2023 Update

Well, I was all packed, ready to leave on the 13th of May, when my phone buzzed. The first flight out of El Paso was delayed just enough that I would miss all my connecting flights. I was bumped a day later. The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati took me in. How lucky we are to be surrounded by good people.

It’s likely this will be my last missive from our first Domestic Retreat for TATENDA International. As you can tell from the photos, a lot went on in this one week.

I am happy to say some replenishment through visits to local wineries was a part of the enjoyment of the week.

Wonderful indeed were all the fabulous people I got to work with. Even when there was tension in the air with the changes in immigration policies, these workers really showed up.

And the wonderful women across the border who come to the clinic with their children are equally heroic. All of these generous people humble me. Many of the workers here are undocumented themselves, yet they feed and treat kindly all of those who come from the detention centers and those who attend the clinic in Un Opera, Mexico. It will take me time to absorb this experience.

It is all of our hope here that another visit by TATENDA International can happen in the future, one that is longer and larger. The Spirit, however, lived large in THIS visit, and all of us have been fed. Our initial “Exchange of Bread” is wrapped in gratitude. Thank you for tuning in.

You will hear from us again when the plane has landed, and we have begun our integration.

In Gratitude,… Tatenda,

Nicki Verploegen & Wilson Villamar

El Paso Travel Team