Coordinating

the intake room...doubles as a dorm when we have more guests.

 Well, they've put me charge.  I've been promoted to shift coordinator. Our shifts run from 7am-3pm or 2pm-10pm. On each shift there are usually at least 3 volunteers (always good to have more) and these are supplemented by community volunteers-those who live in or around El Paso. As the shift coordinator, I get to see that things get done (and ask others to do them).  When things are slow, it is cleaning and checking that things are in order for when we have arrivals. It is making sure someone is taking care of the Salidas (departures)-that those who are leaving have snack bags for their travel, coats if they are going somewhere cold (north) and information about the bus station or airport and then getting out to the shuttle. 

When there are arrivals, it is assigning people to do intake forms, COVID tests (if we don't have an outside group to come in to help), bring snacks, then make family/friend phone calls, cover the dispensa so people can get toothpaste, tooth brushes, bed rolls, etc.  Then if there are people left, we are able to open the Roperia where guests can pick out a set of clothes that are clean (even if they aren't a perfect fit).

On one of my first shifts as coordinator we had 90 arrivals. I was on the 2-10 shift and they came in around 11am. We started with a 5 minute meditation/devotion. I used d365.org (2/2/22 even though that wasn't today's devo). Carrying Heavy Nets. It starts with a piece of Mary Oliver's "At the River Clarion" about being a part of the holiness. A reading from Luke 5:5-7 getting friends to help lift the full nets. I mentioned being grateful for my support system-in leading this day it was them helping to get done what needed to get done. Another volunteer mentioned that during the reading she thought of our guests and their long journeys and who they might have had for support. One of the Brothers who is a volunteer talked of the overwhelming gratitude of our guests when they are on to the next leg of their journey, getting dropped at the airport or bus station and the spontaneous tears that spring up. Of guests telling us, "you do too much. thank you."      And then we jumped into the shift:

So the intake forms had been done. The COVID testing was in progress. We were able to bring the first set of people up after the 15 minutes of waiting for their tests to come back negative. I had 3 people on phone calls, as well as people in the Dispensa and the Roperia. I felt a little at loose ends because I didn't have a specific job. And yet I also realized that I couldn't put myself into a specific job because I had to be free to see the big picture and make sure everything was getting done.  It felt like lots of pressure. Seeing what was happening, where people were having to wait, and what was going to have to happen even before other things were finished. But it works. Working together as a team and realizing that most things (and everything today) were not life/death emergencies. We do what we can as we can.  Everyone got helped, I started to serve dinner until other volunteers were free to take over. I went back to the office to start clearing the phones...checking texts and voice mails for travel information, answering phones for the same. Writing it on travel slips so that we have confirmation numbers and know when we need to get people to the airport/bus station. It is busy. The 'pharmacy' is also in the office, so guests come by with requests for headache medicine, stomach issues, cold medicines for themselves and their children. Organized chaos. Ready to be repeated the next day...

hiking

 I've been out.  Everyday I've gotten outside. Sometimes I just walk around the neighborhoods. To the community parks in the area. Along the roads. Other times I get in my car and drive to Franklin Mountain State Park or Ascarate Park or Rio Bosque Wetlands. The sky is so big here. And usually blue (we've had a couple of cloudy days). We even had snow! It was light and fluffy. It is such a dry place that even in the cold, if I'm in the sun and the wind isn't blowing I warm up quickly. 

It feels like there is so much space...and then there is the wall. It feels so confining. My chest contracts. Borders are all human constructs...

Ascarate Park-the water is recycled. The park is right next to the Wall.

Sugarloaf Summit

Rio Bosque Wetland (also recycled water)

Franklin Mtn State Park

Morning shift

 I've been on the morning shift for the first 2.5 weeks.  I'm curious about the evening shift but not enough to ask to change...The morning shift is 7am to 2pm which is early for me but doable. We meet in the office for a moment of meditation, introduction (there are often new faces with community volunteers or new short term volunteers) and then assignments. Each shift leader does their own moment of meditation--2 min of silence, 5 min with a song, guided meditation off a phone and then a question or opportunity to share after.

Assignments vary (of course).  

