Borderlands - Day 1

Assumptions did or didn’t turn into reality as soon as the 10-member Resurrection Borderlands contingent arrived safely in El Paso on Sunday afternoon.

Mario, the Uber driver, briefed us on the way to our lodging. A lifelong resident, Mario said that some years ago, cartels engaged in gunfights over turf issues on drug routes. That has calmed down, and El Paso now ranks as one of the safest large cities in America, with violent crime rates below the national average, thanks, in part, to a strong law enforcement presence. The Rio Grande, which separates Texas and Mexico, is mostly dry except for four months of the year.

The Franklin Mountains, the southernmost extension of the Rocky Mountains, run through the area from east to west. A brief walk around the Montana District neighborhood where we are staying revealed that cactus plants and rock walls are staples of front yard landscaping. Some of the modest dwellings feature elaborate shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas. A trek downtown by some of the group found interesting artifacts, such as an alligator fountain.

Abara, our host, provides three spacious apartments with kitchens for our stay. Perla, a local resident, brought a sumptuous meal of Venezuelan origin for our first evening meal.  The group talked about individual reasons for wanting to join the trip and participated in devotions. Today, Monday, we go to the Lydia Patterson school, where we will assist the Mexican students who come from Juarez to the school.