Wilderness God: whose Son was a displaced person in Bethlehem, a refugee in Egypt, and had nowhere to lay his head in Galilee. 

Bless all who have nowhere to lay their head today, who find themselves strangers on earth, pilgrims to they know not where, facing rejection, closed doors, suspicion and fear.

Give them companions in their distress, hope in their wandering, and safe lodging at their journey’s end. And make us a people of grace, wisdom and hospitality, who know that our true identity is to be lost, until we find our eternal home in you. Through Christ, our rejected yet risen Lord. Amen.
            (From St Martin in the Fields, London)

My ride in to El Paso is about 30 minutes. I go in silence to ready my heart to be available to greet the folks  with love and compassion.

Today is much like the previous days, arriving by 7am, making sure all have breakfast through the hotel. Seeing who needs to go to the bus station or airport and making a plan with the other two volunteers of who will take who and when. I also get to offer some medical support since it seems everyone has a cold or stomach ache, and who wouldn't. How do these sojourners even hold their heads up, given all they've been through? 

Once to the bus station or airport trying to explain next steps with the hope there will be a kind person along the way to guide them. Everything is strange for them, I suppose I am strange too with my limited Spanish and smile. Yet, I hope my heart is with their heart and my desire is with their desire for life. I hope their hope and I dream their dream and I pray, oh I pray, that it will all be okay and they can begin a new. 

Goo be with each traveller, and with all the innocent children.