There is the firewatch--since we are in a large warehouse that wasn't originally for live in use the fire dept asks that someone walks around the whole place every half hour...this place is big enough that it takes at least 45 min to get around the whole thing...so we do one when we can...at least one a shift and then as we are all out in all parts of the building the rest of the time, we assume we'll be alerted.  This is also a walk around to see what else needs to be done--trash, cleaning of different parts, restocking of supplies here or there, etc.  

There is breakfast. Getting the coffee ready (making sure it is plugged in as it is made the night before), pulling out sugar and milk, bowls or plates, plastic ware, helping set up when the food arrives and then serving. This is also a time to make sure people know when they need to be ready to leave on the shuttle- a bit easier to hear in the Comidor as opposed to the Dormitory.

Someone is in charge of Salidas (Departures).  Guests are asked to be in the Cuarto de Salidas about half an hour before the shuttle arrives. That way we can make sure they are ready, they have their things, we can get them coats if they are going to cold destinations, we give them bags of food and snacks for the trip and can give them some information about the airport or bus station. (There are volunteers at the airport as well to help them checkin to their flights and print their tickets.)

Laundry: not much to be added here. It gets picked up from the Dormitory and from outside of the showers. People are encouraged to keep their clothes and hand wash it so that they have a change of clothes, but anything they don't want gets washed and put in the Roperia (see below) as well as blankets, towels, and cot covers that everyone receives on arrival.  It is an always ongoing project.

Roperia: the clothing closet. When we have enough staff and clothing everyone can go to the Roperia. There they can pick out one change of clothes for their time here with us (that's why we recommend they keep what they came in). This includes a short sleeved shirt, long sleeved shirt, pants, underwear and socks. We don't always have the right sizes but we do promise that they are clean. This choosing takes a long time-everyone is looking for the perfect thing (which we usually don't have).

Dispensa: the place to get the basics. Everyone goes to the dispensa (even if we can't open the Roperia). There we have bed rolls (cot cover, blanket and towel) tooth paste, tooth brushes, combs, lotion, fingernail clippers, deodorant, diapers, socks and underwear, etc.

Travel bags get made for everyone leaving. Sandwiches, snacks and water (if not flying) and possibly a toy and blanket if on a long bus trip. We also make baggies of baby formula that people can take with them.

There is always something to do. Clean up, move around, get ready for the next arrival, and send guest on the way to their destinations...play and talk with people.

people in motion...never still 

On going days

 Well, my Spanish is getting better (not hard to do as it couldn't have gotten worse). Though it does still get very mixed up with the French, little Creole and even little Chichewa that is in there...but I can make myself understood...usually.  and Google translate has been and will continue to be useful.  The refugees we get mostly come from Immigration Detention.  They are released to find their way to their family or friend or sponsor. They are release with very few belongings, the clothing they come in is usually sweatpants, blue tshirt, and flipflops that came from the detention center. 

From the bus that drops them off, we take them into an intake room. We welcome them and let them know that they are free. They all have papers that tell them when their next meeting with immigration is, but now they are 'free'. Some still come with ankle bracelets and others have phones that are only for getting in touch with ICE. We let them know that they are free to leave us but if they do they cannot come back. This is since COVID. We test everyone and if they come up positive they (and family) are sent to a hotel to quarantine for 5 days. If negative, they can stay with us where we will help with phone calls, clean clothes, showers, beds, and transport to the airport or bus station. 

I find it nerve racking to try to help with family phone calls but it is never as bad as I make it out to be. I have a script and we are all trying to be understood. And sometimes the person on the phone speaks English! After phone calls they go to the Dispensa where we have the bed rolls (cot cover, blanket and towel) for the cots in the dorm, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant, shave cream and razors, chap stick, feminine products, diapers, etc. Then we take them to the Roperia to get a change of clothes. Everyone is allowed one change of clothes so that we are assured to have enough for everyone. It is usually not exactly what they would want but it is clean.

Our meals are provided by the Salvation Army, basic but pretty good and very appreciated.

Once they have their tickets, we make sure they know when to meet to go to the shuttle and give them snack bags for their trip (and jackets if they are headed north to the COLD!)  Some are able to make same day arrangements, others stay a night or two. Some stay longer, it all depends on what they need. There is so much gratitude for what we can do. It is a humbling experience.

"To all the people who help our brothers and sisters in need. Much love and Respect"

(We aren't allowed to take pictures of guest but there are beautiful murals around the building)