Your support helps the families of Maria and Roberto

Church and Community Worker Brynne Howard, here with her husband,
as she was sworn in by the Iowa Bar Association.
She writes here about one of the many stories from JFON.
(photo courtesy of Brynne Howard)

Maria and Roberto first came to Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) in 2007. Maria, a US citizen, wanted to apply for her husband, Roberto. Because he initially entered the United States without a visa, Roberto had to return to Honduras to proceed based on Maria's petition. Roberto had his first visa appointment at the US consulate in Honduras in September 2009. Unfortunately, the consulate was understaffed at the time and Roberto's application was lost in a huge backlog of cases.

After several months Maria, desperate to be with her husband, moved with their three children to Honduras. Unfortunately, the living conditions were very difficult for Maria and she was unable to find a job to support her family there. When Maria came back to the United States, she was forced to move in with family and sadly lost her home, her car, and other possessions.

Despite these challenges, Maria never lost faith that she and her husband would be reunited. With the help of JFON, Roberto was finally granted his permament residency and was allowed to re-enter the United States in December 2011. After a long and painful separation, this last Christmas was a special one for Maria, Roberto, and their children.

Maria and Roberto's story is just one of the many stories we have seen this year of families separated by our unjust immigration system.

Learn how you can help support JFON as we provide vital legal advice to these immigrant families by checking out the Iowa JFON website here.

You can also support my ministry with Justice for Our Neighbors, as well as the ministry of Church and Community worker missionaries across the US. Learn more from the bio page of Brynne Howard and make an online donation to missionary salary suport.

A Christmas Message from Children

Hannah Hanson, on the left, Mission Intern, advocates for justice.
(photo courtesy of Hannah Hanson)

As I walked into the Haitian revival service, it reminded me of some of the services I miss form my time in other countries. So it may have been my first time in an all Creole environment, but it was still familiar.

It was a special children's service and just so genuine and sweet I truly was honored to be there. The pastor wanted me to introduce Justice for Our Neighbors, because our new Lakeland clinic will be able to serve people from the congregation. 

The pastor also wanted to take part in "A Wish for the Holidays: That all Families Be Able to Stay Together." (A project of We Belong Together.) So after the service I went back with all the children and we talked some about parents in other countries and deportation. Then they wrote to President Obama and Congress. It was amazing to me how much a connection the children got and how well the ones with parents still in Haiti took it.

So I wanted to share some letters with you:

Mom is in Haiti. I want my mom to be with me. 

My Christmas present is to stop deporting families.

For more of the children's letters, read Hannah Hanson's blog.

To learn more about the Mission Intern, link to the missionary bio of Hannah Hanson.