“Society for Migrant Work Publishes Annual Report” from the August 27, 1963 Door County Advocate
Society for Migrant Work Publishes Annual Report
The Door County Christian Society for Migrant Work has published its annual report, as follows in part:
We, of the migrant Ministry, wish to express our sincere appreciation to all of you, our co-workers, who have made our work possible by your gifts of clothing, supplies, and financing. Most of all, we appreciate the prayers and moral support you have given for us and to us. Again, we wish to thank the local growers in whose camps we were able to work, through their consent and cooperation.
The staff headquarters this year were the Hope Congregational Church of Sturgeon Bay and the First Baptist Church of Sister Bay. We are deeply thankful to these two churches for their understanding and cooperation. Without the liberal cooperation of all participating churches of Door County, our ministry would have been impossible.
The following parts of this report have been written by individuals on the staff, and are printed here as they were handed to us with only slight editing. We hope that as you read these reports by those who have participated, you will share their feelings toward the migrant work.
John Wiers
Grand Rapids, Michigan
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
One of the main goals this year was to have a “Christ-centered” program for our migrants. In order to present the Gospel of Christ to them, various means were used. One of the most important was the Sunday night Spanish service, held at 7:30 in the Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay and at the Sister Bay Moravian Church. This was a new experience for the Northern Staff and proved to be very rewarding. These services were well-attended and enjoyed by the migrants. On one Sunday afternoon a service was also held in a Negro camp.
On WDOR, the Sturgeon Bay radio station, every Sunday morning from 9:35-10:00 a.m., a Spanish service was conducted by Jose Kerekes with assistance from Serafin Hernandez. These services were appreciated by many migrants who had no other chance to go to church.
Religious movies, such as “Birth of a Savior” and “The Prodigal Son” were shown during family nights. Migrants loved these movies and wished to see others like them. The family nights then ended in prayer led by one of the staff members. In many camps there was group singing followed by a short passage of Scripture and prayer. Often a pastor would give a short talk and read from the Bible.
Every Sunday afternoon in Sturgeon Bay, two hours were set aside in which to hold a religious service in the jail. Visitations were also made at other times and it helped the migrants to know there was someone who cared enough to visit them and hold a service with them.
One of the most effective means of serving these people was through visitation and in dividual ministry. In many instances Bibles and religious materials were given to the people, either upon request or whenever it was felt that it would be useful to them.
Migrants were also given transportation to church on Sunday mornings and evenings whenever needed.
Leslie Leppla
New Berlin, Wisconsin
Serafin Hernandez
Del Rio, Texas
RECREATION
The migrant ministry has many different avenues by which to reach the migrant people. One of these is recreation. This helps to develop with each person who participates a cooperative spirit, good sportsmanship, and a sense of personal worth and responsibility. Recreation also alleviates the tension that has built up during the day.
During the day we went to the camps and brought toys to the children who were too young to go into the orchards. They responded well to our coming and enjoyed playing with the cars, trucks, dolls, puzzles, and other games. This was a time when we could grow close to the children and build warm friendship upon mutual trust and love. This friendship was a definite aid also in becoming better acquainted with the parents.
Our evening program in the camps, the “Family Night,” included activities for all ages. The toys were again brought out for the children, while teenagers and adults joined in volleyball or softball. Organized team sports helped to release pent-up emotions in a wholesome way. Team-mates became friends without regard to language barriers and divergent backgrounds. During this time we could visit with individuals and families. Through talking with the people we become aware of their personal needs, and developed firm foundations of concern. Many times this was the door to the deeper, inner spiritual lives of these people. At dusk we would set up our projector to show two or three movies. One would be a cartoon, health film, or western and the other a religious film. The religious film was always shown last, to set the tone for an inspirational talk over a portion of Scripture and then to climax the evening with prayer. The people enjoyed the movies immensely and this was a valuable tool in presenting Christ to them.
Every Thursday night a “Teen Night” was held at the First Methodist Church in Sturgeon Bay. The games and refreshments attracted a good number of teen-agers each week. One teen night featured a marshmallow roast in Sunset Park. Here, around a blazing bonfire, 80 young people joined in singing and fellowship.
