Sarah Quezada
Sarah Quezada's Blog
Getting Into School / Jul 6, 12:28 PM
I sat in my hairdresser’s dining room, while she snipped at my hair and talked about her son. “We applied to several schools,” she told me. “He didn’t get into the one I was really hoping for, but we’ve settled on one that I think he’ll be happy in.” She went on, discussing demographics of the school and the academic rigor that students are expected to endure. It reminded me of another recent conversation with a friend who admitted that her daughter’s search for an educational institution was bringing her great stress. Her child had been waitlisted at several different schools and this mom was becoming concerned about the limited options remaining.
Oh, did I mention that these are both 5-year olds?
Public education in Atlanta is in such desperation that many parents are scrambling to get their children into private or charter schools that make promises of better options. My next door neighbor recently informed me that after having her daughter in our neighborhood school this past year, she is transferring her to a charter school nearby. Why? “She never needs help with her homework anymore,” she told me. She explained that her daughter was not being challenged and that young teachers allow the children to run the classrooms.
This educational situation breaks my heart. Living in solidarity with the poor means that this issue will affect my family as well. My husband and I are expecting our first child in December, and my hairdresser joked that I should go ahead and sign him or her up for the waiting list of the school I desire. That is distressing.. even if it is a joke. Also, these in-demand schools are becoming more elite. One requires a 3.0 GPA after the 3rd grade. Seriously?! That’s a lot of pressure for an 8-year old. Furthermore, only the public schools are serviced by the local buses. So, if I choose to sign my child up for a charter school… and then assuming he or she “gets in” and then doesn’t fall behind in grades… then I will have to drive my little student to school every day for their entire school life. As one who walked to school, as well as rode the “cheesewagon,” I think it’s an important part of growing up (even though I complained at the time). There’s also an interesting phenomenon occurring where parents swap schools… if they have a complaint, or if the school they “really want” becomes available. How does that affect stability and commitment to a school family?
While these issues concern me, the real disturbing question is “What about the rest of my neighbors?” What about the ones without transportation to go anywhere else? What about the kids whose parents can’t drive them to school because of work schedules? Or what about the children whose parents are struggling and cannot commit to getting more involved in their kid’s education? What will happen to them? What will happen to my neighborhood school, especially as more and more engaged parents transfer their children? One of the beautiful aspects of the U.S. is our value of education and the desire to make it available to all children… regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, location, etc. But that goal is not being met. The kids in my neighborhood are not being given a true education… at least not one comparable to other parts of the country. This must change.
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observations / Jun 23, 12:53 PM
Characteristics of God I’m reminded of at the beach:
God is rhythmic and orderly, but never predictable.
God is peaceful, but not safe.
God is restorative and rejuvenates us.
God is vast, bigger than I can fathom.
God is moving and full of life.
Characteristics of God I’m reminded of in the city:
God is diverse and carries boundless creativity.
God is surprise beauty around every corner.
God is ever-present among the poor and hurting.
God is able… to carry all suffering, joy, pain, and delight.
God is moving and full of life.
Relationships / Jun 10, 02:53 PM
Three Relationships that Inspired Me to Care about Faith, Poverty, Justice, and Action:
1. Jesus Christ – I guess you could call this cliché, but I would say that it’s not. There are definitely folks who love Jesus who are reluctant to move into realms of justice and action. My love for Jesus encouraged me, even at a very young age, to reach out to others and tell them about Jesus. It seemed like a logical response to me. As I’ve continued to learn about social systems, compassion, and justice, my relationship with Jesus still influences my heart and my responses.
2. Deidra & Taylor – This mother and son duo were my neighbors during Mission Year (names changed). They introduced me to poverty in the U.S. by inviting me into their home, sharing with me their food, and asking for my help to fill out forms since neither one could read. Their welcoming love blessed me beyond measure. And seeing the challenges that they faced began to stir my mind and heart about issues like health care, housing, public transit, and education. Big name “issues” were no longer abstracts… they affected people that I loved.
3. Billy – I never cared much or even knew much about immigration until I married a Guatemalan with an expired visa. His charismatic, Latin faith background expanded my view of God to One who performs miracles, heals, and has awesome power. His life growing up middle-class in a third-world country pushed me outside of U.S. poverty to address issues on a global scale: fair trade, farmers’ rights, migrant workers, and globalization.
I am thankful that caring for the poor is garnering a lot of attention and support in evangelical circles. Many people are being inspired by books and are serving in numerous organizations that do incredible work throughout the U.S. and the world. However, I worry that many are latching onto “issues” or “projects” and are still missing those relationships that make something truly stick to your heart. If you are stirred by a book or moved by the work of an organization, fantastic! But I encourage you to spend the time and energy to create relationships. It takes a lot of both and often doesn’t produce “feel good” results in a timely fashion. Still, in our microwave society, I must continue to push for relationship building. Fighting for issues will, I believe, only make you bitter, self-righteous, and angry. Caring for people will bless you and sustain you through the difficulties of walking alongside them in this life.
with this ring... / Jun 2, 12:45 PM
I lost my wedding ring…. last fall at our nationwide orientation for Mission Year. It was a hot, sticky Atlanta September, and I had gotten into the habit of taking off my ring whenever I arrived at a stable location. (It turns out that as I near 30, my fingers have begun to swell when it’s hot… next stop: aching knees when it rains.) Unfortunately, I wasn’t as dedicated to the habit of putting it back on before I left that location. I checked with the team members who had cleaned up after orientation. I called the campgrounds where we’d been… but no one had seen it.
