Weekly Word | March 8, 2024 | Issue 133

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March Mission Outreach

Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

The mission of the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center is to assist the victims of child or vulnerable adult abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault by providing a safe and supportive environment and facilitating a team approach to advocacy, investigation, and prosecution. Victims are brought to the Center by Law Enforcement or Child Protective Services. A few summers ago, we “Filled the Ark” to supply stuffed animals for their closet where children can shop and choose their own stuffed animals.



Click on the logo to visit their website.

Our visit to the House of Mercy shelter began on Friday afternoon, February 23, when we met up with Glenn and Janice Zimbelman. We began our 280-mile journey with our SUV loaded with 25-pound bags of rice, beans, flour, sugar and many bags of shirts, socks, and other clothing items. (Thank you, Emmanuel, with such a short notice for donating the food and clothing items.)

Our first stop was at the San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church, a Hispanic church in Tucson, where we spent the first evening in the church parsonage. Pastor Mateo Chavez and his wife Annette greeted us, and we enjoyed an evening meal of tamales and rice and wonderful conversation.

The next morning, we loaded their 15-passenger van with more food items donated by a local church and, with Annette as our driver, began our trip to the shelter in Nogales, Mexico. It took two hours, the last 30 minutes over rough roads and up and down hills in Nogales.

Driving into the compound, we noticed how beautiful the buildings were, painted in bright colors with many of them containing murals. As the compound is located on a hillside, it has wonderful views of the surrounding area.

As we pulled into the parking area, several young men met us and began unloading the food and clothing items. Finally, women, children and young families began to gather and greet us. Jean, the dog lover, immediately noticed several brightly covered dog houses and was off to pet dogs.

The shelter provides safety and rest for the many forced to flee violence and persecution. The asylees come from many countries: Mexico, Central America, Haiti, Cuba and more. It consists of seven buildings—dormitories, a kitchen and multipurpose room (cafeteria, meetings, church services), classrooms, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, including a basketball/soccer court and a children’s playground. It has a 180-person capacity, though currently limited to 120, a limit placed by Sonora’s health department during the pandemic. It raises about $160,000 annually through its faith communities (the LCA donates $20,000 annually) and writing grants.

Primary and secondary education is provided for children, and vocational training—plumbers, electricians, estheticians, and elder care workers—is provided for adults. The state of Sonora provides the teachers, whose salaries are funded by a nonprofit that champions the rights of children. Another nonprofit provides an immigration attorney and a psychologist.

It was so exciting to meet Angelica “Lika” Macias, a former Roman Catholic nun, and the founder, and inspiration of the shelter. She began serving migrants from her home in 1998 when she heard about a group living in a nearby cemetery. From there her ministry later moved to an apartment complex, and in 2020 to its current location. Lika is also a gifted artist, painting many of the murals at the shelter.

We enjoyed walking around the shelter before lunch and greeting the people and viewing the facilities. Our lunch was homemade tortillas stuffed with beans and made by the asylees.

After lunch a young lady asylee shared her story of how she and her 3-year-old daughter got to the shelter. It was difficult to hear, as she told of her escape from her abusive husband. Come to the forum Sunday, March 17, at 10:15 am to hear Jean share her story.

Before leaving we attended a church service in Spanish led by Pastor Mateo, along with his wife Annette. It was great to attend the service with the asylees. We watched three teenagers be confirmed and we received communion.

After the service, we boarded the bus and rode back to the parsonage tired and basically in silence as we thought about all the things we had seen and done. It was a wonderful day.

On Sunday morning, we attended the church service at San Bautista Lutheran Church. We were warmly welcomed by members of Pastor Mateo’s church. Again, the service was in Spanish. Communion was special as we joined the other members of the church in receiving bread and wine from Pastor Mateo.

After the church service, we said goodbye to Pastor Mateo and Annette, got in our SUV and returned to Prescott. It was a wonderful experience, and we were thankful that we could share it with Glenn and Janice.

Come to the forum Sunday, March 17, at 10:15 am to hear more of our story.

Next Sunday's 10:15 Forum

Remember the bags of rice, beans, flour, sugar, and clothing you donated so generously to the migrant shelter and La Casa de la Misericordia (House of Mercy for all Nations) in Mexico? Come and hear about how welcome those gifts were!

The Kisers and Zimbelmans will be sharing their experience from the border immersion and what we learned—it is not what you see portrayed in the media! Sunday March 17, at 10:15 in the Fellowship Hall between services, we will share our pictures of what we saw and experienced.

March is Women’s History Month

Ramadan begins on the evening of March 11

Purim begins on the evening of March 23

Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31

• The Grief Group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month in the nursery at 1:00pm. The next meeting is March 14. Chaplains from Good Samaritan Hospice are facilitating.

• The Tuesday 10am Women’s Bible study is reading Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Learning to Walk in the Dark. Contact Pr. Tricia for more information about joining by Zoom or in person.



• The last Tuesday of the month Bible study gathers at the new Prescott home of Karen and Bruce Lamb at 9:30am. They meet again on March 26. Call Karen at 928-910-6377 for details and directions!

• The Wednesday 10am Lectionary Study group led by Hal Vogelaar and Larry Gordon meets in the Fellowship Hall. This group studies the scripture texts for the coming Sunday.

• The Thursday evening Bible Study meets at the Rebholz’ home. Gathering at 6:30pm for dessert (always amazing by Carole), the study starts at 7:00pm.

• The Thursday 3:00pm Chino Valley Bible Study meets the 1^st and 3^rd Thursday of the month. Give Keith Namock a call at 928-800-1599 for details and directions.

• Confirmation class meets Sunday, March 17. This group of youth meet following second service at 12:15pm for 2 hours, share lunch together and study Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and what it means to be a Lutheran Christian in the world today.

Here are the Education Africa Alumni All Stars Marimba Band playing a medley of Vivaldi’s works! Love it!

This is a picture of Watson Lake found on the City of Prescott’s Facebook page!