many families' stories together as possible, organize them, and send them ALL to the president. We need our voices to be heard and we need to put a FACE on the faceless immigration issue! Our lawmakers need to know that this is destroying the stability of American families. Please show your support by contacting Border Love at this URL: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002547773453
I will be adding our account of how immigration has affected our family to the collection. For those concerned about security, all information will be strictly confidential, and we are asking that you only include first names and not locations when you are writing your own personal story. There is an email address provided on the Border Love site where you will send your story. Please let the girls at Border Love know to expect it.
Our government was formed on the basis of BY the people, FOR the people. Let's make our voices heard and show our leaders that WE THE PEOPLE will not stand for the destruction and blatant disregard of our families! UNITED, we CAN!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
To Have and To Hold...
Yesterday marked the 8 month anniversary of our wedding. We had been planning our wedding for awhile, and had set a date of November 6th, but since he was still going to be in ICE custody the day we had planned, we moved the date up... We had a rather unique wedding: I was in my living room in Michigan, Jorge was in detention in Wisconsin. Our pastor agreed to marry us by phone... We had witnesses, I wore a white dress and my matron of honor surprised me by bringing me a bouquet- she said "no bride can get married without flowers!" Our ceremony was simple- a few words from the pastor as we all sat on my floor, then we exchanged vows we wrote ourselves. He said his in English; I recited mine in Spanish. It was a wonderful day, because I finally got to be his wife, but we spent our wedding night in separate beds, hundreds of miles apart, cold and alone. (Jorge commented the next day that he never thought he'd spend his wedding night with 50 men! LOL)
Yesterday marked the 8 month anniversary of the occasion, and once again we are apart. We talked last night and it was nice to at least have that time. We talked about how we will celebrate when I get home- he is a romantic man and I love his idea of flowers, going to a nice Italian place, dancing to smooth sax jazz, and taking a moonlight walk...! (Eat your hearts out ladies- he's MINE! hehe)
I wish I could be in his arms, but I am now counting down days- I was thinking of flying down on the 29th, but the flight prices that day have doubled, so when I buy my ticket next week I will try to get one for the Tuesday before- which means I can surprise him the next day! (I'm going to try not to tell him I'm coming early! LOL) If I go that Tuesday, I only have 34 days left!!!
Which brings me to my next big topic... How do you plan an event from another country?! Jorge graduates his program the following Wednesday (Aug 3!) and I want to surprise him with a party that night. I thought we could invite all of our friends and family in GDL and meet at Chili's in Plaza del Sol, and celebrate how awesome my husband is! My problem is coordinating this thing- I did finally manage to get an email for the manager at Chili's and I am waiting to hear back from him... I am just really proud of my husband and I want him to know it! He has accomplished so much and I think he is worth celebrating! He deserves to know he is loved and appreciated and that we are all proud of him! So if anyone has any advice for planning something like this from three thousand miles away, I'd be happy to listen! :-)
And on that note, I hope everyone has a great night!
Yesterday marked the 8 month anniversary of the occasion, and once again we are apart. We talked last night and it was nice to at least have that time. We talked about how we will celebrate when I get home- he is a romantic man and I love his idea of flowers, going to a nice Italian place, dancing to smooth sax jazz, and taking a moonlight walk...! (Eat your hearts out ladies- he's MINE! hehe)
I wish I could be in his arms, but I am now counting down days- I was thinking of flying down on the 29th, but the flight prices that day have doubled, so when I buy my ticket next week I will try to get one for the Tuesday before- which means I can surprise him the next day! (I'm going to try not to tell him I'm coming early! LOL) If I go that Tuesday, I only have 34 days left!!!
Which brings me to my next big topic... How do you plan an event from another country?! Jorge graduates his program the following Wednesday (Aug 3!) and I want to surprise him with a party that night. I thought we could invite all of our friends and family in GDL and meet at Chili's in Plaza del Sol, and celebrate how awesome my husband is! My problem is coordinating this thing- I did finally manage to get an email for the manager at Chili's and I am waiting to hear back from him... I am just really proud of my husband and I want him to know it! He has accomplished so much and I think he is worth celebrating! He deserves to know he is loved and appreciated and that we are all proud of him! So if anyone has any advice for planning something like this from three thousand miles away, I'd be happy to listen! :-)
And on that note, I hope everyone has a great night!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Missing my Husband!