Thankfully, my husband chose not to read anything into this upsetting accident, and for that I am grateful. And looking back, I am also thankful that I only spent a hundred bucks on my wedding ring. I mean, a hundred dollars is nothing to toss in the garbage, but when I consider the money and financing behind many engagement/wedding rings, I am relieved that mine was not in that category. After all, at the time, I’d only even had the ring about two years. Can you imagine?
Living simply is something lots of folks are talking about and striving for these days, and that encourages my heart. Oftentimes, however, our weddings and engagements don’t reflect our values, particularly the one of simplicity. As conflict diamonds have gained more attention, some have begun to consider how our rings can stay true to what we believe, but I also encourage you to extend these considerations into your marriage ceremony as well. Websites estimate the average wedding costs $20,000. I just want to be a voice saying, “That’s not necessary!” There are hundreds of creative ways not just to cut costs, but to do things completely differently. One choice we made for our celebration was to forego the three-tiered wedding cake and just have a table of different flavors of delicious cakes. Varying heights of cake stands gave a beautiful presentation. We saved countless dollars, and we still have people tell us it was the best cake they’d had at a wedding – and they got to sample several flavors.
As the calendar flips to June, wedding season is in full swing. Enjoy the celebrations of marriage! But for those in the throes of the commercial madhouse, feel free to step back and make different choices – decisions that incorporate your values. After all, two years later you may find yourself buying another ring anyway!
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hello there, neighbor / May 28, 10:32 AM
I’ve lived in quirky urban neighborhoods for so many years that sometimes I wonder if my experiences are typical in most of America or simply reserved for my crazy corner of the world. But this morning I realized that my neighbors and I see each other in our pajamas quite frequently. I was thinking about this as I was sitting on my porch in my slept in t-shirt and sweats while eating my breakfast. I had already seen my next door neighbor in her nightgown and housecoat when we both stepped outside to find out why the dogs were going ballistic. I’ve seen another neighbor moments after rising, and just yesterday, I saw her personal items drying on the back porch.
Perhaps this phenomenon is the result of being a home owner as opposed to living in an apartment. We all have a little piece of land to call our own, so we don’t mind being on it unbathed and comfortable, even if others can see us. Or perhaps it’s related to the fact that in the five houses nearest us, I’m pretty sure my husband is the only adult man. There’s a subtle feeling of a girl’s dorm that might allow a sense of freedom. Or maybe the reality is simply that being a neighbor is a relationship that is naturally intimate, even though sometimes we try to pretend that we can quietly and nonchalantly co-exist.
This façade of independence generally fades right away when problems arise. I very politely try to ask my neighbor to spend $1,000 to trim a tree on her property that has grown over my house. The right storm could send it crashing through my roof. Someone complains that I allow my guest to park in my yard. (I won’t get into it here, but I will simply say that there was a reason – that is not my normal plan of action.) We may each have our own plot of land to call home, but our actions affect each other, and sometimes we have to say something.
But this geographic intimacy also, I believe, strengthens a community. I don’t consider myself nosey (maybe I am), but I do notice what’s happening on my street. We’ve called police at least three times when we witnessed teenagers trying to break into abandoned houses. I’m generally aware when kids on my block are home alone or being watched by an older sibling, and I tend to lend an eye as well. The proximity also allows for simple, natural ways to interact and show care for each other. Birthday balloons on a mailbox lead to a conversation about a cousin’s birthday party. A rare and exciting Atlanta snowstorm spurs my neighbor to bring my husband and me cupcakes while we build a snowman. The presence of fire fighters next door urge me to follow up with my neighbor, who tells me she accidentally covered a hot lamp with a blanket and started a small fire. These developing friendships come because we’re neighbors and we’re ever present witnesses to the lives of those around us. And slowly, we begin to allow our lives to overlap and interact together.
When I consider these relationships in the context of ministry, I see that our neighbor status is very important. Some of my neighbors work too much and are too busy to get involved in meetings and outreach events. Still, I see them on a regular basis and look out for those moments when we can know each other more. And I have a neighbor or two that are actually quite difficult to get along with and have left programs when they had friction with others there. But they can’t get away from me – I’m right down the street. They still have to see me and interact with me… and I with them. And these relationships stretch me… and them.
Thinking about neighbors in this way reminds me of the value of relational ministry, like what Mission Year team members do. It’s hard to calculate. It’s difficult to pull statistics on how many hours were spent doing “outreach” or how many people were affected by your “ministry.” It’s living life together and keeping eyes open to where the Spirit is working in your life and in your neighbors. It’s seeking to be available. It’s seeking to be a Christian of integrity who is consistent in their behavior, attitude, and actions at home as they are in church. Sometimes it’s messy… okay, maybe a lot of times it’s messy. But it’s authentic, and I believe it’s what Christ has called us to do: to love our neighbors as ourselves.
