When Voices Are Raised

Harlingen, Texas, August 10, 2008: What do a retired singer, a retired postmaster, a community relations director, and three teachers have to do with easing tensions in a troubled world?  On the grand scale of things, perhaps not very much.  But, for the people this group comes in contact with, the experience can be powerful indeed.

Known as Voces de Salvacion, this evangelical musical group travels across South Texas and Northern Mexico.  Their music, which is primarily Christian Gospel, is performed before audiences both large and small.  They sang before a women’s conference in Matamoros, Mexico and a Thanksgiving festival in Weslaco, Texas. They performed in Brownsville, Texas following a major Charro Days event.  With their hometown of Brownsville suffering the devistation of Hurricane Dolly, they performed a four-hour concert for people who needed the comfort of voices raised in praise.  They also regularly visit the residents of a long term care facility for individuals suffering from mental retardation, just to bring the lightness of music into the lives of many who have little in the way of entertainment.

What is so special about Voces de Salvacion is the group has been together for more than 15 years, traveled long distances to provide a ministry of music and they do everything at their own expense.  Travel, equipment, meals, everything is paid by the members.  There are no expense payments expected from their audiences or the organizations and events where they play.  There are no fees and no ticket sales.  At the “Fun Days” where they now perform monthly for residents at the state operated Rio Grande State Center/South Texas Health Care System, they call themselves The DJ Group and even create party themes such as “Stars and Stripes Forever” or “A Day at the Beach” At those parties they provide prizes such as sun glasses, purses, baseball caps, t-shirts and other items they have either collected from the community or donated themselves.

The group’s lead singer is Raul Torres, a retired Tejano star who formerly was a member of the Latin Society Band and Los Malos.  He has also been inducted into the Tejano Hall of Fame. Harmonizing with him are Al and Ellie Santa Ana.  Al is a retired postmaster and his wife Ellie is a health care community relations director. Carlos Fernandez is their keyboard artist and works as a music teacher.  Two more teachers make up the remainder of the group.  Elsa Torres is their manager and musical arranger, while Joe Beltran serves as the equipment manager.  Voces de Salvacion has recorded three CDs and a fourth will be released in November 2008.

Al Santa Ana, acting as a spokesman says, “We participate at concerts, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and most any event where we are invited.  Our music is in English or Spanish and has a new twist on the Latin beat.  We are known for harmonics and a progressive, contemporary sound.”

When asked why they have given so freely of their music for so many years, Santa Ana says, “We see a great need to provide for those who are less fortunate.  We are truly blessed in our personal lives and we want to pass that blessing to those around us.”

In these days of great national and international anxiety, six people traveling around the southmost corner of the United States might not add up too much in the grand scheme of things. Those who flock to hear the music are of a different mindset.  The roaring applause received, the cries of “Great!!” say this music is important. Even a woman calling out “Where have you guys been all my life?” These things say the singers are reaching people who are enriched by the sounds.  Voces de Salvacion members have been raising their voices and doing God’s work for 15 years…but, people still want to hear more.  And this is all happening in a country secularists tell us is turning away from The Word.

Hurricanes and Politicians

Harlingen, Texas, August 2, 2008:  When a hurricane is battering down your fence, ripping shingles off your roof, ending all electric service and providing more rainfall than you normally see in a year…politics are not even part of your thinking process.  This was the case with me and a few hundred thousand of my closest friends, as a storm called Dolly came knocking on the front door of Cameron County in Deep South Texas.

We all hunkered down as winds were gusting to more than 120 miles per hour reminding everyone of nature’s power.  Then the hurricane was gone and one by one people came into their yards to see everything from minor tree damage to complete devistation.  It was also became time to start lending a helping hand.

As I started piling the broken shards from fallen trees at the front of my property, it was neighbors who came to my aid.  There came Windy from next door to help move the brush.  Her toddler Ellie pitched in, doing her share to carry twigs to the pile.  Even Ellie’s grandmother Yolanda was there working a rake to clear up debris.  And there was no FEMA in sight.  There were no federal, state, county, or city officials.  There were just handful of neighbors, helping out.

At Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church, a third of the fellowship hall roof was missing and gaping holes shined through into a destroyed interior.  The sewer system from the local hospital had failed and sewage was flooding the front lawn of the church.  The sign in front of the sanctuary was destroyed.  There was water damage everywhere.  But, that could wait.  The people were busy checking on each other, offering help or shelter when it was needed.  And the pastor sent a newsletter to all members.  This month we would be donating peanut butter and jelly to the local food bank.

They tell me our national guard was on hand to assist where needed and I did see a lot of trucks lined up in the mall parking lot.  As far as those massive government helping hands our politicians always promise but seldom produce, they seemed to be missing in action.  With more than 200,000 homes and businesses without electricity, I did see dozens upon dozens of electric company workers from across Texas and neighboring states, all laboring around the clock to restore power.  They were on the job non-stop to start our healing process.

Now, a week after Dolly, things are somewhat back to normal for most of us.  The city did pick up my tree debris yesterday.  The roofers are coming on Monday…and oh yes, I saw FEMA last night.  Their on-site official was explaining how we need to be patient and do that mountain of paperwork, which will be processed by Washington some time this millennium.

As for who is helping the people?  I see the local Loaves and Fishes operation run by the Ministerial Alliance ever faithful at sheltering the homeless and providing hot meals.  The Red Cross has been busy offering assistance.  The Salvation Army has been everywhere, dong everything.  Even the local CBS television station has been running a food drive.  I still haven’t seen a politician wading in some of our waste deep water.

This would have been a perfect opportunity from Obama to roll up his shirtsleeves and slap on a pair of waders…walk the colonias and lament how the Bush Administration had again failed.  But, he was too busy talking bout how the Republicans think he has a funny name and doesn’t look like the presidents on the one and five dollar bills.

This would have been a perfect time for McCain to hold another town hall meeting, hear the stories of storm victims and remind us that the Democrats in Congress went home on vacation without passing an oil-drilling bill.  But, he was too busy comparing Obama to a couple of pop tarts. while lamenting the race card being played.

When a hurricane rages, nobody cares a glob of spit about politicians.  In the aftermath of a hurricane nobody cares about dirty campaign ads, political gottchas, phony campaign promises, or what bills have or haven’t passed Congress.  They care that the roof getting repaired, the lights staying on, the trash being collected…. and insurance adjusters arriving in a timely manner.

It might be a good idea for everyone in elected office to note what takes place in a community after a storm.  It also might be a good idea for them to roll up those shirtsleeves and put on those waders.  Then they might get some idea of those basic quality of life issues that matter to all Americans.