At the end of March I (Richard) was fortunate to be able to take a trip to the border between El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. It was a short trip, but very insightful. We made the trip with a non-profit group called Abara. The trip was organized by Pastor Matt Adams from Westside Family Church. The trip was organized into 3 main parts: classroom time, a presentation from the border patrol, and a short excursion into Juarez to visit a shelter housing refugees. I wanted to just share some bullet points of what I learned on that trip.

1. El Paso's self-identify is distinct from the rest of Texas in many ways. They identify more with the west (New Mexico looking) than with the rest of Texas. Two examples: they are on their own power grid and in a different time zone!
2. El Paso and Juarez operated as one unified city for many years with people crossing back and forth between the two cities for work, to visit family, and for shopping. That began to change after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Yes, the "wall" (literally and figuratively speaking) began long before 2016.
3. Migration and the story of God's people is closely intertwined. Abraham's departure from his country and his kindred and his father's house "to the land that [God showed]" him is one example. The Exodus, the Babylonian captivity, and the dispersion of the Jews from Rome in the New Testament era are a few more examples.
4. The Border Patrol is charged with preventing illegal entry into the United States between the ports of entry. They have an overwhelming amount of territory to cover and homeland security is their top priority. They are mostly second generation immigrants themselves with a fierce sense of duty to their country that makes them good at their job. Their job is three fold: apprehend, identify and process (either into the US or out of the US) was not originally meant to include detaining and housing hundreds (if not thousands) of immigrants attempting to enter the United States.
5. The "Push-Pull" factors behind immigration are often very diverse and complicated as reflected in the human story. Compassionate wisdom and discernment is needed. This type of compassionate, discerning wisdom cannot originate with man. This truth is increasingly being rejected by the powers that govern us.
6. Man as a political animal will exploit the helpless to his/her own advantage and then make themselves look like a functional savior-of-the-day on the far side of the election. This has to be one of the most sickening realities in our world today. Jesus wept.
7. Border walls are not built to keep out law-abiding people but the drug smugglers, human trafficking, law-breaking individuals bent on doing harm. But in a fallen world, there are many people who are fleeing their homes in order to seek a better life. These people are further exploited by the individuals bent on doing harm. Yet, the "legal" path to immigration is so far behind that applications to "legally immigrate" are some 20 years behind. If the vast army of IRS workers would transfer to immigration, it would solve many of our problems.
8. We need a border, period. We need compassionate, discerning wisdom in deciding who can cross that border, period. May God have mercy on us and our children as we continue to face the difficulties of immigration, human suffering, and the hope of legal migration.

This is a brief summary of the short three-day trip to the border. I'd like to go back when I can stay longer and serve the people there. Here is a short excerpt from my journal from El Paso on 3/30/23.
"In El Paso this week for a border experience. The situation here is evidently changing always- perhaps depending on the White House policy. We have been saying for sometime that God determines the boundaries and habitation (time and place) of EVERY man, woman and child here on His terrestrial ball- and so at some point we have to decide if we really mean it or if we are going to quite saying it."
Acts 17:26-27 to you so that they should seek God,
-Richard Casebolt

Isaiah 60:5 says "Then you will see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you."

What is the true wealth of nations?  In sheer economic terms, it is often considered to be the productivity, like the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) reading of the US economy.  Do you know what God considers to be the wealth of the nations?  People.  I believe that God finds people to be valuable and that He finds them valuable apart from their productivity.  Why are people so valuable to God?  Because He made them.  God made each and every human being on the face of the earth and He gave them a unique soul as part of making humans in His own image.  What do you find most valuable in life?  If we are to be more like God in what we value, consider what is is of eternal value.  People are of eternal value because they have a soul.  So let us look upon the nations God is bringing to Kansas City and allow our hearts to thrill and exult in God.  And the next time we read 550 Afghan arrivals are scheduled to arrive in Kansas City, let us read that as 550 Afghan people created in the image of God or closer to the truth, 550 souls, eternal souls made in the image of God are scheduled to arrive in Kansas City.

!Ambassador- am-bas-uh-der, -dawr
noun
1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ).
2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.
4. an authorized messenger or representative. Abbreviation: Amb., amb.

At Refuge KC, we are glorifying God by welcoming our refugee neighbors as our new-American neighbors with Gospel-focused ministries of mercy so they might know, love, and follow Jesus into His Kingdom. We desire to welcome our new neighbors into our city AND into the Kingdom of God. We are dependent upon our welcoming God to do this and we believe He is leading others to Refuge KC to help with this effort. Yes, we want to welcome our new-American neighbors in such a way that they become both citizens of Heaven and citizens of these United States of America. Will you help us? Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and allow God's word to renew your commitment to be His Ambassador today!
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​John (name changed) is a refugee who fled from the Middle East and has been settled here in America with his family for just under two years. John and his family were originally brought to Texas where they lived and found work. Just a few months ago, however, John had to make his way to Kansas City for various reasons. His plan was to stay there, find an apartment, and bring the rest of his family up also. After 2 months of being by himself, I was introduced to him through a friend. The week before, he had just had a stroke and was very weak in his mid-thirties. Two weeks into meeting him, he informed me that he was going to go back to Texas the next day to be with his family and may not be coming back. So I ran out to my car and gave him the Bible I was planning on bringing to him in his heart language and with great joy he received it and thanked me numerous times. He proceeded to tell me that he had been reading through the book of John with one of his friends in Texas and had been reading every morning from the Bible since he had been here, but that his Bible had been stolen along with his bag just a few days before. He was very excited to read, and so we eventually opened up to Mark and read the first chapter or so and talked about the many amazing miracles Jesus performed. Not too long after, we said our goodbyes and the next morning he went back to be with his family.
    This story is just a short testimony of how God is at work in the lives of others, even where you find yourself now. Praise God that He allows us to come along side Him and work in His harvest fields!

This year as we have told the Christmas story in the homes of new-American neighbors who have settled among us, I have been reminded anew that Jesus began His life on earth as a refugee.  In fact, we might consider Jesus as a two-time refugee.  First, He left Heaven and came to earth as the One who would purchase the redemption of our souls in a rescue plan designed by God His Father.  Jesus emptied Himself of all that rightfully belonged to Him and for our sake became poor that we might become rich.  That was His first and ongoing refugee experience.  Second, Jesus would have less than two years of life before He would be the target of a plan to destroy Him designed by Herod.  So Jesus fled with His family to Egypt to escape from the murderous plot of Herod.  Our new settler neighbors know what it is like to flee for their lives from their country of birth.  And now they can know that Someone is able to relate to them as One who has walked through this refugee experience long before they did.  His name is Jesus.  Refugee Jesus who came to seek and save the lost and to serve- giving His life as a ransom for many.  Cf. Matthew 2:13-15, Mark 10:45.

This year for Christmas, we have been "gifting" our neighbors from around the world by showing up to their home with wrapped Christmas gifts.  We use this time to sing Christmas carols (you know, the ones about the Christ in CHRISTmas), present the simple story of Jesus' birth, and to pray for them.  Refuge KC is so thankful for Crossroads Church & Pastor Darryl Jones, Emmaus Church & Risa Woods, and First Baptist Independence & Pastor Kevin Payne.