As I was leaving our Hope Center celebration, the moon was full behind a high palm tree and someone was blasting a Spanish version of "I Just Called to Say I Love You". It had been one of those perfect moments you can't plan:  smiling community leaders, weeping volunteers, chocolate faced kids, a full moon, and pretend Stevie Wonder. These are the moments I live for. If I believed in the stars aligning it would be the alignment of stars. But I don't. I believe in grace. I believe in power.

I believe in the power of the grace of Christ to align the hearts of a Newport Beach debutante, an Oregon country girl, an ex-Mexican political campaigner, a handful of housewives, and college students and cocky teenage Mexican Americans. Only Jesus could bring this group together.  And He did. 

There we were crammed into an apartment, glowing in the joy of having achieved a dream, of having opened this community center. As I walked toward home to the oompah of the Mexican Stevie Wonder, I reflected on the evening. There was Eric, the professional tutor who shows up twice a week to tutor Freddy, Juliet, the MissionYear graduate, who shared her cake with me. Then Andy, the faithful volunteer read a note from his student and looked up with tears in his eyes saying, "That's the best thing anyone could have given me." Juana bragged about her healthy salad and Claudia fretted if there would be enough food.

Then there was America. America, the beautiful, the woman of grace who links us between languages and cultures. America, who confidently introduces herself and graciously thanks all who participate. She represents our hope. All our hope--the moms want a daughter like her, the tutors want a student like her, the leaders want a disciple like her. She is who we want other kids to grow up to be- one who loves Jesus, who loves the community, who graduated from college and works hard. She is our hope. She is also undocumented.

So this Sunday when 100,000 people March for America in Washington DC, it carries multiple meanings for me and my community. We need Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America, for the health of our country. And we need Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America, my neighbor, because she is exactly the kind of person I want leading our city. So take action for America. Send a petition to our lawmakers. Stand with immigrants by posting the picture here to your Facebook profile. Now is the time.  America should not have to wait any longer.