Aprovechando

La Roca, my nightly destination for the past two months has closed to men. I am not sure why, but they are only making their services available for women. However they opened a new shelter in the other side of the city. I set out one afternoon in bike to find the shelter.

I found it after a couple hours of biking and questioning... It was quite barebones and I guess they have not been too busy beacuse nobody knows of their services. I will start bring people there...

I stumbled upon San Juan Bosco as well. It is the government supported shelter I have been trying to find for the past couple weeks. I went back the following morning to meet the managaer but was told she would not be back until the evening. I made my way there that evening and was met by a fiery women who runs the shelter. She is something else... Anyway, I asked if I could stay the night at the shelter to help out and learn about the services. While she was hesitant, she welcomed me. For that I put myself to work right away. As the migrants are deported through the gate in Nogales, they are brought to the shelter by either Grupio BETA or the Mexico Immigratino Agency. Many of the men and women who arrived came without shoes, sweatshirts, or jackets. And it is cold. Anyway, I welcomed them, told them the rules I learned just two minutes before, and sat them down for hot coffe and cookies, which was very much welcomed. We had groups arrive at 6 in the afternoon, 10 at night, 1230, and the final group at 1 in the morning. It was chilly, even inside, but the migrants were certainly thankful to have a roof and some blankets...
I was able to learn a lot and I am eager to return. While the atmosphere there is a little cold and impersonal, I am eager to learn more about this place that really is one of the principal services for migrants here. Further, I was reaffirmed of the importance of our services at the comedor. It is not until they step through the doors of the comedor that they are welcomed with a hearty meal and a warm welcoming environment.




While the men did have to share beds, we did not have to roll out the mattress. I guess a month ago they were lining the floors with the mats and even sleeping people in the kitchen.

We celebrated thanksgiving in the Jesuits house in Arizona...

Father Pete and the turkey. He and Adolofo spent most the day working on it.

Una Parada En El Camino Edition 14
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/64023160/UPC-11-22

One Month Left...

Hello all, as of today I only have one short short month left here in Nogales. I cannot cannot cannot believe it.

I returned from DC to hear the bad news that Nestor, my best friend here in nogales and the man who watches over teh comedor at night had not been seen in three days. I was worried that he had left but it never occured to me that I should check the prison. It turns out Nestor was picked up by the police for not carrying an I. Hardly an offense that sounds worthy of jail, but he had to spend 36 long hours in jail. No food and no sleep. To make matters worse, word got out that he was not in teh comedor at night and the robbers returned. They stole ten turkeys we were saving for tahnksgiving, a fridge full of eggs, a stereo and they even tried to get out with the microwave. Nestor returned just as they were leaving with teh microwave. He chased them down but was attacked by the men who stole it. They tried to stab him but thanks to three friends, Nesotr was able to wrestle the knife and microwave away. Needless to say I was very happy to see him the following morning. (He was pretty upset with me that I did not go to the jail to get him. I certainly dont blame him...)

Nestor and his new t-shirt. It is a shame that a corrupt action like throwing somebody in jail for three days for not carrying ID could end so terribly...

Today we organized a bazar or yard sale to try and tell off a bunch of clothes that we have in our bodega. We have so many clothes for ninos and women that they were literally flooding our bodega. So a local church that is very supportive of our efforts helped organize the bazar...

We did not sell quite as much as we wanted to so we had to take it to another church in a poorer section of town. They will give the clothes away to people who truly need it. For this I am glad they are going somewhere...

En route to the other church...

There was some pretty crazy stuff we were trying to sell. I was digging these PJs and Montse liked the hat.

Getting Montse on her B-day. It was mighty cold that day and I felt pretty bad, but I guess it is tradition. And she took it well!

13th Edition of Una Parada en el Camino: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62990934/UPC-11-18

Long Overdue

A blast from the past now that the cold weather has really set in... The volunteers at the desert museum in Tucson.

A million thanks to Le Moyne and Beth and all of Campus Ministry at Le Moyne for giving me the chance to go to DC this past weekend to present and learn at the Ignation Family Teach In. It was an incredible weekend. I got to catch up with good friends and I learned so so much. The weekend focused on Immigration and Climate Change issues. I was scheduled to give a presentation about my time doing an alternative study abroad and about the Kino Border Initiative. I enjoyed giving the presentation but my favorite parts were presentations by Sister Helen Prejean (author of Dead Man Walking and national leader in movement to end the death penalty) and Sister Diana Ortiz (director of Torture Abolition Support Coalition International). I did not love them because I feel particularly called to ending the death penalty nor do I feel called to ministering to those who have been tortured, but I was amazed at their enthusiasm and ability to clearly state what they felt passionate about. I want, one day, to have a passion like those two sisters did for their life's work.

Further we had a chance to speak with one of Senator Gillabrand's staffers concerning the senators position on the Dream Act and Immigration Reform. It was the first time I had done any lobbying and it was an incredibl experience for me. Learned a lot and it gave me a better idea of things for the future for me. Another great part of the weekend was touring DC and simply spending time with some very close friends. (Pictures to come...)


A week and a half ago the volunteers and I made a trip to Tucson to spend the night at the All Souls Presecesion. A yearly march where all sorts of people come out to walk, watch, run, skip, hop, pretty much anything. We joined the No More Death's float and marched with them. Afterwards we spent the night with some friends in Tucson then high tailed it back here.



This morning I arrived back to Nogales, AZ at 130am. I could not cross so I had to stay the night here in AZ in the Jesuit house. However I simply could not get warm. I was freezing the whole night and didn't sleep more than 2 hours. Then in the morning I had an hour twenty walk to the comedor. I got there pretty cold and unhappy however Ingracia met me with a huge hug a Como te fue? and a big bowls of beans and rice. Soon after that we were welcoming the guests and I felt incredible. It is amazing what this place can offer not only the migrants who pass through, but the volunteers who serve each and every day.


We celebrated Moset's birthday last week. 18! She is legal in Mexico! Her parents came up this past weekend but I was in DC and did not get to meet them. Pictures look like they had a blast though!


The alter we made in the comedor for Dia De Los Muertos.




Montse and I at la feria celebrando El Dia De Los Muertos con un juego! The man who was running the machine was in the comedor that morning and afternoon for the meals! All of the employees at teh fair were migrants. They put the rides together and operated them. They prob had no experience in the ride business but it goes to show that they can do literally anything. From plumbing to amusement park maintenance...

Numero 12: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62131091/UPC-11-8