I know I haven't shared all of the details of our story yet, but I wanted to talk a little about how hard it is being away from my husband. Because of his current immigration status, he is stuck in Mexico. I, on the other hand, am in Ohio with my mom, who has been battling complications from Grave's Disease. My boys are with me for the summer. (They live with their dad during the school year, because I knew they would be miserable in Mexico.) Since Jorge couldn't come with me, I am here and he is three thousand miles away!
If you have never been through this yourself, you cannot imagine the heartache of being separated like this. Knowing that your own government doesn't place a high enough value on families to keep them together doesn't give one much confidence! A lot of people think that once an immigrant has residency, they can't be deported. This simply isn't true. Jorge had residency for several years, and he was still deported. He was not guilty of a violent crime- most people who know a little bit about immigration think that's the only way a resident can be deported. That is also not true! As a matter of fact, Jorge fell in a gray area- if he had been here illegally, he could have stayed. If he would have had his residency for SEVEN MONTHS longer than he'd had it, he could have stayed. As it is, he was given something called voluntary departure, or VD, because the judge had a soft heart and wanted him to be able to come see his kids. We were told that he could reapply for his visa after six months in Mexico. But we are scared about that, because several people have told us that they were told the same thing, only to be told when they applied that they had to wait THREE YEARS to apply... No one seems to be able to clear this up for us, so until we go for our appointment, we have no answers...
Being here while he is there is horrible. We talk every night, one way or another. I was using calling cards to call him, but then I set up skype so I could call Mexico, and that has worked for us. Problem was, he couldn't call ME on it. Last week we remedied that by adding a Mexican skype number to our account, and I set up call forwarding so when he calls, I don't have to be at the computer. Now it rings into my cell phone and it almost feels like we are just a normal couple, apart for a few days... That is, until I think about how long it has been since he has kissed me. Or when the last time was that we cuddled and watched a movie. Or had dinner together. Or any number of other mundane things people usually take for granted! And it will be almost six weeks before I see him again- 39 days, if I manage to buy my ticket home next week at the right price... It may not sound like long to you, but when your heart is in another country and you feel like you can't live without it, six weeks seems like an eternity!!!
Sometimes when we talk, I cry. Hearing his voice is like balm to my soul, but sometimes the missing is so painful! Yesterday was one of those really painful days, and today wasn't easy either, but hearing his voice tonight, and the sweet words he said, hearing him tell me how much he loves me and that everything is going to be ok- well, it helped a lot. The tears tonight weren't so much tears of pain as they were tears of joy and healing- joy at hearing his voice, and healing of the rough emotions from yesterday and today.
I think part of what made today hard- but somehow so exciting at the same time- was seeing pictures of him that his brother posted online. I wasn't there on father's day, but the whole family got together and Tony was kind enough to send me the pictures he took of Jorge. Seeing my husband's face after all this time- it was like a knife to my heart because it made me miss him so much, but it also made me laugh with the sheer joy of seeing his face again! I am not sure if that makes sense to anyone who has never been through this, but that's how it is for me. I miss him so much it physically hurts!
Tonight we talked for 45 minutes, and it felt so good to laugh and joke with him, and remember things we have done together... Tomorrow he is going with a group of guys to the stadium where the PanAmerica Cup soccer games will be played this year. They are going to put on a play for about 600 people, and the Jorge will be giving his testimony. His first time speaking in front of a crowd that size, and I will miss it!!! I know he is going to do an amazing job- he loves being in front of people and he loves to share the Word, so he will be right in his element. I just wish I could be there for this mile-stone event...
I want to put a human face on the immigration issue, for those of you reading this who don't know much about it or who think it only affects "immigrants." I want you to know how much it hurts the families who's hearts are on both sides of the border. I am American- my husband is Mexican. Our nations are separated by an imaginary line across a really big desert. But there is nothing that can separate our hearts!!!
Te amo con todo mi corazon, Jorge Medina! Tu eres el aire para mi- sin ti, yo no puedo respirar!
