In May, Westside Women held its first joint Coffee • Community • Connection event with the women of Iglesia Vida Abundante. It was a risky new direction that Women’s Ministry Coordinator Erin Ragan was charting, and while she wasn’t sure how it would go, she (and others who had recently returned from a 3-day Border Experience trip to El Paso / Juarez with Westside’s Global & Community Impact in March) felt strongly about it.

The collaborative cross-cultural event was successful. Those who attended expressed an eagerness for more.

After experiencing the beauty of unity across diverse cultures and hearing such positive feedback, the Westside Women’s team will host a second collaborative event Saturday, August 20, at Westside Speedway.

This week we’re sharing a little more about the backstory and first event. It carries a beautiful message about how God uses all things in our past and present obedience to build unity in His church and breathe life-giving encouragement into others. We look forward to seeing how these planted seeds continue to grow and blossom in the coming weeks, months, and years!

“I think this will be good as long as we don’t get kidnapped in Mexico!” Sandy Roland giggled as she nudged her seatmate, Erin Ragan, who was clicking her seatbelt.

Another traveler, Raquel Lara, heard Sandy’s joke. “Oh, Sandy! You really should have a little faith!” she quipped back.

Back home in Kansas City, Raquel worked as Avenue of Life’s bilingual Impact KCK coordinator. She had joined the trip at the invitation of Westside’s Community Impact Director, Matt Adams. Coupled with what they were about to learn, Matt hoped the group would also benefit from Raquel’s working knowledge of Kansas City’s immigrant community and find meaningful ways to wrap God’s family around them after their return home. Always interested in ways to bring meaningful connections to the immigrant families she served, Raquel was excited for what may lay ahead.

As the ladies all chatted about the upcoming days, Erin was just glad she had people guiding her to the right plane. Life had been busy, and this was the first opportunity she’d had to really consider the trip and all it entailed.

Still, she eagerly looked forward to having this experience with her friend Sandy. The two had originally planned to travel to Thailand with Global Impact in 2019, but when Sandy received a breast cancer diagnosis, those plans were put on hold.

Sandy had a way of bringing a little levity to the situation which Erin appreciated. She had so many unanswered questions about what was happening at the border. A Midwesterner through and through, distance made it difficult to understand why so many were crossing over. Snippets on the news only told a fraction of the story with polar-opposite perspectives. Erin and Sandy both were eager to fill in the gaps.

As the women would soon learn, the issues at the U.S.-Mexico border are complicated, multi-layered, and complex. Over the next three days, they would hear various perspectives from the U.S. Border Patrol, immigration legal services, migrant shelters, non-profits serving in relief and development capacities, and the actual people seeking asylum in the U.S.

As the plane began to lift into the air, Erin closed her eyes and began to pray.

“Heavenly Father, show me what you want me to learn and how to apply it in my life when we return.”

Juarez, Mexico

After a full day of learning at the ABARA House in El Paso, Texas, the group boarded a van early the following day. Driving across the border to Juarez, Mexico, Erin's heart was heavy as she contemplated all she had learned the previous day in the classroom setting. Various instructors tried to paint a balanced, insightful picture of the situation. Still, today, Erin and her traveling companions would see and hear the people behind those stories in person.

The van arrived at an area shelter run by a local pastor. As they pulled into the parking lot, the guide told the group they would meet the local pastor who had been running this particular shelter for quite some time. Many people he served had been stuck in Juarez for years while awaiting approval from the U.S. government to cross over.

The pastor greeted the group at the door and, with an interpreter's help, began leading them through the facility.

The group entered a large room where a large group was painting on small pieces of wood. Here, he introduced them to Rosa Mani, the woman in charge of the activity. A social worker by trade, Rosa moved to Cuidad Juarez several years ago to help ABARA’s ministry efforts with immigrants at the border.

"I received a call in my heart, and it was impossible to reject it,” she began. “I am also a migrant, and I came to the city starting as a volunteer."

As Rosa shared her passion for helping people, Erin’s attention was drawn to the pictures taking form on the wood pieces.