Henry Lunde
Osage, Iowa
PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Migrant Ministry Missile a weekly bulletin introduced as part of our public relations program last year, was successfully continued this season. Each week, over 3000 copies of the Missile went out to the participating churches of Door County. The Missile carried news of the various aspects of our program: the Spanish services, schools, clothing sales, radio broadcasts, health reports, and recreational activities. This bulletin was valuable both in keeping interested organizations informed and also in reaching volunteers and others willing to offer their time and possessions to further the work.
The Public Relations program also included close personal co-operation with several churches which kindly invited staff members to share their experiences with the entire congregation, women’s organizations, and youth groups. Such hospitality and interest were indeed received with gratitude.
Concern for our program grew in other areas of the community. Hospital and jail visitation were carried on with the help of local authorities. The library of Sturgeon Bay was most helpful in securing Spanish and English films of value. Merchants and townspeople were often interested in finding out about the work and in offering their assistance.
Caryl Richter
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
EDUCATION
The educational aspect of our program was carried out in many camps. Schools varied from inclusive “Escuelitas” or little schools were very well attended. One successful program was conducted within a large tent. Here children from four camps were transported to the school in the co-op camp. The largest daily program was at the Nickolai camp where twenty-five to forty children gathered every morning to hear and discuss a Bible story. Each story was from a series we prepared from the life of Christ. Even the little children were attentive and interested in the big Bible pictures and flannel graph objects we used for illustrations. The Bible story was followed with prayer & Scripture verses pertaining to the story were given to everyone. Favorite songs during singing time were “Jesus Loves Me,” “Fishers of Men”, and “Yo Tengo Gozo”. A lunch of milk and graham crackers was served after prayer.
The children loved the surprise of a different craft activity every day. While the preschool youngsters played with the toys, the older children were instructed in the language arts, reading, and numbers. The boys and girls appreciated the pencils and tablets given to them for school use. The exchange of warm friendship while working with these children was a precious experience.
Dorothy Wiers
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Linda De Jong
Orange City, Iowa
RADIO WORK
One of the most important parts of our ministry was the radio program. This program was broadcast in Spanish on WDOR in Sturgeon Bay. Every evening from 6:30-7.00 p.m. the migrant families could listen to Mexican music. The program was a great success. Many requests for special dedications were received, but it was impossible to meet these requests because of lack of time.
Our radio work would not have been complete without our religious service program which was broadcast on Sunday morning, from 9:35-10:00. The service included a Bible reading, hymns, and a short sermon. Our soloist was Miss Marlys Gortmaker and the pianist, Leslie Leppla. Thanks to them, our religious program was a complete success.
With our radio program we were able to reach a great number of the migrant families, giving them a time of relaxation and joy listening to the music they like and giving them the opportunity to hear the word of God.
Jose Kerekes
Mexico City
HEALTH
Maintaining and promoting good health was a constant challenge. In our work in the migrant camps this year we found many who needed medical care, and some who required immediate medical attention. We also found others who needed assistance and counseling in various health and sanitation problems during their temporary stay here.
During the five weeks of work in Door County the entire staff had many occasions to help the migrants receive needed medical care. The following are only a few examples of this aspect of our health program:
Mrs.—is a diabetic. During her stay here in Door County she developed tonsillitis which required hospitalization. We tried to help her to learn and understand how to care for herself with her specific condition.
Elizabeth, a four year old, was taken to the doctor to be treated for swollen glands and infected scalp.
A lady who had gall bladder infection was taken to the doctor. The doctor prescribed medication, and a hot water bottle was purchased for her treatment.
Mrs. — who was expecting her third child was taken to the doctor for a physical check up.
Several children were taken to the clinic for various conditions such as carbuncles, skin and ear infections, diarrhea and cuts.
In the visits to the many camps we found children and adults who had chickenpox, measles, colds, infected sores, malnutrition and other conditions common among these people. Each of these problems was different and was treated according to the situation.