If you have never been through this yourself, you cannot imagine the heartache of being separated like this. Knowing that your own government doesn't place a high enough value on families to keep them together doesn't give one much confidence! A lot of people think that once an immigrant has residency, they can't be deported. This simply isn't true. Jorge had residency for several years, and he was still deported. He was not guilty of a violent crime- most people who know a little bit about immigration think that's the only way a resident can be deported. That is also not true! As a matter of fact, Jorge fell in a gray area- if he had been here illegally, he could have stayed. If he would have had his residency for SEVEN MONTHS longer than he'd had it, he could have stayed. As it is, he was given something called voluntary departure, or VD, because the judge had a soft heart and wanted him to be able to come see his kids. We were told that he could reapply for his visa after six months in Mexico. But we are scared about that, because several people have told us that they were told the same thing, only to be told when they applied that they had to wait THREE YEARS to apply... No one seems to be able to clear this up for us, so until we go for our appointment, we have no answers...
Being here while he is there is horrible. We talk every night, one way or another. I was using calling cards to call him, but then I set up skype so I could call Mexico, and that has worked for us. Problem was, he couldn't call ME on it. Last week we remedied that by adding a Mexican skype number to our account, and I set up call forwarding so when he calls, I don't have to be at the computer. Now it rings into my cell phone and it almost feels like we are just a normal couple, apart for a few days... That is, until I think about how long it has been since he has kissed me. Or when the last time was that we cuddled and watched a movie. Or had dinner together. Or any number of other mundane things people usually take for granted! And it will be almost six weeks before I see him again- 39 days, if I manage to buy my ticket home next week at the right price... It may not sound like long to you, but when your heart is in another country and you feel like you can't live without it, six weeks seems like an eternity!!!
Sometimes when we talk, I cry. Hearing his voice is like balm to my soul, but sometimes the missing is so painful! Yesterday was one of those really painful days, and today wasn't easy either, but hearing his voice tonight, and the sweet words he said, hearing him tell me how much he loves me and that everything is going to be ok- well, it helped a lot. The tears tonight weren't so much tears of pain as they were tears of joy and healing- joy at hearing his voice, and healing of the rough emotions from yesterday and today.
I think part of what made today hard- but somehow so exciting at the same time- was seeing pictures of him that his brother posted online. I wasn't there on father's day, but the whole family got together and Tony was kind enough to send me the pictures he took of Jorge. Seeing my husband's face after all this time- it was like a knife to my heart because it made me miss him so much, but it also made me laugh with the sheer joy of seeing his face again! I am not sure if that makes sense to anyone who has never been through this, but that's how it is for me. I miss him so much it physically hurts!
Tonight we talked for 45 minutes, and it felt so good to laugh and joke with him, and remember things we have done together... Tomorrow he is going with a group of guys to the stadium where the PanAmerica Cup soccer games will be played this year. They are going to put on a play for about 600 people, and the Jorge will be giving his testimony. His first time speaking in front of a crowd that size, and I will miss it!!! I know he is going to do an amazing job- he loves being in front of people and he loves to share the Word, so he will be right in his element. I just wish I could be there for this mile-stone event...
I want to put a human face on the immigration issue, for those of you reading this who don't know much about it or who think it only affects "immigrants." I want you to know how much it hurts the families who's hearts are on both sides of the border. I am American- my husband is Mexican. Our nations are separated by an imaginary line across a really big desert. But there is nothing that can separate our hearts!!!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Immigration Facts
Someone recently said to me that the US government should send Mexican immigrants back to Mexico because "they already got all our jobs when they got NAFTA." But this simply is not true!!! You see, sending our factories there was actually a lose/ lose situation for everyone but the government and the billionaires who owed the companies, and ironically, it made the problem of illegal immigration much worse. You see, when NAFTA allowed corporations to move to Mexico, those companies needed land to build factories. And so, because of the way NAFTA was designed, about 70 THOUSAND Mexican farmers were displaced from their land. Seventy thousand. Think of it. That's not just seventy thousand people. We are talking WHOLE FAMILIES who were all of a sudden without jobs, and who were usually not compensated for their land. The lucky few who did get jobs in those factories are now paid substandard wages that they can barely live on. As a result of these families being without work, many were forced to do whatever they had to just to survive, and many came here. The Mexican people are as much victims of NAFTA as we are- maybe more so! Compounding the problem is our broken immigration system that makes it nearly impossible for ANYone to come here legally, and voila! You have immigration problems.