“As you know, many migrants arrive here with very little,” Rosa continued. “That can be very traumatic. Here, we have given each of them a piece of wood where they can paint something they remember from home. Maybe a pet, a home, a beach, or a person. It can be whatever they want.”

Erin looked carefully at each painting. She was struck by the personal images each one was painting. For some, this painting might be the only physical memory they could carry with them on their journey.

As the group moved through one room and into another, Erin and Sandy noticed that some were working on a painting together. On a small piece of wood was a tree trunk. Like an assembly line, the residents passed the wood piece from one person to the next. Each one added their thumbprint to help populate the tree with the “leaves.”

The tour wrapped up, and Rosa stepped back to the front of the group.

“Before you leave, we have one last thing,” Rosa announced. “While you were here today, the residents made a gift for you. You will find it on the table as you go. Please take one.”

The ladies exchanged glances. What could it be? These people who had so little had a gift for them? They approached the table and found their own painted tree featuring the thumbprints of each would-be immigrant.

Erin caught her breath and looked at her friends. Holding the painting with great care, Erin considered what each “leaf” represented.

“What a treasure,” Erin whispered as she thanked her host. “Gracias, Rosa.”

Rosa smiled. “De nada. Please remember us in your prayers.”

Back at the hotel, Erin sat with a small group of friends after dinner, talking about the last two days. The flood of information, conversations, and emotions that confronted them impacted each one uniquely.

It was Erin’s turn to share her heart.

“You know, I think, like all of you, since we got here, I’ve been asking God to show me how I could use this experience back home in Kansas City,” Erin began. “For me, I keep coming back to women’s ministry at Westside. We have this women’s fellowship event coming up in May...I know it would be short notice to change our plans for it. But, what do you guys think about shifting the event’s focus to build bridges and unity with Hispanic women in Kansas City?”

Raquel’s ears perked up.

“Erin, I think that’s a wonderful idea, and I think I know just the church to connect you with!” Raquel beamed. She knew God was up to something new!

Back home in Kansas City

Over the following days and weeks, the women continued to pray and plan.

Raquel had already put some feelers out to the women she knew at Vida Abundante church and was ready to connect them with Erin’s team. But first, she needed to make sure they had a viable plan.

At a meeting over coffee, the women began sharing their ideas.

“So, Raquel, I was thinking we could bring in food, and…” Erin had big ideas about how to serve this community, but she stopped when she saw Raquel shaking her head “no.” “No? Okay…tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Erin, these women desire community, and a big part of that is to participate and contribute. I know that as Americans, the natural inclination is to give, help, and even rescue, but in this culture, it’s also essential for them to give. Let’s think about what that could look like.” Raquel suggested.

Over the next few hours, plans began to gel for activities where the diverse group of women could find common ground while also celebrating their cultural differences. Something they quickly agreed upon was finding a way to incorporate a thumbprint tree.

Within days, the ladies presented their ideas to Vida Abundante and fleshed out the rest. The morning event would include coffee and pastries, a lesson on making handmade tortillas, lunch, bilingual worship, and an apron-making activity that would incorporate the thumbprints of all attendees.

The Westside Women’s ministry team was on board and excited. They prayed for unity, connection, and that God would be honored in their efforts.

Denise Colles, an unexpected connection

Denise Colles had been attending Westside for several years. In January, she sensed God calling her to two things: a deeper connection with Him and taking better care of herself, physically and emotionally. As part of that journey, she decided to attend the Westside Essentials Get Connected class, filled out the SHAPE assessment, and met with a SHAPE coach.

“Tell me a little about yourself,” Denise’s coach probed.

“Well, I grew up in a Texas border town. My grandparents were from Mexico.” Denise shared her background and the journey that eventually brought her to Westside.

“So, you are bilingual?” the coach asked.

“Oh yes. It’s been great for my work in the mortgage industry, but outside of that, I don’t get to use it very much. To be honest, I miss my community.”

After talking a little more about Denise’s background, gifts and talents, the coach had an idea.

