The Final Days

Well, my time here in El Paso is coming to an end. Tomorrow I board a plane for a 13-hour trip to Rochester by way of Chicago and Boston. As I found myself whining a bit as it’s double the time it took me to get here, I remembered sending people off on three-day bus trips to what must seem to them the end of the world. Then came the thought of how many days, weeks and even months it took them to get this far. What do I have to complain about?

Yesterday, Thursday (2/20), I rode with Andy and Maureen on our day off over to a little town in New Mexico that has a bunch of touristy shops. On the way, after passing thousands of pecan trees, we stopped at the little store that sells pecans of all kinds. As we were leaving another couple came in and when they found out I was from Rochester, the wife spoke up and said she had had open heart surgery at Strong Hospital in 2006 when she got sick while on a mission trip for her Utah church. What a small world!

Me standing outside Josefina’s gate where we had lunch in Mesilla, NM

After lunch in Mesilla, NM, we drove to Dripping Springs to hike to a mountain “waterfall.” It was lovely to be outdoors after days of hardly even sticking my nose outside. The views of the mountains were absolutely spectacular even though the “waterfall” really lived up to its name. There was just a slight flow of water dripping down the mountain and flowing through piping that once supplied water for a sanitarium that was located there. While we only walked for a couple of hours on a well constructed path, I was conscious of all those who have traveled over much more difficult terrain as they crossed the desert to get to freedom. 

A view along our path to Dripping Springs

Last evening as I went to do a load of wash, I discovered that a magician with Magicians Without Borders was going to do a show in the chapel here. I wish you could have seen the faces of the children and heard their laughter as Tom enchanted them with disappearing coins, balls that suddenly multiplied, and a balloon that didn’t burst even though pierced by a huge needle. He spoke of how the balloon and needle are kind of like enemies to each other but can peacefully coexist just as we can if we learn to welcome those who are different. The kids and their parents were just enthralled and it was a marvelous break as they waited to hear about when they would be traveling to their next destination. 

 

Tom the magician

Most of the group that came two weeks ago is leaving in the next two days. We are going out to supper tonight to say our goodbyes to each other and to relish the time we’ve spent together. It has been a wonderful experience to be here even though the number of folks passing through has been so low due to our government policies. Please pray that we may become more tenderhearted toward those seeking refuge. Only we have that power! Let’s use our vote to do what no magic wand can accomplish!

Taking a Stand

Ruben Garcia, the founder of Annunciation House, came to the Casa Del Refugiado on Sunday, February 16 to talk to a large group of students doing a border experience. We were able to join the group to hear his message.

He spoke of the data recently released by Human Rights Watch which told of the numerous persons who have been assassinated after being deported back to the countries from which they fled. While many would deny this happens, they have done extensive research to track down the statistics.
Ruben also spoke of how he would have liked for the President to have had present at his State of the Union the families of some of the victims of the El Paso massacre by a white racist. Instead, he played to the fears he promotes by having the family of a victim killed by an “illegal alien,” a group he paints as all being rapists and murderers.

Sister Elaine (right) with Ruben Garcia, founder of Annunciation House, Sister Karen from Brentwood, and two of the cook’s children

Ruben also told the story of intervening for a family he met on the bridge to El Paso from Mexico. They had tried to enter the U.S. several times and were told there was no room and they should come back later. One of the children was ill and the family did not know what to do. With the contacts he has established over his many years here, Ruben was able to help them.

While cities like Juarez are listed on the FBI website as dangerous and travel to them is discouraged, our government is constantly sending people back into these dangerous situations. Sometimes people are presented with paperwork in English and told to sign. If they don’t question what they are signing, they may be agreeing to be flown to Guatemala to wait or to be sent back over the border to Mexico to wait. If sent to either place they are sometimes the victims of kidnappings, robberies, rapes and other forms of criminal activity.

In the end Ruben stressed how important it is for people of faith to take a stand in light of the call to treat others with the dignity and respect each religion promotes. We cannot support a government which terrorizes children by separating them from their parents, supports policies which lead to the injustices which cause them to flee, and then sends them back into situations where they face significant danger. We are better than this and need to cast our vote to change this situation and work towards establishing stability in the countries so people no longer have the need to flee for their lives and the lives of their children.

