What Hope Looks Like in a Time of Fear
by Carla Garcia, Partner Engagement Director
This season, I can feel the heaviness in our city almost as soon as I step outside. The political climate, the way immigrants and refugees are talked about, the comments online, the tension in local conversations. It hurts. Because people I love, families I know by name, are being spoken of as if they were a burden instead of a blessing. As if their stories, their courage, their sacrifices don’t matter.
But they are not burdens. Son nuestros vecinos.
They are parents working two jobs and still showing up to English class. Kids navigating a new language with bravery that humbles me. Grandparents starting over in a country that often feels cold, but somehow still finding reasons to smile.
And yet, the fear is real. My life is swarmed by the same heart-wrenching questions:
“Are we going to be okay?”
“Will my kids be safe?”
“¿Y si nos cambian las leyes otra vez?”
There is an unspoken worry in so many homes across Kansas City right now, a quiet, constant uncertainty that sits heavy on everyone’s chests.
But then you walk into Mission Adelante, and it feels like stepping into another world. Not because the pain disappears, but because hope insists on showing up anyway. And this fall, that hope has been shining so bright. Kids whose families arrived just last year are already thriving, making friends, learning English, laughing loudly in hallways that once felt unfamiliar. Our Latino ESL classes are fuller than ever before, rooms packed with adults who refuse to give up on their dreams. Citizenship students are passing their exams, holding those certificates with trembling hands and eyes filled with relief and gratitude.
And yesterday, oh my goodness, yesterday was one of those days that makes you stop and breathe in the goodness of God. A whole team of volunteers from Safety Culture spent the entire day at our building. Sorting, organizing, cleaning, transforming. They worked with such joy that our space literally felt different by the evening, more beautiful, more dignified, more welcoming for every participant who walks through our doors.
And right in the middle of the day, the abuelita of my former LIT students stopped by to get help applying for jobs. Porque gracias a Dios ya arregló. Because after years of waiting, praying, and hoping, she finally has a work authorization card. And now she can pursue the opportunities she once only dreamed of.
I wish you could have seen her face, radiating relief, pride, gratitude, and a deep sense of joy. Moments like that remind me that God is still at work in big and small ways.
So yes, these times are tense.
Yes, many of our neighbors are afraid.
Yes, the world feels unpredictable and loud.
But hope still prevails at Mission Adelante.
It rises in classrooms full of laughter. It whispers through victories that seemed impossible a year ago. It shows up in volunteers giving their whole day. It flourishes in citizenship certificates, English breakthroughs, and job applications that finally feel within reach.
And as we step into this season of giving, we are not just raising funds. We are raising hope. We are saying to our neighbors: “Aquí estamos. We’re with you. You belong here.”
Help us continue to make Kansas City a welcoming place for people from all places. Volunteer with us, pray with us, or give financially if you feel led. Every gift, every partnership, every prayer brings hope to our community.
Because hope isn’t just an idea. Hope is people and community. Hope is God’s love made visible. And together we get to keep building it!
Give Your Time, Heart, and Care!
Want to give but can’t do so financially? There are so many beautiful ways to give! Offer your time, your heart, and your care to people from all places.
Arts Community (Mondays, 6:30pm): We’re looking for a music teacher who loves to share creativity and joy.
Kids Adelante and Latino ESL (Thursdays, 6:30pm): We need dedicated volunteers to teach English to students, young and old.
Youth Club (Wednesdays, 6:30pm): We’re seeking mentors who want to walk alongside teens, encourage them, and share life together.
Sign up here to be a part of what God is doing! ❤️