Mision Peniel Newsletter

Newsletter

Issue # 7 - September 2026

From the Director's Desk

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.”

Mark 4:1–20

When working among farmers, certain images feel very natural for us to use and understand. One such image is that of sowing—specifically, the method of scattering seeds, which is the very image Jesus uses in this famous parable.

The terrain he describes reflects the landscape familiar to his listeners: fields and paths without clear boundaries, rocky patches found everywhere, thorns that grow more easily than any other plant, and—yes—good soil capable of allowing the seed to develop, grow, and yield an abundant harvest.

It is amidst the uncertainty of this terrain that the sower sets out to do his work: to sow. And, as described in the three versions of the parable, he does so without discrimination. He scatters the seed without the slightest concern for where it might land. His job is not to judge the soil, but to scatter the seed in the hope that it will fall where it can be fruitful.

In the same way, we have been entrusted with the seeds of love, empathy, respect for the dignity of others, acceptance and appreciation of differences, mercy, and justice. We are called to scatter these seeds without distinction. It is not our job to determine who is “good soil” and who is not; our only task is to scatter and give without discrimination.

We live in difficult times, where attempts are made to sell us the idea of viewing others as infertile ground—unworthy of consideration, or even dangerous. Let us be careful: we are not here to judge one another, but to serve one another out of love.

If there is one characteristic that perfectly encapsulates agricultural work, it is hope—the hope that leads us to believe that no matter how inhospitable the soil where we are asked to sow may seem, there is always a possibility that the seed will germinate, grow, and bear fruit. Thank you for joining us in the task of sowing the seeds of care for the most vulnerable—a field that, these days, seems very challenging.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”

(Anonymous)

With appreciation,

Reverend Miguel Estrada

Volunteer's Corner

Why I decided to support the Misión Peniel ministry?

About ten years ago, I first came to Misión Peniel with Church of the Palms for a Friday food distribution. I still remember that first day: we were running out of food, and Pastor Miguel kept going back and forth to the freezer, determined that no farmworker stepping off a work bus and making it to the distribution would leave empty-handed. His love for this community was—and still is—infectious. Over the years, I returned many times, including twice with my mother, experiences that are especially meaningful to me now. The name Misión Peniel means “the face of God,” and that is exactly what has continued to draw me back. I see the face of God in the volunteers, in the farmworkers, and in the families who come for food—sometimes lining up three hours before distribution begins because the need is so great. After Hurricane Irma, my husband and I collected two SUV loads of food, water, clothing, diapers, and other necessities from friends, family, and Sarasota businesses and brought them to Immokalee and LaBelle. At that time, it seemed remarkably easy to find people eager to help. Today, it can sometimes feel harder to find that same willingness when the people in need are farmworkers. That makes it even more important to me to show up—to make sure people who spend their lives helping put food on our tables know that they are seen, valued, appreciated, and loved.

Today, I serve every other Monday alongside Marifrans through her Pan de Vida program, a role I truly believe God called me to after I saw her request for help in a newsletter and spoke with her about what she needed. Marifrans arrives at 6:00 in the morning to begin preparing three hot, home-cooked meals; the fragrances, the bubbling pots, and the care she puts into every meal are a feast for the senses and an expression of love. She greets me with a huge smile, is incredibly organized and prepared to assign my tasks for the morning, and brings such warmth to everything she does. Because she does this every Monday while I am there only every other week, I wash every pot and pan as my small way of honoring and serving her. I have developed my own little prayerful ceremony of carrying the remnants from her food preparation out to the garden to be composted—a beautiful circle of life, returning nourishment to the earth so that it can once again nourish this community. While Marifrans cooks, I work on the creation of items such as hygiene bags, clothing, towels, shoes, pantry staples, dry goods, and the food pantry items from the Care and Share Senior Program at Harry Chapin Bank. Then we load our two cars and deliver meals and supplies to elderly and disabled farmworkers. Marifrans patiently and graciously does an awful lot of translating for me, and I am working on learning the Spanish language. It is amazing though, when communication is through the heart and faith, there are no barriers. It is a four-hour round-trip drive for me, but that hardly feels like a sacrifice; it feels like an opportunity to show gratitude to people whose labor helps feed all of us. I see the face of God in every person we visit, and I witness faith practiced in a way that is humbling and deeply uplifting. More than anything, I want the people we serve to know something very simple: there are people who give a darn. There are people who see you. There are people who appreciate you. And there are people who love you. For me, there is no more meaningful way to live my faith.

Halle Ghose

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers!

We want to extend a special thank you to everyone who gives their time to working in our community garden, helping to sort items for distribution, packing food and produce bags, and welcome our neighbors every week.

With your support, we distribuite monthly over 500 meals to families in need.

Thanks again for providing food to those and needs and for being a part of the Misión Peniel community!

People like you are the reason this work is possible.

We are incredibly grateful for your partnership.

Spread Holiday Cheer

Join Our Annual

Christmas Joy Drive!

The holiday season is approching fast.

At Misión Peniel, we believe every child deserves to feel special during the holidays. That is why we are already organizing our Annual Christmas Joy Drive, and we would love for you to be a part of it.

For more info

Click in the F L Y E R

Important News

Your Generosity Makes the Difference

Misión Peniel is a non-profit organization that provides social services and pastoral care to the farmworkers community in Immokalee, FL. Thank you for considering financial support to keep us moving forward.

Loving our neighbors

Thanks to your donations we can continue support to families/individuals affected by the immigration crackdown; with the payment of basic services bills, rent, medical attention and travel arrangements.

Pan de Vida

Pan de Vida is a program that serving homebound elderly and disabled farmworkers in Immokalee. Each week, about 22 clients receive three nutritious hot meals, often accompanied by fresh vegetables, hygiene items, blankets, clothes, birthday gifts, or seasonal extras. For many, the person who knocks on their door is their only human contact that week.