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