By Steve Kraemer, Exec. Dir., CWF

After an ICE officer processes the paperwork for Andres (see bottom of page 8) and lets him know there is something in his property, we can only imagine the expression on his face upon seeing a brand new backpack, and then upon opening it and seeing it full of clothing and many other items.

After the Somali gentlemen who have been transferred to Prairie Detention Center in Texas see and read the cards from their CWF pen pals, we can only imagine how they feel, knowing that someone cared so much about them that they checked to see where they were after leaving Minnesota.

But, often, we don’t need to imagine how people feel. They tell us during a visit or share it with us in a letter.

This week, during our Zoom visit with the Spanish-speaking gentlemen at Freeborn, Miguel thanked us profusely for visiting and quoted the following bible verse from Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was ill and you took care of me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

German asked us to please tell Alex of CWF that he sends Alex his thanks and saludos (greetings). Alexis thanked us for the book he had requested, “Drawing for the Absolute Beginner,” saying it was exactly what he was looking for.

Now, imagine that WE were all non-citizens, jailed in the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center, the Kandiyohi County Jail or the Sherburne County Jail. We’re depressed, stressed and even traumatized by an impending deportation. And yet, we were on the receiving end of one or more of the above acts of kindness. I expect we would conclude that there still are good, decent, loving, compassionate people in the world who view us as fellow human beings looking for a safe place to live and work. This would give us hope in humanity and provide some light in the dark days.

From the 9-15-21 Conversations with Friends newsletter