Getting Grounded

The wall divides Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico.

One of the ‘Welcome the Stranger’ co-chairs opened up our meeting last week by reminding us that we are all immigrants in this land and asked if each person could share who in our families is or was an immigrant?

And as we did a quick whip-around the room, about 20-25 people came up with these ethnicities:
Czech, Dutch, English, French, Irish, Italian, German, Guatemalan, Luxembourger, Mayan, Middle-Eastern, Norwegian, Peruvian, Philippines, Polish, Russian, Scottish, Slovenian, Swedish, Welsh

What a powerful way to start a meeting by bringing us back to our roots. This reflection on our own ethnicities also served as an introduction to a small delegation visiting from our Sister Parish in Tierra Nuevo II, Guatemala.

Pedro and Olga introduced themselves and shared their stories. Olga shared how her father was once a migrant in his own country as he moved around Guatemala trying to find work. Many times he would sleep on the street not wanting to spend extra money on lodging. While his wife and children waited for word of his work, they were often hungry. Olga shared that it is this hopelessness, despair and uncertain future that often pushed some friends and family turn to a life of crime. These were not “bad people,” these were people experiencing desperation. While speaking her truth, Olga’s tears streamed down her face turning our hearts of stone into flesh.
Then it was Pedro’s turn to talk. His story was similar but brief as he couldn’t say much without emotion overtaking him.

Although my trip to Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico is less than two weeks agway, Olga and Pedro helped to ground me in the importance of solidarity across nations, across borders, and within our hearts.

One more week to donate MONEY or STUFF to organizations like HEPAC, No More Deaths, or KINO Border Initiative. Message me for more information on how to get MONEY (cash or check) or STUFF (toiletries, school supplies, toothbrushes, cold weather clothing for children) in my hands ASAP.


We will march by the millions. We will tremble and grieve.
We will praise and weep and laugh. We will believe.
We will be courageous with our love. 
We will rush danger as we sing and sing and sing to welcome strangers. 
This is our song. This is our road to peace. 

-Excerpt from Hymn by Sherman Alexie, 2017