But another thing to consider is that without these people, a lot of our companies would go under and it would have a negative effect on our already struggling economy. I know of farms in Michigan who have closed their doors, because they can't find workers. Michigan's unemployment has been running right around the highest in the country for a few years now, and to put it plainly, the immigrants are not coming like they used to and the Americans simply are not willing to do the work!!! And in a state with the highest unemployment, there are plenty of Americans who COULD do the work!!! Also, nationwide, only 5.1 percent of the workforce is here illegally.
Here are some other things to consider: a 2007 report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that immigrants INCREASE our nations GDP by $37 BILLION dollars a year. That is money we would NOT have if they were all sent home. A 2010 report from EPI found that immigration between 1994 and 2007 actually RAISED wages for US-born workers by .4%. According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, the purchasing power of Latinos totaled $978.4 billion in 2009 and is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2014. The purchasing power of Asians totaled $508.6 billion in 2009 and is projected to reach $696.5 billion by 2014. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in 2002, 1.6 million Hispanic-owned firms provided jobs to 1.5 million employees, had receipts of $222 billion, an...d generated payroll of $36.7 billion. The same year, 1.1 million Asian-owned firms provided jobs to 2.2 million employees, had receipts of $326.4 billion, and generated payroll of $56 billion. We are talking BIG benefits to our economy here!!! Imagine sending all of these immigrants home?! Our economy, just based on these few numbers, would COLLAPSE!!!
Some more information to think about: Unauthorized immigrants are not eligible for federal public benefits: This includes income supplements—e.g., Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health care (Medicaid and Medicare), and food stamps. It doesn't matter what state they are in- they CANNOT get benefits!!! According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, immigrants do not impose a disproportionate financial burden on the U.S. health care system. The per capita total health care expenditures of immigrants are less than half those of U.S.-born persons, and immigrants are significantly less likely to use the emergency room than are citizens. However, immigrants pay taxes into the system that funds public services: Even the majority of unauthorized immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. And all immigrants pay sales taxes and property taxes. Many studies have found that immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits. The National Research Council estimated in 1997 that “the average immigrant pays nearly $1,800 more in taxes than he or she costs in benefits.” Many state-level studies have also found that immigrants contribute more to the economy than they take out. Like the rest of us, unauthorized immigrants pay taxes: Between one-half to three-quarters of unauthorized immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. All unauthorized immigrants pay sales taxes (when they buy anything at a store, for instance) and property taxes (even if they rent housing).
Unauthorized immigrants pay into Social Security, but do not collect: The Social Security Administration (SSA) has concluded that unauthorized immigrants “account for a major portion” of the billions of dollars paid into the Social Security system under names or Social Security numbers that don’t match SSA records; payments from which immigrants cannot benefit while unauthorized. As of October 2005, the reported earnings on which these payments are based—which are tracked through the SSA’s Earnings Suspense File (ESF)—totaled $520 billion. Another thing most people do not know- those who are undocumented but paying taxes CANNOT get a tax return, so every cent they pay in is kept by the government.
Another misconception about immigrants is that they bring higher crime rates. But take a look at this information: Although the unauthorized immigrant population doubled from 1994 to 2005, the violent crime rate in the United States declined by 34.2 % and the property crime rate fell by 26.4% during the same period. Border cities and other cities with ...large immigrant populations also experienced decreasing crime rates. And according to a 2008 report from the conservative Americas Majority Foundation, crime rates are lowest in states with the highest immigration growth rates. From 1999 to 2006, the total crime rate declined 13.6% in the 19 highest-immigration states, compared to a 7.1% decline in the other 32 states. In 2006, the 10 “high influx” states—those with the most dramatic, recent increases in immigration—had the lowest rates of violent crime and total crime. The argument that unauthorized immigrants are “criminals” because they are “illegal” is highly misleading. “Unlawful presence” in the United States (such as overstaying a visa) is a civil violation of immigration law, not a criminal violation. “Entry Without Inspection” (entering the United States without authorization) is a misdemeanor. More importantly, neither of these offenses constitutes a threat to public safety—unlike crimes such as murder, assault, and robbery, all of which immigrants are much less likely to commit than natives.