The SSJs who are at the border, along with two volunteers who joined the Sisters

Over the Bridge

Today was my day off and so Andy, his wife Maureen, and I took off to downtown El Paso. Once there, we located the bridge that you can walk over into Mexico. For fifty cents we did that and continued on to visit the Cathedral of Juarez, a newer building with striking stained glass windows all along one wall. Next to this is the original church with well-aged pews and an incredible wood carved ceiling. It was nice to join my prayers to those of others for the situation at the border in these sacred spaces.

Walking to the bridge on the Mexican side of the border

Sister Elaine in front of the old and new Cathedral

Andy and Maureen in front of the old and new Cathedral

Inside of Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral in Juarez, Mexico

After crossing back to the American side, a more complicated process as we waited in line for 45 minutes to have our passports verified, we drove to the Border Patrol Museum. We spent some time there looking at the displays honoring the work this group does to protect our borders. This was almost a surreal experience knowing the stories of some of the people who have tried to cross that border.

Border Patrol Museum 

Over the last few days we have been sheltering under 20 people a day and the news today is that 25 new people arrived while we were out. I have been able to use my Portuguese as some have been from Brazil. This morning one of the little boys who was with us overnight took hold of my hand and slowly and reverently traced the veins in it and the sunspots. Last night a woman had done the same. As I looked at his little hand I couldn’t help but notice the difference in color. Maybe he was noticing that as well. I just hope those hands can be extended with love to each other. It will make a difference in both of our lives.

The Heart of the Mission

Sister Elaine Hollis is currently working with the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas to assist the daily surge of immigrants seeking legal asylum in the U.S. Sister Elaine has been assigned to Casa del Refugiado which is a hospitality center run by Annunciation House. The shelters provide basic needs for the migrants such as food and clothing. Volunteers also communicate with legal family members residing in the U.S. to help coordinate travel arrangements.

Here is a reflection from Sister Elaine's first few days at the border.

Greetings from El Paso. I just said my goodbyes to the last refugee family we were housing at Casa Del Refugiado. For the first time since it opened in April there is no one staying overnight. Today was only the third time in five years that no refugees were sent to Annunciation House! Times, they are a changing!

There is still plenty to do here, as laundry needs to be done and donated clothes sorted, but the heart of the mission is the people and they are not here. Our government is causing incredible suffering as people trying to escape unsafe and violent conditions in their home countries are forced to flee and then meet all kinds of walls when they get to the border.

This mural depicts some of the people who have fled the violence of Central America as well as the couple who were killed there for whom Casa Vides was named 

From those who have made it this far, I wish you could hear stories of the beautiful lands they left where volcanoes guarded over them. I wish you could hear their heartbreaking stories of being kidnapped, robbed and injured on their way to this country. I wish you could see the sparkle in the eyes of the children and enjoy having a second grader read to you about the elephant with a bird’s nest on its head. I wish you could see the families taking off to someplace new with their strength and resilience and not much more than the clothes on their backs and a bag with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, blankets, snacks and some children’s toys for the long journey ahead of them.

It is a privilege to be here and to see the dedication of the couple who, as long term volunteers, manage this shelter. They are from Rochester and Miguel worked at the SSJ ministry, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center before coming here. He quoted his favorite maxim to the group of volunteers getting oriented for their two week stay - most of whom are SSJs or connected to SSJs! His wife, Catherine, took us on a tour this afternoon to the other facilities run by Annunciation House which do have refugees staying with them.

Sister Bea and Sister Caroline who are long term volunteers at Casa Vides

For 42 years Annunciation House has welcomed guests in need of a place to stay until they could be reunited with family and friends already in this country or persons willing to sponsor them. Please keep this mission in your prayers. There are so many beautiful people who want to gift us with the riches they bring if we could just open our hearts to receive what they have to offer.  

The journey continues...

We began our day at the Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services office with Ana Hey, an Immigration Lawyer. Last year 22,000 were detained by Immigration & Customs (I.C.E.) Enforcement but her office could only serve 160 cases with only 3 attorneys, less than 1% of those detained. This year with the "Child Separation"" Policy of the U.S. government, they have received a grant so they could hire up to 12 more attorneys to serve all the families  seeking asylum due to the violence and extreme poverty they are experiencing in their home countries, like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. 