“You know, I just found out about something you might be interested in. On Saturday morning, Westside’s Women’s Ministry is co-hosting a Coffee • Community • Connection event with the Hispanic church, Iglesia Vida Abundante. I can send you the information if you’re interested.”

“Really? That’s amazing! Yes! I’d love to know more about that!” Denise tried to contain her excitement. “I love Hispanic people! They have the bests stories! And honestly, as I said before, I have missed my culture.”

Although she loved her Kansas City life, family, and church, for years, Denise felt like this cultural piece of her was missing. She longed for the people, the stories, the joy, the laughter, and, yes, the food! She couldn’t wait to go, connect, and see what God might be stirring up.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Denise parked her car. She was excited to meet new friends from a culture she had rarely participated with since moving away from the Southwestern United States.

She stepped into the building and began introducing herself to the women of Vida Abundante. They seemed equally excited to meet an American woman who spoke their language.

Denise immediately felt like she was home. This was her culture. After a little while, Erin stood up and began explaining the next activity. Holding up her thumbprint tree artwork from Juarez, Erin explained, with the help of an interpreter, that they would also create a thumbprint tree, but on an apron.

Denise loved the idea and how this memento would represent the journey – and friendship – of every person in the room. She knew she would treasure it.

As the women worked together, each adding their thumbprint to the aprons, Denise relished hearing the stories, occasionally helping to interpret for those sitting around her.

“OK, ladies,” Raquel stood up as the women finished the apron activity. “We will eat lunch soon, but first, we have a special treat. The ladies of Vida Abundante will demonstrate how to make homemade tortillas…and then we get to eat them!”

Denise was not surprised that the women of Vida Abundante were so delighted to contribute. She loved that her American friends were receiving an authentic dose of her culture, which made her proud. More than all of that, she loved the unity that was happening in the room. When she thought about the Westside’s mission, this was a tangible expression of building connection in the community by loving like Jesus and wrapping the family of God around others.

“Ooooooh, this is good,” she overheard one of the Westside women sitting nearby gush after taking a bite of one of the many authentic dishes. Glancing over at the woman, she realized this was the very dish she had just asked one of the hosts about. It was a complicated recipe that represented a day's worth of work.

As the morning continued, Denise treasured every moment in her heart to the point her heart overflowed with intense gratitude and emotion. Needing to find a private place where she could pray and let the tears roll, hot, down her face, she excused herself from the table.

“Thank you, God, for hearing the prayers of my heart and bringing me here.” She knew God heard every prayer she brought to Him that morning and that He was holding her close. Just being here felt like a massive hug from above.

Walking back into the room, she saw the ladies heading into the worship room. Entering this space, she noticed the aprons. They had been laid neatly on the back of the pews, paint drying. At the front of the room, a group of Hispanic teenage boys – not older than her boys – skillfully began playing music and leading the women in worship. Her heart swelled again as passion and love filled the room.

“They are so good,” Denise whispered to a Hispanic woman standing next to her.

“Oh yes, they come here to practice several days a week!”

Denise was stunned.

As the event ended, the woman standing next to Denise grabbed her hand.

“Denise, will you come to our ladies' group? We meet every week here at the church.”

Denise, feeling like she had just received a golden ticket invitation to a weekly dinner at her aunt's home, leaped at the opportunity. “Oh my gosh, I would love that! I don’t know if I can come every week, but I would love to!”

Denise hugged her new friends goodbye, carefully picked up an apron, and headed out to her car.

“Thank you, Jesus,” she whispered as she prepared to drive away.

Erin could hardly believe what she had just witnessed and experienced. The new friendships, cultural understanding, and connections she saw beginning to spark gave her hope. She felt God had just affirmed the direction she and her travel mates began dreaming about that night on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Since that first Coffee • Community • Connection event, Denise has continued meeting with the women from Vida Abundante, building relationships filled with loving encouragement. Erin, Sandy, and Raquel have also met with some of the ladies to continue building the relationship and plan future events.

coffee • community • connection | aug 20 Registration