(This is from a vigil that took place on Tuesday, July 21st, celebrating the life of Agustin Gudino, a farm worker who died four years ago because of a lack of shade and water out in the farms)
As we stood under the oppressive heat, for the first time, I felt as if the sun was physically pressing on my chest and shoulders. In my mind, I cursed its debilitating effects! Then, I realized, I was given but a glimpse of an agonizing film detailing the pain Agustin Gudino suffered when his body succumbed to the weight of the sun’s pressure.
It was amazing to see the role that clergy and others played in the vigil. As MC, Rev. Frank Alton delivered such fluid transitions, one would have thought he practiced endlessly in front of a mirror! CLUE summer intern, Nina Fernando, wrote and performed Agustin’s eulogy in the form of a song. She highlighted and, therefore, dramatized an emotional rendition of the circumstances of Agustin’s work conditions that left him feeling silenced and invisible to those around him. Rev. Dan Gibson led a solemn moment of silence to remember Agustin’s life as CLUE organizer, Steve Holt, held a thurible that released the smell of incense into the humid air. Rev. Gibson’s words helped achieve the tone and atmosphere CLUE staff were hoping to create. Rev. Elizabeth Gibbs-Zehnder and Pastor Bridie Roberts helped set a reverent yet resolute remembrance of the other 14 farm workers that have died in the field of California due to heat exhaustion. Friends continued to approach me after the vigil to praise the duet of Loaves and Fishes sung by Rev. David Farley and Jonathon (a young boy from Rev. Farley’s congregation). What a powerful image it gave birth to! Rev. Frank Wulf and Rev. Daisy Ho took turns reciting the “Prayer of the Faithful.” Their connection to the words was not glanced over! Their words helped the crowd develop a mental picture of what the reality we are hoping for looks like! Rev. Sandie Richards spoke with such conviction that my eyes welled up as she delivered the Call to Continue in the Struggle. It was obvious that her heartfelt words were the product of a deep personal connection to Sr. Gudino’s story, achieved only through concentrated, deliberate contemplation. Rabbi Jonathon Klein spoke with words that inspired members of the crowd to look toward the future with hopeful eyes and compassionate hearts! The vigil would not have been complete without the Farm Worker’s song, De Colores!
Smiling,
Lydia Brown
CLUE summer intern
P.S. For anyone who’s interested, there will be another vigil for the farmworkers, next Tuesday, July 28th. This is the last (and the largest!) of 15 vigils that the National Farm Worker Ministry has put together over the summer to celebrate and lift up the lives of those who have died in the fields. For more information, feel free to contact Lydia at lydiabrown@cluela.org. And, if you want to see some more pictures:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e6f0d532b5abc284&sid=0AbtG7Vo5aNmT0o
