To the members of Bethesda, thank you! The response to the letter asking for support for the Venezuelan family was overwhelming. We hope your support will continue into the years before their asylum hearing, scheduled for June 2026. Thanks also to our ASIP partners as second sponsors and its members who have helped so much in welcoming the family. These are dangerous times for asylum seekers, especially in this country. 

We wanted to update the congregation about some significant events in the lives of the Venezuelan family of four: Jose, Yennyfer, Tadeo, and Ana Paula.

God works in mysterious ways. We encountered difficulties in finding a lawyer to take the family's case. However, through Cliff, Bethesda's accountant, we were able to secure an extremely competent lawyer who will guide the family through their Asylum hearing, a crucial step in their journey.

Concerning the two children's involvement in the community, Tadeo, their six-year-old son, is thriving in kindergarten, and Ana Paula, their 3-year-old daughter, is making great strides in Early Head Start.  She has been interviewed for Head Start and eagerly awaits acceptance to start in the fall.  Tadeo enjoyed playing soccer in the spring, a testament to his growing comfort in the community.

Chris Cowan was working with Jose and Yennyfer on conversational English.  We are taking a break from that while Jose and Yennyfer take English classes at Memorial Lutheran. DMACC did not have a beginner's English class, but Memorial Lutheran did. We hope to start up the conversational English classes again soon.

The biggest news is Jose and Yennyfer got married and are now the Valero family! Yennyfer and Ana Paula were beautiful and Jose and Tadeo looked very sharp. 

Just days after the wedding, all four members received Social Security cards, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the youngest family member, and work permits for Jose and Yennyfer. Any suggestions for possible employment will be greatly appreciated.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended the wedding and to the women of Bethesda who selflessly helped at the reception: Pat Frette, Sandy Philips, Jan Melby, Anne Hogberg, Pat Swanson, and Darlene Schmidt. Your presence and support have been invaluable.  We also appreciate Jim Stewart and Duane Huffer for the live stream and video, Hannah Mae Photography for capturing the beautiful moments, and Nancy and Randy Ewing for their soulful rendition of Ave Maria! Special thanks to Pastor Russ Melby for officiating and Jean Hansen for translation.  We are especially grateful to the anonymous financial sponsors of the wedding. Your contributions, whether in time, talent, or resources, have made this wedding a truly memorable event and have shown us the power of our community's support.