Erika was raised by her parents Anita and Ismael Sanchez, both of which were elemntary school teachers. “The values I learned at home have sustained me and allowed me to make a life in the two countries which I have lived in with respect and solidarity with others.”
Erika tells this story about her immigration to the US for her and her family.
In 1999, my husband and I decided to come and study English as a second language, we were inspired to attend BYU and get a Master’s Degree by our Stake President, who had previously done that. Utah then became our promised land for better opportunities. I was serving as the Young Women Stake President in Pachuca, Hidalgo, my husband was an Elder’s Quorum President, we both had jobs we could hold for a life time in the State and Federal Government. We were barely starting a family, we had dreams and hope that one day we’d be able to raise a loving family, succeed in our careers, keep serving our family and loved ones in México. We saw the opportunity to accomplish our goals when we were invited to receive a higher education. My husband was accepted into the 2001-2003 class MBA Program at BYU, the miracles we witnessed through our journey were many. It was an honor to get to know the many different cultures here, the loving environment that surrounded us, getting to know other international students, and the similarities in the miracles we experienced. After graduating we were so fortunate to choose a job offer in México, our other option was Germany, but to be back to our home country, and our former city was exactly what Heavenly Father had planned for us. My husband served as a Branch President in a beautiful town in the mountains which was a 30-minute drive from where we used to live, with no church building of its own, and a small group of members, using rented houses for the meetings, with no basketball court, no parking lot or baptismal font, etc. but with faith and enthusiasm to follow Jesus Christ, and to become His disciples. My little kids were surrounded by the love of the members, we lived the most beautiful experiences working with the full-time missionaries and all the members, especially the children and youth, we as a family consider ourselves a missionary family too, we needed to be an example for them. That was a humbling experience. Those years defined a great part of the personality of our family, with love for our culture and traditions of our country, constant learning, courage, discipline and a character of service. While my husband was the Director for his company in México and we served in our church callings, we fulfilled some of our deepest dreams and goals. In 2009, the operations of the company in México were sold, my husband worked from home for nine months until he was transferred to the headquarters office in Lindon, Utah, in that year with the economic recession and the downsizing of hundreds of companies he became one of the 12 elements the company decided could do the work of about 70 people in Utah. We had a new opportunity for the whole family to keep growing, adapting to the new place, a new language for our children and to continue our involvement with the community. We came with a work visa; we are now eligible to become citizens. We recognize that blessing in a spirit of thanksgiving to the Lord, because He has opened so many doors for us, even the miracle to feel at home everywhere we go, and extend more opportunities for our children as well.
To help others that have also come from other countries, she and her husband started the Comunidad Hispana de Eagle Mountain Facebook page. I asked her what the page was, and what the purpose of that page is.
Even though many immigrants not only Latin American, European, Asian and other minorities who live in Eagle Mountain have not migrated in the way we did, there are many stories of success among our population. There are not only college graduates, but business owners, entrepreneurs, hard workers in all levels everywhere, many of them first, second or third generation in the US who hold dearly their Latin American Legacy. As minorities, we love to be united, we live proud of our legacy and the way we contribute to the history of this great country founded by immigrants. Many of the LDS members who immigrate, are also pioneers in their home country, with strong testimonies and years of experience serving in different callings, they make great contributions wherever they live and serve. Others have come and learned of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and found a higher purpose, to share the Gospel to their families in their home land. We started the Facebook Group to reach more people from the Latino community not from our faith, when I see a new face at the store, at the school or at the park, I invite them to join and be part of this social media group, to be informed and to participate actively in our community. Since 2009 inspired leaders called us to serve in the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs, we found a new opportunity to connect the Hispanic Community with the strong values delivered to the youth and their families in the BSA program, we started calling ourselves not only a Scout Unit but Scout Families. The leadership you will encounter in the LDS Hispanic Scout Units in Eagle Mountain have maintained the same pace of growth of the Church. It started being just a small group of members who started as an LDS unit, to one Branch in City Center and 2 Wards in the Ranches, there’s always room for improvement, and many opportunities for leadership participation, but to the top of my mind I can think of at least 12 boys who became Eagle Scouts within the last 10 years, and much more Cub Scouts getting their Arrow of light. The BSA program has instilled in us the civic practices from this great Nation where the society engages and participates in the change the citizens want to see in their communities. BSA has empowered us with determination to be prepared, to participate and to do our best, understanding our role in the place where we live, in the whole circle of life, owing respect to other people, to nature, to the time and space we all occupy, and the desire to find that balance that needs to exist between your goals and dreams, your environment and the people you interact with, in this vast world, where every little creature has a place and every person plays a role that will impact that world.When asked how someone can get involved and help the Hispanic community in Eagle Mountain, this is the advise that Erika gave.
We enjoy association with many who speak our language, who have served LDS missions among our different cultures, we love to strengthen those relationships, many of the LDS minorities are disseminated in the regular English Wards in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga, if you know them reach out to them, feel the richness of living in a global era, we hope to unify strengths in the multicultural environment we live in, our Facebook group is a great resource to learn about the services in our community, support our Scouts fund raising activities, etc., let’s be friends. Consider having Spanish language speakers close by as an opportunity to have a language immersion program, given to you without even having to leave your own neighborhood just by becoming a friend to your Latino neighbors.
This is an Cedar Valley Sentinel (formerly i84005) Resident Spotlight. If you know a resident that you would like for us to spotlight, please let us know. You can view other resident spotlights on our Resident Spotlights page.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.