Borderlands Day 5

It was our last day, and we would be going home tomorrow. We had one more day to learn and absorb all that Abara had planned for us.

We met with Angelica (Lica), who educated us on the Theology of Migration, which may have been my favorite presentation so far. There are many stories of migration in the Bible, but I, like most, have always glossed over them. She encouraged us to see these Bible characters in migrants today.

We can start with Abram, who heard from God that he needed to flee with his wife, Sarai. He didn’t need a visa, but when he arrived, he lied to Pharaoh for fear of his life, saying that Sarai was his sister, not his wife, because he knew he could be killed. This happens today; there are many cases of sexual abuse when people are fleeing their countries. Later, Abram had to split his family, which also happens now, because the land they were living in could not support both of their herds in one area. When Abram was impatient, he took God’s plans into his own hands, creating a line through Hagar, which led her to run off into the desert, another example of fleeing. She was an outsider in Abram’s home and had no choice. But God was always there, He saw Hagar, knew her by name, and Hagar was the first to name God. Then we have Naomi, who had to leave her land due to famine. When returning after her husband and Ruth’s husband had died, there was not a glorious return. Thankfully, Boaz was protective and took them in. We need more Boazs in the world. Moses was sent in a basket because his mother faced two dangerous choices.; she chose to take a chance and send him off in the river, similar to choices parents make when making the trek to the border today. Joseph was a victim of human trafficking and had to navigate two different cultures. Daniel was an immigrant and refused to assimilate. And of course, our Lord and Savior, baby Jesus, was born in Bethlehem in a manger because no one would welcome them into their homes then Jesus and his family became asylum seekers who were displaced by violence; they didn’t have time to apply for a visa, and their lives were in danger. What would have happened if they had been stopped at the border?

Lica challenged us to think about the labels we put on ourselves, for example, whether we identify as American first or Christian first, and how that order can affect how we interact in the world. She also educated us on immigration law, which was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. The people we met in the U.S. are not criminals or “illegals”; they are human beings whose rights are often revoked in ways that conflict with some Constitutional amendments.

We learned that while there are multiple ways to enter the U.S. legally, such as student, work, or tourist visas, there are actually far fewer ways to stay and become a citizen. Lica described this as “Blood” (through family), “Sweat” (through work sponsorship, typically offered only by the most successful companies), or “Tears” (for those fleeing violence). Programs like DACA and TPS are now under legal restrictions, leaving many with no clear path to citizenship. So, when people say “they just need to do it the right way,” what if there really isn’t really a right way? Or what if the right way isn’t fair? Lica shared her own struggles and how long it took her to become a citizen the “right way.”

Lica also shared that getting a U.S. embassy appointment in Colombia, just to apply for a visa, could take 18 months, leaving people fleeing famine, violence, or other threats in a precarious position. She explained how the CBP One app, which once helped asylum seekers schedule appointments, was changed in January 2025 to the CBP Home app, which is confusing. The new app no longer helps with asylum and instead provides a way for undocumented immigrants to self-deport from the U.S. This is a complex and confusing issue, and we only scratched the surface, but we learned so much.

Sami shared about migration patterns globally. He also explained more about the Darien Gap, the most dangerous migration route in the world. People used to go around it, but in recent years, they have started going through it. There are human threats such as criminal groups, guerrillas, attacks, sexual assaults, and violence. Animals include venomous snakes, venomous frogs, alligators, jaguars, mosquito swarms, and scorpions. Migrants face high temperatures, humidity, rivers with strong currents, and major health risks like dehydration, respiratory problems, GI issues, insect bites, wounds, and blisters. Some of the individuals we met at the shelter yesterday, had made the trip through this dangerous Darien Gap.

