Grandfather Reflections on Burleigh County Commission Consent to Settle Refugees

Jana at Adonai Evangelical Church, Bismarck

This evening I’ll be attending the Burleigh County Commissioners public meeting where they will hear perspectives, and vote upon Lutheran Social Services request for consent to settle refugees in Burleigh County. I’ve posted a bunch of others’ thoughts the last week. I’ve participated in several small group discussions. Yet, I haven’t said much in public. I’m going to write as a grandfather. Others have well written in Burleigh County as pastors, friends, lawyers, government leaders, professors, social workers, and immigration advocates. If you haven’t read their perspectives, please do.

Ice skating at grandma's (my mom)

When I was just a young father living outside of the United States, we’d visit my parents on furlough at their home on Reno Lake in northern Minnesota. My children naively called their grandparents’ home, “America.” Whenever the stress of travel and crowds got too much they’d request to return to “America.” In America you could easily go fishing. In the summer you could easily swim. You could play outside with little supervision as life was safe. The greatest threat was probably a skunk. Your grandpa’s neighbor had a big dog and your grandpa had a gun. There wasn’t much to be afraid of. You were always loved. You were always accepted. Skin color made no difference. You could eat all the sweets you wanted. The food was always good. If you were tired you could easily take a nap and be held. As a dad I giggled that in my young children’s minds “America” was not nation state, but the emotional state of your grandparents’ home.

Sunset over North Dakota's Missouri River

I moved to Bismarck about a month ago for a variety of good reasons. In the back of my mind though I’m now a grandfather and I wanted to create “America” for my grandchildren. Whatever the outcome of tonight’s vote Bismarck will still be a place where I intend to create “America” for my grandchildren. There will still be beautiful scenery. There will still be fish in the rivers and lakes. There will still be parks and trails to play. I’ll still have a few guns at home. I’ll still have good friends. North Dakota’s economy will still be growing. The schools will still be good. There will still be vibrant churches in Bismarck. The crime rates will still be low.

All of the factors that make Bismarck a good place to create “America” for my grandchildren will also create “America” for other peoples’ grandchildren. Practically, because of low native-born birthrates and North Dakota’s growth there will be people moving here. Some of them will have recent immigration stories. Many will be young married couples with college degrees and a couple kids. As a pastor in Bismarck I get the extra privilege to be a substitute grandpa for lots of families I adore. Some have been in the United States for generations. Some have only been here a short period of time.

What is at stake tonight for me is my moral authority as a grandfather. I’m not alone in this quest for moral authority. Any grandparent in Burleigh County tonight has our grandchildren’s respect on the line.

If the County Commissioners’ decision is, “No” Burleigh County will be one of the test cases as this matter moves through the federal courts. It will be the example as the constitution and freedom of movement is discussed. Many historians will draw a philosophic line with the states’ rights arguments a few Bismarck politicians have made to states’ rights arguments made in the 1850’s and 1860’s to the states’ rights arguments made in the 1950’s through the 1970’s.

Some are debating whether these arguments are valid. Some politicians are weighing whether they can vote, “yes,” and be reelected in Burleigh County. I have no doubt how my grandchildren will see this vote. I have no doubt what the perspective is on Bismarck soccer fields and tracks. The children of refugees were key in several state soccer championships and track times have gotten faster. I have no doubt what the perspective will be for entrepreneurs. Refugees go to work at jobs few others want. I have no doubt what the perspective will be in libraries and schools. Refugee kids study and get good grades. I have no doubt what the perspective will be in church youth groups. Refugee kids are active and provide leadership.

For my grandchildrens' peers this vote is a no brainer. Vote yes because refugees are our neighbors. Refugees in Bismarck are just a fraction of our population. Yet, refugees in just a few years’ time have made our county measurably better athletically, academically, and economically. I’m old enough to know what happens when successful young people finish college, get married, have kids, and start careers. The economics and math say we all benefit.

Now back to making “America” for my grandchildren and moral authority. My granddaughter now hangs on my every word. She laughs when I go sledding with her. She’s smart. She’s social. She weighs serious matters though she’s just a toddler. She like books. Today, her books are mostly pictures. I know a day will come when she reads books full of footnotes. Tonight, I’ll stand with refugees. I want my grandchildren to be proud of my convictions and actions. I know if I don’t stand with refugees a day will come when my grandchildren will have to process my public failings in a deep and profound way. Because I believe in the “America” of children tonight I stand with refugees in Burleigh County.

We're grandparents! Hoo yee!