Another aspect of the health program was the distribution of health kits, contributed by church groups, to approximately 450 children in 11 different camps. Before the children received them the nurse gave a short health talk concerning the articles in the kits. The children were thrilled to have something belonging specifically to them, something which they really needed. One little boy said he had never had a toothbrush before. Children who were missed in the camp also asked for health kits, but we did not have sufficient supplies to reach all who needed them. Many more could have been used.
Fourteen mothers who had newborn babies, or were expecting a baby soon, were given layettes. Often when these mothers received their layettes there was an opportunity to teach them infant care and the importance of regular physical checkups.
Visiting the sick and the new mothers in the hospital proved to be an interesting and rewarding experience. The migrants seemed to enjoy the company and it presented an opportunity to help meet their needs emotionally and spiritually, as well as physically.
Good health also was promoted in follow-up work, by encouraging good sanitation habits and by showing health films on family nights.
Our nurse this year replaces Mrs. Ruth Busche who has been with us for several years. Miss Ruth Brye also gave valuable assistance in our ministry this summer.
Mildred Jackson (R.N.)
Olathe, Colorado
CLOTHING SALES
Again this year thrift sales at which the migrants could buy used clothing were held on Saturday afternoons. These were made possible by the combined efforts of people across the state who donated used clothing, the United Church, Women of Door County, and the Migrant Ministry Staff. The women organized and worked at the sales while the staff transported the clothing and also assisted when extra help was needed.
This year six sales were held in the county: four in Sturgeon Bay and two in Sister Bay. Not only do they provide necessities for the migrants at a price they can afford to pay, but also the proceeds aro returned to the treasury to be used for migrant work.
John Holmquist, Director
VOLUNTEERS
Toby Wilson, Fron Stroebel, Susan Vail, Carrie Mayhew, Susan Hardin, Julie Foote, Patricia Rowe, Sharon Herman, Linda King, Phyllis Berk, Norma Bennings, Christina Cleeland, Ann Hamilton, Susan Olsen, Ruth Newman, Susan Foote, Fran Vail, Mrs. Frahm, Karen Halbert, Helen Purinton, Barbara Rusche, Teresa Torres, David Logerquist, Shirley John, Mary Hanson, Debbie Sheets, and Rachel Martinez.
SUMMER STAFF MEMBERS
John Holmquist, Sharon Holmquist, Leslie Leppla, Laurie Johnson, Serafin Hernandez, Caryl Richter, Lana Busche, Jose Kerekes, Robert Schmidt, Henry Lunde, John Wiers, Dorothy Wiers, Linda DeJong, Mildred Jackson, and Marlys Gortmaker.
PARTICIPATING MINISTERS
Merling Goehring, E.U.B. of Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and Gibraltar. L. Jacobson, Baileys Harbor Lutheran, Juddville, Ephraim, James Campbell, Sister Bay Baptist, Richard Heins, Sister Bay and Ellison Bay Lutheran, Fred Miller, Ellison Bay Baptist, James Dittmer, Sister Bay Moravian, Wendell Eastman, Friends of Sturgeon Bay, John Holmquist, Assembly of God of Sturgeon Bay, Warren Sautebin, Moravian of Sturgeon Bay, Paul Mekkelson, Sawyer Methodist and First Methodist of Sturgeon Bay, Myron Medin, Bay View Lutheran of Sturgeon Bay, Richard Iwick, Episcopal of Sturgeon Bay, Phillip Fretheim, Tanum-Forest Lutheran, Robert Rully, Congregational of Sturgeon Bay, R.C. Sleiter, First Baptist of Sturgeon Bay, and Jerry Eckert, Methodist of Algoma
MIGRANT STATISTICS
The following figures, compiled by the Sturgeon Bay office of the Wisconsin Employment Service, show the total number of migrants in the county during the summer of 1963, and do not include children under 14-16 years of age, only workers. Texas Mexicans 2649, Southern Negro 1186, Indian 210, and Anglo 40. Total 4085.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Jesus Loves Me: https://www.hymnsite.com/baptist/tbh344-jesus-loves-me.shtml
Fishers of Men: https://dltk-bible.com/fishers_of_men.htm
Yo tengo gozo (I have joy): https://spanish411.net/SpanishSongbook/Yo-Tengo-Gozo.asp
Articles about missionaries
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/missionaries