After some intense learning, we had time to walk around the wall and pray, and we visited a healing memorial garden for those killed in the El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019. On August 3, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a Walmart store in El Paso, resulting in the deaths of 23 individuals and injuries to 22 others. The gunman, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, drove 10 hours and targeted Hispanic shoppers, in what is referred to as “the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern U.S. history”. Before the assault, Crusius posted a manifesto online, expressing his belief in a “Hispanic invasion” and citing white nationalist ideology. At his trial, Yolanda Tinajero delivered a powerful message of forgiveness. Her brother, Arturo Benavides, was among the victims. Despite the loss, Tinajero expressed a desire to embrace Crusius. She emphasized that El Paso is a community defined by love and compassion, not hatred. The judge allowed her to hug Crusius, who appeared visibly emotional during the encounter. Outside the Walmart memorial, a sign read, “We would have welcomed you too.” The El Paso community has remained resilient, honoring the victims and their families with a beautiful memorial, plaques with their names, and painted rocks. We listened to a poem written about the shooting called “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be Found in a Walmart,” followed by “Amor Eterno,” which is sung at most memorials for these victims.

While I walked around the wall, but also the healing garden, two songs came to mind.

By Matt Maher:
“Lord, I need You…
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You…
When I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay”

And made popular by Jackie DaShannon:
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of…
No, not just for some but for everyone
Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time”

After a heavy beginning to our afternoon, we ate lunch at El Cometa, which is famous for their flautas and apparently baked potatoes with steak. I had turned Angie into a Horchata lover. We said goodbye to some of our new family members at Abara and debriefed with Nate about our experience. My favorite moments included talking with the students on Day 2, those kids stuck with me, and this school had my heart. Everyone was touched by something different, but most were moved by the visits to the school and shelter, by the amazing people and their stories. Nate asked us what we would do in the next two weeks with all we had learned. I shared that I would rest and process for a couple days, then share the stories of my time here.
We had one last dinner of flautas, made by a local woman, and we ate with Nate and Lica, both forces to be reckoned with. The entire team at Abara and Lydia Patterson were truly doing God’s work on the border, they were making real change and educating and equipping others to do the same. They made an impact on us that we will not forget. We all bought souvenirs at the Hacienda, made by women in Juárez.
When we returned to our apartments, Adam led our last devotional, it was on love, including my favorite verse from 1 Cor 13:4–7:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Adam challenged us to put our own names in place of “love” to “check ourselves”. It’s a good reminder to be these things and show these things. So: Adam is patient, Angie is kind, Joan does not envy, Greg does not boast, Cindy is not arrogant, Jan is not rude, Rachel does not insist on her own way, Katy is not irritable, Susan isn’t resentful; we do not rejoice in wrongdoing, but we rejoice in the truth.

Adam shared his observations of each of us from the week in a beautiful and vulnerable space. He shared what he saw in me, and it really spoke to me. Like most of us, I am unfinished, in the best way. I am incomplete, in training, still being equipped, and grateful to be in that place.

From beautiful moments like students giving us bracelets and making one of us an origami bird, to hearing stories of migrants and crying with them, to funny moments, like Adam ringing the bell of a church and us running away after just having a great moment singing How Great Thou Art, to accidentally saying something slightly inappropriate in Spanish (whoops, my bad), to making new friends, to Joan trying to pet the stray cats at Abara, to all the other bond-building and life-changing moments in between, because there truly are too many to write them all, this is what it is to be fully human while also following a God who loves us so deeply, with all of our quirks and individual gifts. And what a team we had: Adam getting on our level, Angie coming into her own (and being on the B Team), Cindy being all the energy, Greg remaining curious, Jan being our peace and calm, Joan being the one we want on our side, Katy being a go-getter, and Susan being open, each of us bringing something unique and learning and growing together. I know this experience has changed us all.

I will close with one more song from Wicked:

“That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you…Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend”

Thank you to Resurrection and Missions, our families and friends, our prayer partners and supporters, Adam K. for leading, our team (Angie, Cindy, Greg, Jan, Joan, Katy, Rachel, and Susan), Abara Staff, Lydia Patterson Staff and Students, San Oscar Romero, Juarez, El Paso, and everyone we met along the way.