Day 24 (already?!)

The next day (Day 22) I worked at Casa Teresa in the office again. I did some research about Sergio Adrian Hernandez Güereca, the teenage boy who was shot and killed by border patrol on June 7th under the bridge between Juarez and El Paso. My research focused on negative allegations made against Sergio, specifically on any criminal past he might have had. Regardless of whether Sergio worked for coyotes or was involved in something much worse, in the United States we have a wonderful institution called due process.

If Annunciation House decides to have a memorial for Sergio, it would automatically become political, which is why we need to be aware of any (otherwise irrelevant) stains from his past before he becomes a poster child against Border Patrol brutality.

While at Casa Teresa I also assembled thank you letters for donors...without whom we wouldn't be able to do what we do!

When I returned to A. House around 4pm after my office shift at Casa T. I relaxed a little. Then one of the children from the large family that arrived on Day 3/4 asked me for a couple of trash bags to "put things in." I obliged. A few moments later I began to see kids from the family carrying out tons of stuff and suitcases. I jokingly asked one of the kids, "where are you all off to? you moving out?" He responded "yup" in an equally cavalier manner. It then became clear that it was no joke.

When I last posted, I discussed how it feels strange being in a position of such great power with guests, and how often the ways in which we can help are limited by circumstances beyond our control.

The family had arrived just after I had, and I had grown pretty attached to them. I play with the kids, read to them, and tutor some in math. Some of the other volunteers had gotten pretty attached, too. We just have so much to offer them while they are waiting on their case-- the essentials like shelter and food, but we are also able to connect their kids to resources too (like lots of attention and tutoring from us, as well as educational programs throughRegion 19. I'm pretty sure staying here gives the kids a sense of stability, because otherwise I know they'd be going from place to place or sleeping in their van.

I was completely dumbfounded as I saw them packing up their things. I hadn't been there all day and I had no idea what, if anything had happened. Another volunteer told me about an incident that had happened while she was on shift. Basically, a huge misunderstanding that resulted in the mother in the family thinking/feeling that their family was unwanted and unwelcome. When we discovered this was the case we immediately started talking to the parents in an attempt to clear things up. We didn't want them to leave! I felt like I was going to cry.

We want them to leave eventually, but on good terms, and because their immigration situation has been resolved, not over a trivial misunderstanding. The parents had made up their minds, though. We began to help them to move their stuff out. I figured that if they really were going, I didn't want them to think that we didn't care about them...

The two of us ran inside so that we could write down our emails to give to the kids so they could write us. I hugged each of the kids goodbye (multiple times). The tears welled up in my eyes by I wouldn't let them fall. As soon as we got back inside, another volunteer told us that the house coordinator was on her way to try and talk to them. We immediately ran back to their van...it had already pulled out into the street, but as they saw us running towards them, they pulled back to the curb.

I nearly begged the mother who was sitting in the shotgun seat, "se puede esperar por cinco minutos? en solo cinco minutos D. va a estar aqui. (can you wait five minutes? D. (house coord) will be here in just five minutes.) Almost immediately after I asked, I could tell that just about everyone in the van was crying. The mother responded that they were going to stay. She stated as she cried, "hay tanto amor aqui (there is so much love here).

I was so relieved that they were staying. I had shuddered at the thought of what might happen to them if they left with nowhere to go. Not to mention the fact that I was going to miss each of them!

This episode speaks so much about the power we have as volunteers (both positively and negatively). I won't soon forget it.

Yesterday, Day 23, I had a day off! I was glad that the family was staying, but I welcomed the break from the drama of the house. Three other volunteers also had their day off, so we all drove about 2 hours to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park to go hiking. It was absolutely beautiful. Today I have another day off (once a month we are given two consecutive days off) and I am looking forward to just sitting back and relaxing.