What many people don't understand is that Asylum is a legal way to enter the U.S. and all one needs to do is to present themselves to a Border Patrol Agent at the border to be granted entry and then go through the Immigration Courts to determine the merit of their case. What happens instead is that persons, who have done nothing more than flee for their lives with their children, are treated as criminals and are placed in detention centers and given less than someone found guilty of a crime. Many of the detention centers are for profit and there is a strong prison lobby to keep these centers open to profit this "industry" of human imprisonment and therefore little incentive to make this situation different.

Some ask why don't these people who are displaced from their homes in Central America just go to Mexico. The truth is that Mexico has not been recognized by the International community as a safe country to claim Asylum. We need to remember that people would rather be in their own country, their own culture on their own land. 

Ana Hey & Nazareth students

From here we  met with two Border Patrol officers, what a juxtaposition of messages!

Both officers are clear about their duty and oath to protect the U.S. border. Yet they were able to tell us that they are finding over their 15-16 year career the changes they have seen in who they are finding attempting o cross our southern border. When they began their careers, those crossing illegally were mostly single men seeking employment in the U.S. and now they are family units seeking Asylum from Central America. We asked what do you feel you need to do your job well? And they responded with, "Yes we need a barrier and we need more technology and more Border Patrol Agents." And then they added, and we need to fix our "Immigration Policy."  Something we can all agree on!

Cristo Rey Clinic

We then returned to Juarez to visit with Dr. San Juan Mendoza and the Cristo Rey Clinic, where she has lived and worked in solidarity with the people in this Colonia of Juarez for the last 20 years. She practices "Social Medicine" meaning she treats the whole person, including offering health education. She relies on "Divine Providence" and generous donors to keep her clinic operating.

                                                              Danica an aspiring physician and Dr. Mendoza

From here we went to Casa Tabor where we met Sr. Betty Campbell RSM & Peter Hindes, O.Carm. They have both spent their lives living with and accompanying people throughout Latin America. They started CRISPAZ, an organization they served people in El Salvador. I first connected with CRISPAZ in 1986 when I visited two dear friends, Sonata Bohen & George Plage, who  served with CRISPAZ in the refugee camps in LaLibertad, El Salvador during the Civil War. I again went to El Salvador in 2006 with our Sister, Mary Jane Mitchell SSJ, who served with CRISPAZ following the earthquake in El Salvador. It was with deep gratitude that I was able to meet these faithful servants, who continue to accompany the people in this Colonia of Juarez. Much of their work today is to bring attention to the vilence happening there, especially to women. 

Here is Betty's handwritten account of all the deaths since 1993 that she gives to every group that visits Tabor House.

Betty has created a kind of "Memorial" for all the journalists, women and men murdered in their area and invites guests to write a name on the memorial  and to take a name to pray for.

                                                                       Martyrs Memorial Wall

Jamie Fazio  writing a name on the memorial.

For our supper this night, our meal was made by a refugee named Elizabeth. Nine years earlier her 14 yo son went to the police to report a murder he had seen committed in his small town in Mexico. As a result of this report, a truck full of 10-12 men went to his house and shot everyone. Killing her brother, sister-in law, and cousin and leaving her for dead with 5 bullet wounds.

She spent 4 months recovering in Juarez hospitals & El Paso. Fortunately her son, daughter and husband survived and are seeking permanent residence in the U.S. which has not been easy, despite her near death experience and the death of so many loved ones.

To be continued....

Columban Center Border Awareness Experience

I am grateful to be back in El PAso, on a different kind of mission. Our little group of 13 from Nazareth College arrived in El PAso late Saturday night to be greeted by Fr. Bob Mosher, from the Columban Mission Center. He will host  us for the week both in. El Paso & Juarez. 

Through the Columban Mission Center in El Paso, Texas, we will meet with organizations and institutions related to U.S./Mexico border issues — poverty, migration and human rights.

Our first stop on Sunday morning was Parroquia Corpus Christi in Anapra. Mexico. It was great to see Fr. Bill Martin whom I had met when I was in El PAso last time.

After Mass we met in the community center of the parish with a number of youth and volunteers from the parish to hear their stories about working in the factories in Juarez as a result of NAFTA. One of the outcomes of that treaty was for U.S. companies to set up border factories and hire people who were poor and pay them poor wages to benefit the company with no benefits and hard work and no ability to negotiate better working conditions and wages.One man told us he has worked 20 years in the factory and makes the same amount of money as the day he started but he is afraid to say anything because he could lose his job and not be able to feed his family.

