10/30/2026
This week has been heavy in different ways.
Friends, Wendy and I sat and chatted for hours while Brad played. Wendy truly was an integral part of this community.
In an effort not to spread more unverified assumptions, I have reached out and not heard back from Wendy yet. I have also reached out to other powers that be, to see if we could get some light shed on this situation. Unfortunately, her case is protected by privacy laws, so everything will have to come from Wendy or her lawyer.
I can only speak as an immigrant myself. And I will say this is what gives me the utmost hope in this temporarily dire situation: if you have traveled outside of this country, you would have come to the realization that America, even with its failings, has one of the most generous immigration processes in the world.
Speaking as one who has gone through it with two brothers currently going through it right at this moment. It is for that reason I'm hopeful the fog will lift, clarity will come and as everything gets taken care of, Wendy's family will be reunited back here sooner rather than later. There are expedited processes for cases like hers, and we don't want to do or say anything to jeopardize that chance.
We are praying for Wendy and her family at this time. We are also refraining from joining in protests in Wendy's name at this time, because as an immigrant, this could do more harm than good for her case.
We will share more if we get to know/do more.
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘆/𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆! 🤩
Wendy Méndez moved to Oshkosh from Costa Rica in 2020 with her husband, Richard Godfrey, and two sons, Sean and Brad. Prior to moving here, they had visited friends in the Oshkosh area and took a tour of the 20th Avenue YMCA. Wendy was amazed by the facility and that so many amenities were available to the public. In Costa Rica, such amenities are typically accessible only in private health clubs. Coming from a tropical country, the ice arena blew her away and she loved the idea of having year-round access to all the Y has to offer her and her family.
Wendy knew that moving to a new home...
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: https://shorturl.at/FF4TO
Check out page 2 of our =Fall Program Guide for the full story. Don't forget to register for Fall programs -- the Fall 1 session begins September 16! oshkoshymca.org/program-guide
