Immigration Service Trip

I was privileged to go on a service trip to Arizona and Mexico with Newman Christ Church in St. Cloud MN over spring break. My eyes were opened to the realities of immigration law and the border wall between Mexico and the United States. Going into the trip I did not know what to expect at all. I definitely was not prepared for the emotional toll the trip was going to place on my heart. Although the trip was weight on my heart at times, my eyes were opened to Christ everywhere.

In the Gospel John 20:19-31, the disciples are in fear of being persecuted and arrested by those who crucified Jesus. Jesus comes to them and says “Peace be with you” This response that Jesus gives them says so much in just a few simple words. “Peace be with you” The disciples have a choice. They can act on their feelings of hatred and anger towards those who persecuted Jesus or they can choose to be peaceful and forgive.

While on this service trip I experienced an enormous amount of peace, love and forgiveness. On the second night our group was in Arizona we got to hear a presentation from a group called Scholarships A-Z. It is an organization started by college students that connects undocumented students to educational  scholarships. After hearing about the organization the students then shared with us their personal stories about crossing the border from Mexico to Arizona. One story in particular really touched me. A young man named Dario shared his difficult journey through life and all of the uncertainty and fear that goes along with it. He praised his parents and talked about how hard they have worked to provide for him and the rest of his family. They crossed the border when he was young so they could live a better life. Dario and his family live a life of such uncertainty. His parents could be detained at any time and his family could be ripped apart. Dario could choose to act out in anger. But instead he is working hard to help other students in his situation and is doing such amazing things. Recently Scholarships A-Z helped make tuition available to undocumented students through the memorandum DACA which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This group of students have been such an inspiration to me and I have seen Christ work through all of them.

On the fourth day we went to an agency in Mexico called Groupos Beta. It is an agency that offers basic services including shelter and food to migrants in Mexico. We spoke with some of the migrants that had just been deported back to Mexico after crossing the border into the U.S. A few of us got to speak with a 17 year old boy who had just gotten back from crossing the border. We asked him who he crossed the border with and he responded “The only person that was with me was God.” As we continued talking with him he expressed his concern for our safety. His kindness was so surprising to me.

As a United States citizen I am extremely blessed to be able to cross the border with almost no questions asked yet this boy has to risk being caught by border patrol and death in the desert to get into the United States. His worries in my eyes are abundant yet he showed heartfelt concern and kindness toward us. Jesus Christ was present in his heart and after this experience he is even more present in my heart. How can Jesus Christ be present in your heart this Easter season?