Another challenge is because the pay is so poor many times families encourage their children to leave school and not go on to higher ed in order to work in one of these factories and contribute to the family finances; and the cycle of poverty just continues.

Something to note, the workers in the factories do piece work and the items are assembled in the U.S. so labels can say "Made in America". Whereas they should say, with the help of slave labor in Mexico!

We then went to the Library of the Good Shepherd which was started 20 years by Cristina. She is a woman who with less than a grammar school education herself and realized that the children in Anapra, a very poor suburb in Juarez, were doomed to continue a cycle of poverty without a decent education. The challenges were extreme poverty that kept parents from paying school fees, buy uniforms, buy books, etc. In addition, many children had no birth certificates because parents couldn't pay those costs and therefore the children were unable to even enroll for school.

With the help of the Columban Fathers, the Sisters of Charity I stayed with in December and their many connections, Cristina was able to help finance these needs, offer tutoring and on-going support to the children. She began with 12 children and today over 475 children have been helped through this little sign of hope. Today there are nurses and teachers, etc. giving back to the community because of Cristina. Never underestimate the vision of one and the help of many, especially God!

Please pray for all these wonderful people and their efforts to bring about justice. Please pray for our little group as we begin a new day here on the border.

In peace & gratitude,

Sr. Donna

Sister Phyllis Tierney Joins Volunteer Efforts on the Border

Sister Phyllis Tierney is spending time assisting asylum seekers on the border in El Paso, Texas through the end of January.  Sister Phyllis is volunteering through the AnnunciationHouse program.  

Here are some reflections from her days assisting at the Mesa Inn Shelter 

Day 2

This is my second day. I arrived yesterday afternoon with two women from Rhode Island. They are assigned to a different site so we may not see each other again. 

 Mesa Inn is one of the sites where Annunciation House rents rooms for refugees.  The shelter has been averaging 50 plus people per day.

Anne Meyer-Wilbur is here (SSJ Associate) and is working at Mesa Inn so we are together. She is amazing and keeps going! Last night I helped in the clothing room

Anne's handiwork...i help with the sorting!

Today I was supposed to start at 2 pm but a large group arrived at noon time unexpectedly so we have been working all day. We’ve had difficulty because it takes time to wait until rooms are clean. One family moved 3 times because the shower was broken and there was a flood later. The cold water has been off in the building that I am in and maintenance has been working at it all day.
Volunteers bring in meals. Tonight it was a family that cooks and brings dinner to the shelters on a regular basis. There were about 70 people tonight with guests and volunteers.

Sister Phyllis Tierney and Father Peter discussing room reservations

Volunteers helping to sort and organize food donations

Day 3

We had another group of 40 people today but we were called ahead of time so we could prepare. They came from Guatemala and Honduras and had been in detention for several days prior to arriving. We hear that in some places people have been given little to eat. At supper we sat with a woman and her daughter from Guatemala. Her husband is in Florida. He had paid a coyote to bring her.

Day 4 and 5

Yesterday Anne and I went out for breakfast because we weren’t on until later in the day. We came back to the hotel and Anne went to the laundromat. I was looking for a free hour in my room but I told another volunteer to call if our expected group arrived before lunch. Ten minutes later a group of 60 plus arrived!  Last night we were told that 100 would arrive today. We received 50 but waited most of the afternoon for them to arrive. The day was sunny and the children played outside. We had sidewalk chalk so we had some fun with the kids! Tonight a dad and his small daughter were going to North Carolina. He had spent his time weaving a bracelet out of yarn. He gave it to me before he left. It is the small and unexpected gestures that mean so much!

Some guests wash out their clothes because there are no facilities and dry them on the bushes and by the pool!

Week 2

For several days we have had an average of fifty people a day and our schedules have been pretty similar to the first week.

I took my day off on Thursday and had the opportunity to visit the University of Texas Campus at El Paso. The architecture of all the buildings is Bhutanese and the buildings are very graceful. The campus grounds are lovely with contemplative spaces. Sara, another volunteer and I visited the Centennial Museum on the campus.in the afternoon Sister Isobel, a Daughter of Charity, took Marjorie (another volunteer) and me to Juarez so we could see the city and visit one of the families she helps. 

On  Friday, we had 70 people so we kept hopping!