Dear Family and Friends,

At the beginning of 2018 we entered into an exhausting season.   When we counted what we were doing it was four distinct ministry jobs.  First, we were serving with East African Diaspora as missionaries to America.   Second, we were house parents for single mothers at Jubilee Village.   Third, we were attempting to start a new church called Nations’ Chapel in Carol Stream, Illinois.  Fourth, we were interim pastoring at Lighthouse Fellowship in Huntley, Illinois.   Our sleep was frequently interrupted.   The cultural contexts of each required great adaptation. It was difficult to culturally shift quickly from one to another.   Yet, each one represented an area of the American experience for which we deeply loved and felt God had called us to.  Also, each one provided a portion of the resources we needed to pay our family bills.   We needed God to do the sifting and get us back on a Sabbath rhythm cared for by His providence.

The sifting has happened.   We’ll share some more details in the next month as it gets even more clear.   However, this month we want to share the best news that has come.   The Lord gave us a break when our children and grandchildren needed attention.    

We’re now grandparents.    Our oldest daughter, Sophia; and her husband, Matt Cardillo welcomed their daughter, Peniel Angelica Cardillo into the world on Wednesday, July 18.   Her name sounds like, “Penny L.”   They are calling her Penny for short.    Her name comes from the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32.    After the wrestling Jacob (heel grabber) becomes Israel (struggled with God.)    The place where the wrestling match happened is named Peniel (Face of God.)   Israel declares, “For I have seen God face to face and I have been delivered.”

When we see Penny, we see her move her hands in a thoughtful way as Dave’s mom did.    She is attentive to make eye contact and will even look at books.   Her mouth looks like Sophia’s.   The rest of her face looks like Matt minus his beard.   Some remark that she looks like Jana and ponders matters as Dave.     When we close our eyes, we see her.

Matt and Sophia have pushed against many presuppositions of our American contemporary culture.   Shortly after their wedding in July 2015 they moved to Rwanda as missionaries serving at Kigali International Community School (KICS.)   They didn’t seek to advance their career and stability.    After two years they returned to the USA.   They live in Philadelphia near Matt’s family in New Jersey.   Matt drives a truck for Sysco and is preparing to take his MCAT.    They live simply.   Sophia stayed home during her pregnancy in preparation.    They are one of the first of their peers to have children.   In many ways, Matt and Sophia are living out old fashioned values of an American experience generations before themselves.   As such they must wrestle with God and men.    Penny shows the face of God.  We trust that she will be a blessed child who will bless many in return.  

Dave, Jana, and Timothy started traveling to Philadelphia as Sophia went into labor.  We arrived on Thursday, July 19 to see her.   We stayed through the weekend and helped out the best we could.    We shopped for them, cooked, and gave a break or two so Matt and Sophia could rest.

While in Philadelphia we were able to on Saturday, July 21 visit our old missionary colleagues, Bryan and Holly Hixson, and their daughter, Grace.   The Hixsons have recently left Rwanda.   Holly is teaching science at Cairn University (a Christian liberal arts school.)   It was so good to connect with them.  We trust the students and faculty at Cairn will be blessed by the Hixson’s presence.

As the weekend closed Jana flew back to Chicago for our Jubilee Village responsibilities.  Dave and Timothy began driving.   Timothy had his Paralympic Junior Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana from Wednesday, July 24 to Friday, July 27.    

Unfortunately, all of the travel was very hard on Timothy.   His cerebral palsy affects sensations and digestion.    He has head aches when he’s in the car.  He sleeps to get through the pain.    The travel made eating on schedule difficult.   It also made eating the right healthy combinations of food problematic.    By the time we reached Fort Wayne the week of travel had left Timothy quite sick.

Timothy was barely able to gather his strength for the long jump on Wednesday, July 24.   All who watched were shocked that a kid who was in so much pain gathered his available strength to make 4 of the 6 jumps.   He won his classification among all competitors under the age of 23 at just the age of 15.   There is no doubt, God has made him talented.   Nor is there any doubt that Timothy works very hard.

We were curious how he would do in the 200 meters on Thursday and the 100 meters on Friday.  His previous times in those events were just fractions away from making the “emerging” category in which he goes into the international data base.    Yet, by Thursday the pain was too much.   Timothy and Dave decided to call it quits and returned home to Carol Stream.   Timothy spent about 5 days resting and recovering.    We’re now back to the routine of consistent nutrition, exercise, and rest.   We wait in hope for other opportunities.

In many ways through this wrestling we do see the face of God.   In fact, it is in that wrestling in which He is the closest to us and we are the most dependent upon Him.

Having biological grandchildren has reminded us of our spiritual grandchildren for which we are very thankful.   God’s grace allowed us to initiate and shepherd movements in Uganda and Rwanda.    Those movements now have people scattered throughout North America and Europe.   We’ve realized that as our biological family is no longer in a single location, so our spiritual family also is scattered.   To be a good grandparent we must structure our lives to live regionally and internationally.   We’re pondering how that is the call of God.   Please keep our family in your prayers.

Mungu akubariki (May God bless you,)

Dave and Jana 

P.S. Contributions may be sent to:

Ignite Church Planting
P.O. Box 189
Schererville, IN 46375 

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