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P6
December 2013
“I’m not saying what I’m doing (at Serrano) I couldn’t
do here living on campus, but … I feel it,” Villegas
said. “When you eat, sleep and breathe it – it
becomes you.”
Traveling to Thailand over the summer with a
GCU mission trip solidified Villegas’ decision to
move to Serrano. The trip was his first outside of
the United States. The exposure to Thai culture
revealed to him that God has a heart for everyone,
regardless of social status or geography.
“I get that feeling, I get that yearning here at
Serrano, because I see the nations,” said Villegas,
who lives next door to an Iraqi. Around the
corner, in the community courtyard, groups
of Bhutanese men play cards on an Aladdin-
like carpet as African women cook in an
apartment overhead.
“I see people from all over the world, so I see (God’s)
kingdom there,” he said.
Children of the nations
On Wednesday afternoons, GCU students
volunteer to help children with their homework at a
cramped meeting room at Serrano’s leasing office.
While older refugee children ponder the
difference between speed and velocity, or how to
articulate their responses in English, others fail to
understand how to pronounce basic words such as
“cat” or “dog.” Unlike their American classmates, they
are unable to turn to a parent or sibling for help.
“It has a lot of potential. If Jesse’s able to get a few
more students to come a few times each week,
you’re going to start seeing the kids flourish –
and in their schools, too,” said
Anna Sepic
, a
Phoenix refugee advocate whose family owns and
manages Serrano.
“The fact that Jesse is bringing in students and
working that commitment is filling a huge void,”
Sepic said.
Thursday afternoons are a little looser at
Serrano. GCU students make it a weekly routine
to play games with refugee kids and organize
activities to make them feel connected to their
American neighbors.
Edgar Toledo
, 20, a sophomore who grew up
in Tucson after emigrating from Mexico with
his family when he was 7, said he volunteered at
Serrano to help make a positive impact in the lives
of children.
“It’s all about doing the right thing … just being
friendly and nice to them, getting to know them a
little bit more,” Toledo said.
Like many GCU students, Villegas was inspired
by learning about the struggles of Serrano
residents. The stories of escaping civil wars and
religious persecution, of surviving refugee camps,
seemed even more compelling than those of at-
risk Americans he ministers to in other programs.
Dr. Timothy Larkin
, a GCU sociology professor
whose Social Problems course first introduced
Villegas to Serrano, described the complex as
a “port of entry” into the country for refugees.
It offers students a glimpse into global
justice issues and provides opportunity for
meaningful volunteerism.
“When a student moves from knowledge to social
responsibility, that’s exciting to me,” Larkin said.
“This (campus) can be our lab. Community life
spills over into it. We have an amazing community
around us, and I think we’re just figuring out how
to interact with it.
“We’re not in a bubble (at GCU), which is the case
with some Christian universities. We have a lot of
‘real world’ here.”
Going beyond handouts
Jacob Page
, who oversees GCU’s local and
global outreach, said Villegas has one of the more
remarkable faith stories on campus.
Villegas, a longtime Young Life leader, decided
about three years ago to focus more on his love
for Jesus than his desire to emulate neighborhood
friends caught up in gangs in his native Phoenix. He
saw people arrested and watched his stepfather
sentenced to prison for trafficking drugs.
After arriving at GCU three years ago, Villegas
emerged as a leader – not only in Spiritual Life
efforts, but on campus in general. He is active in
intramural sports and won the coveted title of “Mr.
GCU” in a popular all-male pageant last spring.
Page said he was initially apprehensive when
Villegas suggested leaving Servant Scholars to
live at Serrano. He supported the idea once he
discovered how God had put it on Villegas’ heart.
“I hope it will be an inspiration to other students, to
see that there are opportunities to serve through
GCU in the community – not only to serve, but to
be leaders,” Page said.
Villegas said the programs he spearheaded at
Serrano are “not a handout, not an event, not a one-
day workshop” and are designed “to really invest in
the potential that’s there” to help residents become
more self-sufficient.
“I think people are more receptive to what you have
to say and to take what you have to offer when they
know it’s genuine,” he said.
It’s a matter of being consistent and remaining
present in the lives of Serrano’s residents.
Now he’s just a few doors down. He’s a familiar face.
An American they can trust.
■
Tour the refugee community at Serrano
Village, near GCU on the west side of Phoenix,
and learn about the cultures Jesse Villegas
is serving in a mini-documentary video
on GCU Today’s YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/GCUTodayNews.