The dream of coming to the United States is a door that will not open for a large majority of migrants, which full of ambitions, hopes and wishes leave their countries of origin in search of the American dream. Unfortunately,time passes and goals are not fulfilled for many of the inhabitants in the countries of Central America. They are left only with the stories of success that abound on the other side of the border. But for Rudy Alberto Galicia, it was not a dream; more than anything, it was the call to serve with the purpose of evangelizing. He claims God handed to him the keys to the border.
"Coming to this country is a dream and I believe that all Latin Americans with economic, political or social limitations, dream of crossing the border, remembering always the greatness of the United States and the opportunities it provides to fulfill the Big Dream. Mine was not perhaps a dream, mine was a call and the call was to serve. My story starts when I get to what is the border, very pretty, very beautiful, God bless our border. I felt God's call so that I could continue my trip. In those years, it was not as risky to walk from one side to the other. Lately, the border has become corrupted and it is very dangerous. Drugs, gangs, which deal with human trafficking, and all those who disappear into the hands of criminals, have made the border crossing towards the US a very dangerous challenge.”
“I knew that here I could continue my work to clean hearts. When God opens doors, no one can close them to you and when God closes doors no one can open them. I think that God opened doors for me, so I could cross freely. I could see the border patrol, but I had the doors open. I started thinking of being on the other side of the border before coming to the United States; land here, land there, there is no border because God taught me: "mine is the Earth and its fullness, mine is the Earth and its fullness".
Rudy was born in El Salvador, in a region called Ahuachapán. He came from a very humble family and at age three he contracted polio in both legs. Since childhood his mother encouraged him to use his mind and body as much as possible. Due to the economic constraints of the family, his development was not the most suitable. In many countries, the polio infection was the most common source of physical disability in children. It is caused by a virus that attacks parts of the spinal cord, damaging only the nerves that control movement.
Rudy explains, "But my illness has not prevented me from exercising the evangelization. My two legs were affected, but not my hands, or mind, which is ready to praise and sanctify the name of the Lord. I think that physical disability is not an obstacle to a human being; in some way or another you're going to survive adversity because it depends on you, it does not depend on others, it depends on your person."
Rudy left El Salvador at the age of twelve, following that call to serve God. Without a wheelchair, there were many times when he had to make his way by crawling. He traveled throughout Central America alone by bus and ended up in Chiapas, Mexico. There, he met a lady who was selling tacos and she gave him his first wheelchair thus giving him the opportunity to move, starting his devotion as a Pastor. For many years he toured all the States of Mexico, bringing the word of God to the poor since, as evangelist and Christian, God has called him to do so. He carries out his work preaching and bringing the Gospel to all people with faith in God, who he professes, has the power to change, transform lives and hearts.
"I come from a family with Christian values and I have always felt the call from our Lord to help others. I crossed to this great country by a blessing of God, and also with the help of men. Men can provide a smile, a plate of food, and a roof over your head. They can help you to get on your wheelchair. We need one another. We call ourselves Christian Evangelical Pentecostal and why Pentecostal? Because we have been called; we are a cult honoring God, glorifying God. We do it with joy, and full of happiness. We don't care if the stove is left on or if the child was left sleeping. What we want is to have the freedom and the time to worship God. All of our time, we give gladly and with a happy heart to our God.What motivates me is faith. If I don't have faith, I think that it is impossible to please God. Part of what provides strength in my legs, in my arms, in my mind is the faith and I come back and I repeat that without faith, you cannot please Him, for he that comes to God will be rewarded. This work that I carry out now, will lead to achieve a crown, the crown of eternal life. To achieve an incorruptible crown, we call it, because I cannot be disenchanted with so many tribulations since I know that something bigger is waiting for me. My mission continues and must continue daily, which is evangelization. Don't forget to lend a hand to those in need, today for them tomorrow for you and never say no. How nice that everything we do, everything in this life has an outcome whether good or bad; it is best to sow the good than the bad."
