Celebration

Celebrating our new citizens

Celebrating Citizenship Student Success at Mission Adelante 

by Veronica Garcia, ESL Manager


Leading the Citizenship program at Mission Adelante is extremely rewarding. Each Tuesday I see students walk in that are ready to learn and accomplish something incredible. At Mission Adelante’s Citizenship program, students are learning civics, history, and practicing their English with the volunteers. If you don’t already know, to become a naturalized citizen, you have to be a permanent resident for at least 5 years. Once you start the naturalization application process, you have to learn 100 civics questions. One hundred civics questions about the history of a different country AND in your second language? That sounds difficult- and it is. A lot of the volunteers admit they don’t even know the answers to the questions when they first begin with us. 

Despite all this difficulty, I want to proudly share that we have had 4 people this year pass their Citizenship exam and interview. 

Nancy, Juan, and Elvira are students that have been attending regularly the last few trimesters. I met Nancy when I first started at Mission Adelante last August, Juan began attending classes in January, and Elvira began attending classes at the end of May. The dedication and perseverance these students showed every week was amazing to watch. They became more confident in their English and developed beautiful friendships with their teachers.

Elvira and her document saying that she passed!

Nancy passed her exam on June 1st! This is her at her ceremony.

Juan celebrating with his family

Juan and Elvira passed on the same day, October 25th. There was a lot of celebrating in the volunteer group chat that day!

Another person I helped personally is named Conchita. She needed help practicing for the English portion of the naturalization interview. I met with her weekly to go over her application and practice what to say to the USCIS officer when they interview her. She passed the English portion on September 26! 

Let’s celebrate together the amazing success of these four individuals and what they accomplished in 2023. Please keep the other students in the citizenship program in your prayers. They are all working very hard. I am so honored to be a part of this program! 

Celebrando el Éxito de los Estudiantes de Ciudadanía en Mission Adelante

Liderar el programa de Ciudadanía en Mission Adelante es sumamente gratificante. Cada martes veo a estudiantes que están listos para aprender y lograr algo increíble. En el programa de Ciudadanía de Mission Adelante, los estudiantes están aprendiendo civismo, historia y practicando su inglés con los voluntarios. Si aún no lo sabes, para convertirse en ciudadano naturalizado, deben ser residentes permanentes durante al menos 5 años. Una vez que inician el proceso de solicitud de naturalización, deben aprender 100 preguntas de civismo. Cien preguntas de civismo sobre la historia de otro país y en su segundo idioma. Eso suena difícil, y lo es. Muchos de los voluntarios admiten que ni siquiera conocen las respuestas a las preguntas cuando comienzan con nosotros.

A pesar de todas estas dificultades, quiero compartir con orgullo que este año hemos tenido a 4 personas que aprobaron su examen y entrevista de Ciudadanía.

Nancy, Juan y Elvira son estudiantes que han estado asistiendo regularmente durante los últimos trimestres. Conocí a Nancy cuando comencé en Mission Adelante en agosto pasado, Juan comenzó a asistir a clases en enero, y Elvira comenzó a asistir a clases a finales de mayo. La dedicación y perseverancia que mostraron estos estudiantes cada semana fue increíble de ver. Se volvieron más seguros en su inglés y desarrollaron hermosas amistades con sus profesores.

Nancy aprobó su examen el 1 de junio, Juan y Elvira aprobaron el mismo día, el 25 de octubre. ¡Hubo mucha celebración en el grupo de voluntarios ese día!

Otra persona a la que ayudé personalmente se llama Conchita. Necesitaba ayuda practicando la parte en inglés de la entrevista de naturalización. Me reuní con ella semanalmente para repasar su solicitud y practicar lo que debía decir al oficial del USCIS cuando la entrevistaron. ¡Aprobó la parte en inglés el 26 de septiembre!

Celebremos juntos el increíble éxito de estas cuatro personas y lo que lograron en el 2023. Por favor, mantengan en sus oraciones a los demás estudiantes del programa de ciudadanía. Todos están trabajando muy duro. ¡Es un honor para mí ser parte de este programa!

Be part of our programs!

 We are so excited to start our fall programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our volunteer Orientation. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Easter around the world

Easter around the world.

by Luis Magana, Partner Engagement Director

Easter is here, and for us it's a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the holiday is celebrated in many different ways across different cultures and countries, what matters most is the reason behind the celebration.


In the US, many families (including mine) attend special church services and have brunch or supper with their loved ones, while others prefer to combine traditions like Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny. In Latin America, Easter is known as Semana Santa, a week-long celebration with elaborate procession and parades. Often in Hispanic cultures,  schools and many offices close for the week for people to celebrate by spending time with family and friends. In Ethiopia, Fasika is celebrated with a 55-day fasting period followed by a massive feast.

Greece has a unique way of celebrating Easter with a week of religious observances leading up to the main event. On Holy Thursday, women dye eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ, and on Holy Saturday, they prepare the traditional lamb meal for Easter Sunday. In Spain, Easter is marked by elaborate processions of statues and figures representing the passion of Christ.

The Philippines observes Holy Week with processions and reenactments of the crucifixion. in Sweden, Easter is celebrated with the lighting of bonfires on Holy Saturday, and in Norway, families gather for a traditional Easter lunch featuring eggs, cured meats, and cheese.

Regardless of how Easter is celebrated around the world, the reason is still the same: to celebrate the resurrection and the hope we find in the Gospel. It's a time to be grateful for the gift of eternal life that was given to us through Jesus. But also, Easter is an opportunity to gather with loved ones, share a meal, and create fun memories.

No matter where you are from or what is your tradition, let’s remember Easter is a celebration of the biggest act of love. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have access directly to God and can receive forgiveness of our sins. Let's take this opportunity to reflect on our faith, express gratitude for all our blessings, and share His love with those around us.

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:5)

Let's be united in faith as we celebrate Easter around the world. Happy Easter from Mission Adelante.

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited to start this year and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us this trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our volunteer Orientation. For more information visit: https://www.missionadelante.org/orientation

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.