On a chilly January morning, 280 people gathered at Holden Convention Center in Gladstone, Ore., in anticipation of welcoming family members they hadn’t seen in 10 or more years. Years before those gathered had immigrated to the United States, leaving loved ones behind.
With the help of the nonprofit Uniendo Corazones (Uniting Hearts) and Hillsboro Spanish Church, these residents of the Portland, Ore., area were able to reconnect with their relatives from afar. By that afternoon, 22 people had landed at Portland International Airport and made the short van ride to the Holden Convention Center for a special welcome celebration organized by the Hillsboro Spanish Church.
Juan Pacheco, Hillsboro Spanish Church pastor, shared a message about the spiritual beauty in reuniting loved ones and the hope of reuniting hearts again at the Second Coming of Jesus. Guests were introduced to cheers, gifts and applause as they reconnected with their families. Throughout their two-week stay, Hillsboro Spanish Church members continued to connect with gifts and care, hoping to make eternal connections with these families.
"We recognize that people in our community need love,” says Pacheco. "One way we express that is to help them reconnect with their loved ones. We’re thankful for the opportunity to express the love of Jesus and love our community well.” The next Welcome Party for foreign guests is being planned for this spring.
