Citizenship Work

If you have ever traveled to a foreign land, you have experienced the very real confusion that accompanies visiting another culture in which many of the rules and norms differ from those you didn’t know you held dear until they were absent. If you did not speak the language, your discomfort was even more acute.
 
For immigrants this disorientation is amplified by knowledge that their move to a new country is permanent.  Many emigrate from countries characterized by dire poverty, crime, war, and oppression.  Most experience the regret of leaving loved ones behind.
 
Leviticus 19:34 says: “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt….” 
 
How should we follow this directive?  The complex process of immigration to the U.S. offers many opportunities to help immigrants.  The command to treat the immigrant “as a native among you” is, however, fulfilled in a direct, legal sense when he or she is naturalized as a U.S. citizen with the requisite rights and responsibilities.  A small team of Incarnation members has been working to help citizenship candidates prepare for the naturalization exam and interview.
 
One of our students, when asked why she wants to become a citizen, teared up as she described how the Taliban has stopped her sister, who aspired to attend college and become a diplomat, from receiving any more education. Her elderly mother is frail. Leaving home for food or medical attention is risky.  She wishes to bring them to the United States and hopes that achieving her citizenship will help.
 
Each of these immigrants, who are beloved by God, has a unique story and reasons for coming to this country. Eligibility for naturalization requires them to hold permanent resident status for at least five years, so candidates have experienced the benefits and challenges of life here—and they all want to stay and participate fully.
 
For most, however, the naturalization interview and exams are intimidating.  Imagine success in this important process depending on your ability to write a sentence dictated to you by an immigration officer when in your first language the characters represent entire words rather than individual sounds!  What if you never learned to read in any language?
 
Incarnation’s program has evolved from a classroom-style approach to a tutoring model that allows each instructor to work with one or two students at a time, focusing on the aspects of the process that are most helpful.  We focus on the interview (which not only requires skill in English, but also defining vocabulary that is rarely used in day-to-day conversation), the reading and writing tests, and the civics exam.  We’re demystifying the process and helping build the confidence candidates need to represent themselves well in this official encounter.
 
Most importantly, we’re showing the immigrants we care. Our commitment of time, investment in their success, and empathy with their struggles say more about the God we obey and His call to active love for our neighbor than words ever could.  The work is rewarding, unpredictable, and, at times, frustrating. 
 
At one point, we considered ending the program and finding a different ministry.  But God surprised us by bringing students even though we did not publicize the program.  So, we ask for your prayers that God will continue to bless and guide this ministry.  If you would like to know more, talk to me after church or email us at outreach@incarnationrichmond.org!
 
Chris Wilson