2023 USAME (Mission Experience) Arizona- Mexico Border 

 

INDIGENOUS CULTURES

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Who is serving the individuals on the border? We met with a variety of people and organizations. . . a lawyer, humanitarian agency, non-profits, religious groups. Their stories all revealed the extreme risk and challenges people experienced in trying to come into the U.S.; the basic needs people had crossing the desert; the violence against women that occured; the discrimatination against LGBTQ individuals; the complicated process in seeking asylum, and so on and so on!

 

We were hosted by a binational Presbyterian Mission Agency, Frontera de Cristo -- an umbrella organization that overseas and supports other groups (a local Mexican Presbyterian church, an immigrant center, a drug rehab center, an after school program and more.) The directors of FDC are American & Mexican Presbyterian Ministers, Rev. Mark Adams and Rev. Joca Gallegos. 

 

What did we do on the border? We joined in a silent vigil stating the names of people who have died on the border - their bodies had been found in the desert.  We hiked through the desert on a trail from a local ranch to the border wall itself guided by staff from a drug rehab center. We saw the diverse tactics the different U.S. administrations have used to build up the border wall. We saw the Mexican side of the border wall with murals and a park making the space beautiful, a part of their home. We worshipped with the women of a Mexican Presbyterian church, saw their strength and support of people arriving in their community. We ate wonderful food and drank good coffee at a cooperative that supports farmers from the state of Chiapas. We sang, cried, talked, walked, studied the Bible in English and Spanish. "Presente! Presente!", we called out. Every life counts in God's eyes.

 

Where did we stay on our trip?