As to the question of why don't they just come legally, the legal immigration system is grossly out of date and has not kept up with the labor demands of our economy. Our immigration laws have not been updated in 20 years, and there are only limited avenues available for legal immigration. The... overly restrictive legal limits on green cards mean that virtually all unauthorized immigrants have no alternative for legal entry into the U.S. Many Americans think that unauthorized immigrants want to be unauthorized. However, opinion surveys of unauthorized immigrants indicate that, if given a choice, 98% would rather live and work legally in the U.S. and would do so if they could. But most do not have the necessary family relationships to apply for legal entry, do not qualify as refugees unless they come from a handful of countries experiencing political unrest, and do not work in professions that currently qualify for a green card. Many Americans think that unauthorized immigrants want to be unauthorized. However, opinion surveys of unauthorized immigrants indicate that, if given a choice, 98% would rather live and work legally in the U.S. and would do so if they could. But most do not have the necessary family relationships to apply for legal entry, do not qualify as refugees unless they come from a handful of countries experiencing political unrest, and do not work in professions that currently qualify for a green card.
So anyway, I hope this clarifies some of the misconceptions about immigration. You see, I believe passionately in reform, and not because I am married to a wonderful Mexican man. No, I have believed in reform for many, many years, and I have done the studying to back up my beliefs. I'm not simply basing my opinion on what I hear in the news or spouted on election ads. I am basing it on cold hard facts and what I have witnessed first hand. Hope you can understand a little better now!
But another thing to consider is that without these people, a lot of our companies would go under and it would have a negative effect on our already struggling economy. I know of farms in Michigan who have closed their doors, because they can't find workers. Michigan's unemployment has been running right around the highest in the country for a few years now, and to put it plainly, the immigrants are not coming like they used to and the Americans simply are not willing to do the work!!! And in a state with the highest unemployment, there are plenty of Americans who COULD do the work!!! Also, nationwide, only 5.1 percent of the workforce is here illegally.
Here are some other things to consider: a 2007 report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that immigrants INCREASE our nations GDP by $37 BILLION dollars a year. That is money we would NOT have if they were all sent home. A 2010 report from EPI found that immigration between 1994 and 2007 actually RAISED wages for US-born workers by .4%. According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, the purchasing power of Latinos totaled $978.4 billion in 2009 and is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2014. The purchasing power of Asians totaled $508.6 billion in 2009 and is projected to reach $696.5 billion by 2014. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in 2002, 1.6 million Hispanic-owned firms provided jobs to 1.5 million employees, had receipts of $222 billion, an...d generated payroll of $36.7 billion. The same year, 1.1 million Asian-owned firms provided jobs to 2.2 million employees, had receipts of $326.4 billion, and generated payroll of $56 billion. We are talking BIG benefits to our economy here!!! Imagine sending all of these immigrants home?! Our economy, just based on these few numbers, would COLLAPSE!!!
Some more information to think about: Unauthorized immigrants are not eligible for federal public benefits: This includes income supplements—e.g., Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health care (Medicaid and Medicare), and food stamps. It doesn't matter what state they are in- they CANNOT get benefits!!! According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, immigrants do not impose a disproportionate financial burden on the U.S. health care system. The per capita total health care expenditures of immigrants are less than half those of U.S.-born persons, and immigrants are significantly less likely to use the emergency room than are citizens. However, immigrants pay taxes into the system that funds public services: Even the majority of unauthorized immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. And all immigrants pay sales taxes and property taxes. Many studies have found that immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits. The National Research Council estimated in 1997 that “the average immigrant pays nearly $1,800 more in taxes than he or she costs in benefits.” Many state-level studies have also found that immigrants contribute more to the economy than they take out. Like the rest of us, unauthorized immigrants pay taxes: Between one-half to three-quarters of unauthorized immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. All unauthorized immigrants pay sales taxes (when they buy anything at a store, for instance) and property taxes (even if they rent housing).
Unauthorized immigrants pay into Social Security, but do not collect: The Social Security Administration (SSA) has concluded that unauthorized immigrants “account for a major portion” of the billions of dollars paid into the Social Security system under names or Social Security numbers that don’t match SSA records; payments from which immigrants cannot benefit while unauthorized. As of October 2005, the reported earnings on which these payments are based—which are tracked through the SSA’s Earnings Suspense File (ESF)—totaled $520 billion. Another thing most people do not know- those who are undocumented but paying taxes CANNOT get a tax return, so every cent they pay in is kept by the government.
