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.