ECLC Border Immersion Trip to El Paso, TX - February 2024

 DAY 7 - FRIDAY RUBEN GARCIA & ANNUNCATION HOUSE, REFLECTIONS Friday was an unexpected bonus with a presentation by and discussion with Ruben Garcia,  Director of Annunciation House, and El Paso native. Annunciation House coordinates city wide refugee  services, working with churches, health care, government agencies and the border patrol. It is a massive  undertaking and he is highly respected across all sectors. For more information and opportunities to  volunteer check their website at annunciationhouse.org . Throughout the week I wrote words in my personal journal that described our experiences. A few of  these are listed below. CHILDREN Parents were traveling with their children, from newborns to teens. We encountered them in shelters,  refugee stories and in our day to day visits around El Paso. The common denominator in all cases was  the very evident love between parent and child. Safety, security and a chance for a bright future was...

 DAY 6 - THURSDAY PASTORA ROSE MARY'S STORY, MUSTARD SEED CAFE, HUMAN RIGHTS, LEGAL DETAILS OF THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS, A FESTIVE DINNER It was a full day in many ways! A full schedule, full bellies, full hearts. We began the day listening to Pastora Rose Mary share her story of growing up in Bolivia with a loving, faithful family. She told her parents at an early age she wanted to do what she called "reverse mission work," meaning she wanted to serve God in the U.S. This amazing, well-educated woman chose to get additional education in California and at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. However she told us her best education has been listening to the people she serves. Her hope is that whatever is done to ease the refugee situation is done with human dignity for all people, irregardless of status.  We had a delicious lunch at The Mustard Seed Cafe, where they serve food to anyone without charge. Volunteers prepare lunches 3 days a week, often using fresh produce from thei...

 DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY PASTOR JUAN'S STORY, IMMIGRATION 101, DINNER AT SACRED HEART SHELTER We started the morning at Cristo Rey listening to Pastor Juan De Dios Lopez share his personal story and experiences working with refugees through Cristo Rey. He started working as a young 8 year old child in rural Mexico, as there were funds only to send the eldest child to school & he was the third. Having been raised in the Catholic Church his faith drew him to serve in the church after working many other jobs and starting a family in the US. He studied English, earned his GED, then took Bible training in LA, a 14 hour bus ride each way between school & home, every weekend. His desire to serve the church was fulfilled after seminary, culminating with his ordination in the city park near Cristo Rey. He draws on his own experiences to tend the refugees he encounters in El Paso. The morning also included a presentation by Michael De Bruhl, Director at Sacred Heart Shelter. Being a retire...

 DAY 4 - TUESDAY  FEDERAL COURT, CONVERSATION WITH THE JUDGE, PUBLIC DEFENDER A very early start for us today in El Paso. We left at 6:50 a.m. for the US District Court in Las Cruces, NM. We met another Immigration Immersion group led by Border Servant Corps, one of their members was ECLC member (and new Council President)  Carrie's dad, Larry. We saw about 8 defendants as they had their initial hearing for unlawful reentry after deportation. The judge had questions for each (they had two interpreters in the courtroom and one on a phone call), he asked them each if they had consulted with their attorney and understood the consequence of their plea. Everything moved very quickly and fairly. One case was delayed until the next day, the rest made their pleas and will soon get a date for sentencing.   After he was done with the morning docket, the Judge answered questions for us and explained the process.   After a nice lunch and some time explor...

DAY 3 - MONDAY   BORDER FENCE, BORDER PATROL, TAMALES, AND A MIGRANT'S STORY After a quick hotel breakfast, Pastor Juan drove us to see the border wall. A short 10 minute drive. We were met there by two border agents, Nicole and Victor. They gave us an informative talk of their roles as agents, along with their views on border policy and administration.  We then drove to a nearby border crossing bridge to view a beautiful and enlightening mural depicting U.S. & Mexican cultures. Next, a fun stop at a local grocery store for supplies and to experience the flavor of El Paso. After a short break at the hotel, Pastor Juan and Pastor Rose Mary took us to visit a friend at a colonia (a rural community with poor services) about 45 minutes from El Paso. We were fed lunch of delicious, fresh homemade tamales. My first experience with sweet tamales! We were privileged to hear her immigration story. It was at times heartbreaking, and other times joyous.  Tom Cahoy

  DAY 2 - SUNDAY BILINGUAL WORSHIP, AREPAS, A MIGRANT'S STORY We had a leisurely start to the day. At breakfast we met Julie, Tom, and Anna who had arrived at 2:30 AM without their luggage due to massive delays in Denver. We went over to Cristo Rey for the 11ish worship service, conducted by Pastor Juan with assistance from Pastora Rose Mary. There was a lot of music in the service and Rose Mary said that it is in music that she finds the Holy Spirit. Pastor Juan brought out his puppet for the children’s story, wondering where the tamales were on this special day. He preached about the importance of prayer, saying that in the midst of our busy lives we need a way to recharge and that we can do that through prayer. After the service lunch was served. We had rice and beans, tamales, a pork dish, salad and cake for dessert.  We celebrated the birthdays of Allexa(13) and Aziel (15). In the afternoon we had a couple of hours to recoup and when we met in the lobby to go back to the ...