In the early 2000's I was working as a welder with many Latino's who were citizens or on visa's working for citizenship. In Feb of 06 I decided to quit welding and go truck driving, and spent a lot of time speaking with Latino's at the various places I worked and shipped in and out of. I'd tell them how 1 side of my family immigrated from Germany to the US in the mid to late 1600's. The other side immigrated from Germany in 1878. When they landed at Ellis Island they were placed in detention for several months to be checked out for communicable diseases, criminal records, or criminal tendencies. Anyone found with 1 or more of those things was immediately deported. They applied for citizenship while in detention and began studying to become an American. When released, they traveled to the Midwest and settled in a predominately German area and began farming. The Germans who were already there told them, your not German anymore, your American, so you will learn to be an American and learn to speak the American language while on the job and around town. You can speak German in your own home, but only American everywhere else so everyone knows what your saying so you cause no ill feelings with others thinking you may be saying something bad in German. They had to reapply for citizenship in their new area, and eventually passed the test. My grandparents spoke fluent German learned from their parents. My parents spoke some German, I'm 4th generation and learned only the American language. Their eyes would light up as they'd say "hey, that's what we are doing." I'd reply I know, that's why I told you what my ancestors went through so you'd know you are not going through anything different just because your Latino's, your going through what all immigrants go through. They'd say I like speaking with you because I learn more of the language with your help. Again I said I know, that's why I speak with you. I spent 3 years praying for a Mexican woman who'd been brought to the US and left by her parents at the age of 2. She was DACA and scared of being deported. She had to weather through some bad jokes from me, Samson liked riddles, I like bad jokes. She learned they had a message and by the time the 3 years was up she was a permanent citizen. I told her God would not have brought you this far if He didn't intend for you to become a citizen, so I'm not going to worry about you anymore. I told her I will not buy you good things with my money because that is your boyfriends job, not mine. If he isn't buying you nice things with his money he's just using you, dump him and find a good man. I wasn't using her, I was asked to pray for her so I let her use me. I told her if you were an MS-13 gang member type, I'd have no problem turning you in to the authorities to have you jailed awaiting trial for prison and or deportation because we have enough trouble makers in this nation, we don't need more coming in. But your not the MS-13 type, you have shown a love for God and for others, you want others to make it the same as you want to make it here, so that's why I kept praying for you, I welcome those who love God. She is now a happily married woman with a beautiful daughter and a very productive worker at the local bank. As I taught her and other Latino's for her, she also taught them what she was learning and the entire community and surrounding area has benefited from it. It wasn't easy, but I'm reaping what I've sowed and the harvest shall be good for years to come. No one can call this white boy prejudice and make it stick, I help anyone whom God leads me to help.
In the early 2000's I was working as a welder with many Latino's who were citizens or on visa's working for citizenship. In Feb of 06 I decided to quit welding and go truck driving, and spent a lot of time speaking with Latino's at the various places I worked and shipped in and out of. I'd tell them how 1 side of my family immigrated from Germany to the US in the mid to late 1600's. The other side immigrated from Germany in 1878. When they landed at Ellis Island they were placed in detention for several months to be checked out for communicable diseases, criminal records, or criminal tendencies. Anyone found with 1 or more of those things was immediately deported. They applied for citizenship while in detention and began studying to become an American. When released, they traveled to the Midwest and settled in a predominately German area and began farming. The Germans who were already there told them, your not German anymore, your American, so you will learn to be an American and learn to speak the American language while on the job and around town. You can speak German in your own home, but only American everywhere else so everyone knows what your saying so you cause no ill feelings with others thinking you may be saying something bad in German. They had to reapply for citizenship in their new area, and eventually passed the test. My grandparents spoke fluent German learned from their parents. My parents spoke some German, I'm 4th generation and learned only the American language. Their eyes would light up as they'd say "hey, that's what we are doing." I'd reply I know, that's why I told you what my ancestors went through so you'd know you are not going through anything different just because your Latino's, your going through what all immigrants go through. They'd say I like speaking with you because I learn more of the language with your help. Again I said I know, that's why I speak with you. I spent 3 years praying for a Mexican woman who'd been brought to the US and left by her parents at the age of 2. She was DACA and scared of being deported. She had to weather through some bad jokes from me, Samson liked riddles, I like bad jokes. She learned they had a message and by the time the 3 years was up she was a permanent citizen. I told her God would not have brought you this far if He didn't intend for you to become a citizen, so I'm not going to worry about you anymore. I told her I will not buy you good things with my money because that is your boyfriends job, not mine. If he isn't buying you nice things with his money he's just using you, dump him and find a good man. I wasn't using her, I was asked to pray for her so I let her use me. I told her if you were an MS-13 gang member type, I'd have no problem turning you in to the authorities to have you jailed awaiting trial for prison and or deportation because we have enough trouble makers in this nation, we don't need more coming in. But your not the MS-13 type, you have shown a love for God and for others, you want others to make it the same as you want to make it here, so that's why I kept praying for you, I welcome those who love God. She is now a happily married woman with a beautiful daughter and a very productive worker at the local bank. As I taught her and other Latino's for her, she also taught them what she was learning and the entire community and surrounding area has benefited from it. It wasn't easy, but I'm reaping what I've sowed and the harvest shall be good for years to come. No one can call this white boy prejudice and make it stick, I help anyone whom God leads me to help.