Franklin Mtns State Park

 I had my first overnight the Tuesday after my arrival.  That means I sleep in a little room downstairs in the dormitorio in case there is an emergency in the night.  Guests can come for OTC meds (tylenol, cold meds, etc) or if someone is pregnant and needs an ambulance, etc...Luckily it was a quiet night.  We had one late night arrival whom I welcomed and got settled and then I got some pretty good sleep...well, good enough for feeling like I might not know what was going on.  Then came my first day off.

I wanted to hike, to get outdoors. Working in a warehouse is different. I'm used to being outside or at least having windows! So each day after shift I head outside for a walk. But today I had the day. So I went to the state park.  Franklin Mountains State Park has lots of trails. Of course I had one picked out, but when I went in the park office to pay and ask for suggestions, I went with what he told me.  I started with Aztec Caves and then connected it to a pass, Mundy's Gap and then down past West Cottonwood Spring (he warned me that it wasn't a waterfall...more of a mud puddle). It was great. Then I set up my hammock chair in a picnic shelter and read and relaxed until it was too cold to stay any longer (when the sun starts going down the temperature follows!)

picnic shelter view

from Mundy's Gap

Aztec Caves

West Cottonwood Spring

First coupla days

 So the days are unpredictable. Things can be slow, in which case we do cleaning and sorting and getting ready for the faster times. And suddenly, things can be fast. There is often no warning or even if there is warning-the time frame is off.

I feel good about the slow start we had because I'm still feeling lost and trying to figure things out, though that does mean that people weren't being processed at the border.  

Day 1 started kind of hecticly. With my limited Spanish (which I imagine will get better as time goes on), we got a couple of families on the shuttle to the airport. They will be received by friends and/or family and in the future have a meeting with ICE more local to where they are to decide their cases.  It felt hectic as I don't have much Spanish and the people didn't know what time to be ready (which just added to my anxiety) but it all worked.  Most of the rest of the day was cleaning, sorting, getting ready for possible arrivals.

The next day started slowly as we didn't have any departures or known arrivals. The laundry room was almost caught up (blankets, cot covers, towels and clothing can get piled high!). And then we had a busload of arrivals from ICE. We intake them, making sure we have info on who is here and where they are wanting to go. We give them rapid COVID tests. If they come up positive, they are sent to a hotel where they are quarantined for 5 days before they are able to move on (given food and clothing and a hygiene kit). If negative, we continue with our services: food, clothing, phone calls to family to set up getting tickets, showers, etc.  It is a hectic feeling because everyone is happy to be out and wanting to get on to their destinations but we are only so many volunteers and can only do so much at once.  

It is so lovely to be able to be the help that is needed in the moment. One of the long term volunteers said during orientation, "It is great to figure out the source of the problem, but right here, right now, I'm here to be the best bandaid that I can be." And so, no matter how small the part, to help as we can is what we need to do.

Each afternoon after my shift, I've gone on a walk to be outside and found this mural near a park with golden grasses (hard to find green in the desert!)

Orientation

 Annunciation House is here to walk in solidarity with the least of these. The poorest of the poor in the Juarez-El Paso area. Those who can't receive services from most established social agencies. 

We are here to help. A lot of the problem is politics. And politicians are all against letting people in because that is how they will get reelected. It matters not what side of the aisle they are on. But really it is a humanitarian problem. These are people who don't have another choice. They are coming on faith and hope in a better future because they couldn't stay where they were. 

Immigrants, migrants, refugees...no matter the vocabulary they are human beings. They are children of God. They are worthy of all the rights that should be given to people everywhere.

Annunciation House provides the basics--safety, shelter and food. The rest is extra-if we have it, we will give it.

Another volunteer asked if refugees are a burden and was answered: 

"It is a matter of language. If a couple meet, get married and decide to have a baby, one could say that the baby will be a burden. And one would be right. But it would also be a blessing, a fulfilling of purpose. All people are burdens. It is what we are. But we are also here to take care of each other and be blessings."

He also said that they usually aren't economic burdens. In fact most pay taxes and into social security through their jobs, money that they will not see again and that helps the US economy.

We are living in a warehouse that has been 'converted' to other use. It is so different for me, being so much inside without even the sight of sun (no windows tho there are some sky lights), but each day after my shift (so far 7-3) I've gone for long walks, looking for green space only to be reminded with the golden grasses and rock that I'm in the desert and it is also beautiful. 

My next adventure

   

I'm headed to El Paso, TX to volunteer with Annunciation House for the next 6/7 weeks.

I don't know much but I will be providing hospitality for those who have entered the US, migrants, immigrants, and refugees. Annunciation House has provided shelter, food, clothing and other necessities for hundreds of thousands since its founding in 1978. 

I'm guessing that since I don't know much Spanish that I will be helping to keep things going--back ground stuff--laundry, kitchen, playing with kids...but I don't know. I arrive tomorrow and orientation starts on Sunday...Until then, here are pics of my trip down...(25 hours is a long drive)

From Eagleville, TN(top) to Big Spring, TX(bottom)