Migrant Worker Outreach

Updated Sun, July 18, 2004

• The next visit to the "Barbie" migrant camp will be Friday, July 30th.   We'll meet first at Tigard Covenant Church at 6:30pm, then travel to the camp together.

• A gospel film will be shown, followed by an invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

• New participants:  Before you arrive, please read the various training documents below.

Updated Sat, May 15, 2004

• Click here to see a few photos from the May 8th visits to the Vasquez and Barbie Camps.

Updated Sun, May 9, 2004 (day after the outreach)

• Due to low occupancy at Barbie Camp (only 10 of 44 cabins occupied), we visited the Vasquez Camp (5 min driving distance from Barbie Camp) first.  Then, afterwards we sent a smaller team to Barbie.   Click here for an explanation and a detailed plan (Adobe. pdf file, 4 pages)

• Drivers:   Here are directions and a map from Tigard Covenant Church to Groner Elementary School, 23405 SW Scholls Ferry, Hillsboro, OR.   Groner Elementary is located within a couple of miles of the camps.  It's where we will meet Dennis Bischof and the others who are transporting food.

Outreach Overview

In Washington county alone, there are some 20 migrant camps. On the morning of May 8th, we have a wonderful opportunity to minister to the "Barbie" camp located about 10 minutes west of Tigard. The camp has forty-four modest 10' x 10' plywood cabins.  Up to 250-300 adults and 100 kids may be present (exact numbers impossible to predict;  much depends on the work available to them during their migration through the U.S.).  Our humble desire is to visit each to cabin to deliver "care packages" in the name of our Lord, seek to engage them in conversation about salvation, and to invite the families there to see a Spanish gospel film presentation and participate in a children's ministry. 

1. Registration for the outreach is closed.  We have a full team for the visit to the camp.

2. Click here to see all team members and their ministry assignments .

3. What's the plan for May 8?    Here's the schedule for the May 8 outreach.

4. About appropriate dress for May 8

   • Men:  jeans (not designer);  simple t-shirt or sweatshirt with no logos

   • Women:  a dress would be appropriate.  The migrant worker women only wear jeans while in the field.

   • Avoid extended conversations with opposite sex.

   • Please leave personal jewelry, cameras, camcorders at home.

5. About the migrant workers

   • Spanish is their second language. 

   • Do not give firm handshakes.  Instead just very gently grasp their hands.

   • They are in a place that is strange to them.  They will be cautious regarding strangers -- are you going to do anything to hurt me.

   • Catholic heritage.  They are aware of God, that He brings judgment.  They are eager to find ways to appease God.   They know little of God's love.

   • They are familiar with tough times and suffering.

   • They believe in miracles.

   • Touching them is not appropriate, unless you know them (like Tony Jeffery)

   • They will be agreeable to having you pray with and for them.

6. About the care ministry

   • Updated Care Ministry Plan.  Click here to see it.  It's been edited to reflect Tony's helpful comments.

   • The relief supplies team will need to watch the food and clothing supplies closely.   Distribution of these items must be door to door, else a hazardous "mob" scene may occur.   As such, relief supplies should be transported in vans or pickups with canopies.   Not open pickup trucks.   Please do not accept any "volunteer help" from the migrant workers to carry supplies.

   • The smaller the team visiting a cabin, the less intimidating it will be for the occupants.  (Chris will work out a rotation system within the care ministry team so all who desire to do door to door may have the opportunity).

   • The pace of delivery of relief supplies is to be determined by the receptivity of the occupants.  

   • CLOTHING UPDATE:  Tony Jeffery believes we have enough clothing to take to the migrant camp.   The clothing ought to be sorted -- children (boys);  children (girls);  adult boys,  adult women.    As with the food, the clothing needs to be delivered to camp in covered vehicles;   upon arrival, the vehicles need to be watched.     DISTRIBUTION:  Tony suggests that as the team leaders discern the occupants of a cabin, they tell the folks watching the clothing to pull out appropriate clothes for the team to bring back to the cabin.   

7. About translators

   • As of late Saturday, we have eight.  Praise God !

8. Prayer requests

   • For rain.  If it rains, the workers will not be in the fields, but in the cabins.

   • That we are the first church group to meet them this year.  If another organization visits the camp prior to May 8th, the workers tend to be less receptive to the second group that visits.

   • For our Lord to be glorified at this outreach on May 8th.

Relief Supplies (what we're bringing to the camp)

• 3lbs frozen chicken in Ziploc bag.  

• 10lbs all purpose white flour.   Qty 55.

• 48oz bottle Crisco cooking oil.  Qty 55.

• Ziploc bag - pinto beans

• Ziploc bag - rice

• Ziploc bag - crayons and coloring paper for children

• Ziploc bag - soap, washcloth, toothbrush.   Qty 300.

• Spanish New Testament

• Gospel tract

• Clothing and toys as available

Thanks to Dennis Bishof for donating the chicken, rice and beans.

Donations

Please bring any remaining donations to Tigard Covenant Church no later than Sunday, May 2, 2004, 3:45pm.  These items will be sorted prior to May 8th.

• About clothing donations:   Sturdy clothing in good condition suitable for farm work -- shirts, t-shirts, jeans, work shoes/boots, socks.  Blankets and sweaters needed.  

• About clothing sizes:  Most adults are 5' 2" to 5'5" in height, and 100-150 lbs in weight.   Hence, they wear medium or large.  

• About toys:   Simple toys are best. 

• About toiletries:  An assortment of items will be purchased using offering collected for this outreach. 

Migrant Outreach 2004 -- Important and Helpful Documents
(these all are Adobe .pdf files.  Right-click to save to your computer)

• Informational letter

• List of dates to remember

• Registration form

• Background and culture of the migrant workers

  • Overview of Mexico (1 page .pdf)

  • Our People Group Focus (14 page.pdf) - history, culture, religious practices, language.

  • Reasons for Migration (8 page .pdf)

• Prayer Handout

• Training agenda for Sat, April 24, 2004

• Important Information for Sat, May 8, 2004 -- this is the day we visit the camp

  • Schedule for the May 8 outreach.  What time we start, where we meet, how long we stay at the camp, etc.

  • Guidelines - interaction with migrant workers.  How to shake hands, what to say/not say, etc.

  • Sharing Your Faith

  • Childrens Ministry detailed plan - for Children's Ministry workers

  • Care Ministry detailed plan - for Care Ministry workers

    • Relief Supplies Team:  here are driving directions to Dennis Bishof's place .

  • Quick reference card (Spanish and English phrases). - for everyone.

Out of consideration for the migrant families, we're limiting the size of the team that will actually visit their camp on May 8th to 35-40 people (adults and children ages 13 and older only, please).  

Registration:   All team members who will be visiting the camp are requested to register no later than Saturday, April 24, 2004 so that we can know who has committed to participate and who to contact  regarding various aspects of this outreach.   Spanish translators serving at the invitation of the pastors should also register.  Any children ages 13 and older should register and be accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian(s) to the April 24 training and May 8 outreach.   For Spanish translators and children the $10 fee to cover outreach expenses is waived. 

For more information:   Please call or e-mail Antioch Christian Fellowship.