February 10, 2025

    OUR NEW HOME!

Next  week 10 high school students and 2 chaperones are coming from Delaware to take apart the bunk beds at Casa Papa Francisco and assemble at our new home.  We will be staying at Casa Vides for six days.  Casa Vides is downtown El Paso. 

    We have a family of 3 from Guatemala leaving for Plattsburgh, New York.  We have a family of six from Venezuela waiting.  We have five Social Security women also with us.  Last week we had one new guest, who had just turned 18 arrive.  He had come over the wall and left by Greyhound bus to Phoenix.  Today Border Patrol will not be releasing any family members.  Las night they were holding 115 refugees in custody and did not provide refugee encounters (detentions) for the past 24 hours in the El Paso sector.  

    Casa Vides also provides hospitality for a number of Mexican nationals, widows of US citizens who must spend a certain amount of time each year in the US to collect Social Security benefits in which they are entitled.

 February 9, 2025

    HAPPY 18 BIRTHDAY JACK!

 February 3, 2025

   " In a world filled with challenges, serving others requires courage, resilience and a deep sense of compassion.  Those who approach service with an open mind and heart ( and the ability to laugh when things don't go as planned ) can create meaningful change.”

    We walked over the bridge this morning at the Norte Del Paso crossing in El Paso.  Bright colorful murals greeted us on the Mexican border.  In contrast Barbed wire and the wall dominated the US side.  Juarez was lively, colorful and full of people, food vendors, street shops and music.  We slowly made our way to the Cathedral....we sampled crunchy grasshoppers, purchased salsa bowls and watched pachoukai baiarinas at the park.  We had expected to serve lunch at the Cathedral but it was closed today.  We had no trouble coming or going thru customs.  Border patrol was present.

 Today we had a day off so we went on a twenty four hour adventure.....Las Cruces Farmers Market, Almagordo for lunch with John and Lisa O'Brien, Pistachio farm tour and overnight in Cloudcroft!  It was all FUN..

 Our fellow co-workers.......

    Carol, Eila, and Lucy

Feb. 2, 2025

    Volunteer meeting tonight with Ruben Garcia, director.  It is the 47th anniversary of Annunciation House.  47 years ago five young adults made the decision to place themselves among the poor and allow the poor to lead them.

We took a tour of the new building complex being renovated for Annunciation House.  We will be moving from Casa Papa Francisco in the next few weeks.  Our building will be renovated, asbestos and lead removal and updated.  I wonder who will be coming there?  We are seeing no new guests today.......

 

 January 31, 2025......

        Well we have been here now almost 3 weeks.....we have settled in, we have met wonderful people and  we continue to experience and learn.  Thanks to all our family and friends for all your love and support.  We feel safe and happy in what we are doing.

    Life here has definitely changed since January 20.  Our numbers are down, shelters are closing and there is probably more fear in the lives of many we see.  We have heard many brave stories.  Futures are uncertain but hope is still alive.  

    Someone asked me....Why did you come?  Why are you still here?  I think we came because we wanted to experience the Border.  We are still here because we choose to be. 

 We do mostly hospitality....we welcome guests, provide them a shower with hot water, a bed, a hot meal......help them get airline tickets or bus tickets to family or friends.....and then they are gone.  We don't know what happens next.....were they able to reach their destinations, did they have trouble changing planes, are they scared in a new country?????  So many questions.  So much uncertainty.

    Monday we are going into Juarez, Mexico to serve lunch at the Cathedral.  I guess we wanted to experience the other side of the border.  We will walk over the bridge....I think I am a bit nervous....o fiddleeee deeee...... 

Juarez..........