Another misconception about immigrants is that they bring higher crime rates. But take a look at this information: Although the unauthorized immigrant population doubled from 1994 to 2005, the violent crime rate in the United States declined by 34.2 % and the property crime rate fell by 26.4% during the same period. Border cities and other cities with ...large immigrant populations also experienced decreasing crime rates. And according to a 2008 report from the conservative Americas Majority Foundation, crime rates are lowest in states with the highest immigration growth rates. From 1999 to 2006, the total crime rate declined 13.6% in the 19 highest-immigration states, compared to a 7.1% decline in the other 32 states. In 2006, the 10 “high influx” states—those with the most dramatic, recent increases in immigration—had the lowest rates of violent crime and total crime. The argument that unauthorized immigrants are “criminals” because they are “illegal” is highly misleading. “Unlawful presence” in the United States (such as overstaying a visa) is a civil violation of immigration law, not a criminal violation. “Entry Without Inspection” (entering the United States without authorization) is a misdemeanor. More importantly, neither of these offenses constitutes a threat to public safety—unlike crimes such as murder, assault, and robbery, all of which immigrants are much less likely to commit than natives.
As to the question of why don't they just come legally, the legal immigration system is grossly out of date and has not kept up with the labor demands of our economy. Our immigration laws have not been updated in 20 years, and there are only limited avenues available for legal immigration. The... overly restrictive legal limits on green cards mean that virtually all unauthorized immigrants have no alternative for legal entry into the U.S. Many Americans think that unauthorized immigrants want to be unauthorized. However, opinion surveys of unauthorized immigrants indicate that, if given a choice, 98% would rather live and work legally in the U.S. and would do so if they could. But most do not have the necessary family relationships to apply for legal entry, do not qualify as refugees unless they come from a handful of countries experiencing political unrest, and do not work in professions that currently qualify for a green card. Many Americans think that unauthorized immigrants want to be unauthorized. However, opinion surveys of unauthorized immigrants indicate that, if given a choice, 98% would rather live and work legally in the U.S. and would do so if they could. But most do not have the necessary family relationships to apply for legal entry, do not qualify as refugees unless they come from a handful of countries experiencing political unrest, and do not work in professions that currently qualify for a green card.
So anyway, I hope this clarifies some of the misconceptions about immigration. You see, I believe passionately in reform, and not because I am married to a wonderful Mexican man. No, I have believed in reform for many, many years, and I have done the studying to back up my beliefs. I'm not simply basing my opinion on what I hear in the news or spouted on election ads. I am basing it on cold hard facts and what I have witnessed first hand. Hope you can understand a little better now!
Begining our story...
I decided to start this blog because so many people have no idea about what it is really like to be an immigrant in our country, or what it is like to LOVE an immigrant in our country! Before I tell OUR story, let me introduce us...
My name is Rhonda Medina. I am originally from Northern Michigan, and I never thought my life would be anything but "normal." And then I met and fell in love with my husband, and a new world opened up in front of me... You see, Jorge is an immigrant from Mexico, and while he was in the US legally for 14 years, that hasn't saved us from the heartbreak of dealing with treacherous immigration laws and bureaucratic red tape. In fact, we currently live in Mexico, away from our friends and families, and even our children, because the US government will not allow us to stay. Many people have the idea that only people who are here "illegally" get deported- but that is simply not the truth! While living abroad, I have met many wonderful families in situations just like ours, forced away from everything they have known by a government that does not want them. This blog is my attempt to share our experiences. So hold on; you're in for a long and bumpy ride!
My name is Rhonda Medina. I am originally from Northern Michigan, and I never thought my life would be anything but "normal." And then I met and fell in love with my husband, and a new world opened up in front of me... You see, Jorge is an immigrant from Mexico, and while he was in the US legally for 14 years, that hasn't saved us from the heartbreak of dealing with treacherous immigration laws and bureaucratic red tape. In fact, we currently live in Mexico, away from our friends and families, and even our children, because the US government will not allow us to stay. Many people have the idea that only people who are here "illegally" get deported- but that is simply not the truth! While living abroad, I have met many wonderful families in situations just like ours, forced away from everything they have known by a government that does not want them. This blog is my attempt to share our experiences. So hold on; you're in for a long and bumpy ride!
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