TATENDA Chaparral, New Mexico #3

May 11, 2023

I have been welcomed into the straw-bale home of the Religious of the Assumption, over the mountains from Anthony, New Mexico where I wrote to you previously.

The wind is strong here and the heat is powerful throughout this state. These sisters welcome a busload of refugees every other Wednesday. Waiting for the arrival of those released from detention centers can be wearing. Not much information is given until that very morning. But they have it down to a science. The parish of St. Thomas More has able-bodied volunteers who smoothly channel families once they arrive from all over South and Central America, Turkey, Russia, and even Haiti, a total of nineteen different countries so far.

First, they welcome the 40 masked people who climb off the bus with a boisterous “Bienvenidos,” and clapping. Sr. Chabela and Fr. Rodolfo give cheerful instructions. The process is straightforward: first to registration outside near picnic tables, then to Covid testing in the Religious Education Center. Once declared “negative” there, off to eat their first hot meal of fabulous homemade chicken soup, the first fresh meal they have had since detention.

Then begins the task inside the Chaparral “Travel Agency” next to the church where flights and buses are arranged for the refugees to move on to their sponsors throughout the USA. This is tedious as there are new restrictions around the airport, prohibiting overnight stays. The internet is not strong either and there are few flights to select from in El Paso. But with three computers going, slowly the travel plans for the next three days are ironed out. They must all clear out by Friday since the cots and cafeteria revert back to Parish use.

They also get clothing, shoes, toiletries, and supplies to use in the showers before settling in for the night, if they don’t get immediately booked. “JCPenney Chaparral” is a well-oiled machine with generous workers. Tonight the children play in a corner rich in toys, stuffed animals, and plastic cars. They blossom from shy arrivals to noisy, happy, congenial children.

The monies needed to feed, clothe and house these travelers comes out of the pockets of these parishioners. Whole families of women are scheduled on a rotating basis to prepare lunch, dinner, or breakfast for 3 days. In Mexico, May 10 is Mother’s Day. So cake and roses are shared in gratitude to mothers. The team today outdoes itself with tablecloths, roses in vases and a huge Mother’s Day cake with ice cream. Such a treat.

I have loved volunteering with those doing Covid testing, checking out the clothes store, and eavesdropping on Spanish conversations from families from Columbia. The babies are so sweet and the parents so proud. Normal realities. So grateful. Such generosity.

It is so humbling to be with these generous caregivers, who gently and kindly take care of these arrivals. They are showing Biblical hospitality in its finest form. And soon all these recipients will be safely at home with family and friends throughout the larger USA. Phenomenal. Now the hard part of assimilating into our culture, which may not be as kind as this welcome outside of El Paso. But they feel God is with them. And that makes all the difference.

Gracias,

Nicki Verploegen