Not quite day 1

I started the day by reminiscing my years spent in the Southwest, with an early morning roadtrip from Phoenix to El Paso, watching the sun rise with the brilliant pinks and oranges cresting over the jagged craggy mountains that only Arizona can offer.

My sweet serenity was occasionally punctuated with the memory of a political opinion that was thrust upon me forcefully the previous evening, completely unprovoked, while this person and I were witnessing the eclipse.

To this little non-confrontational doe of a girl (me, just to clarify), I sat in stunned silence while I was told how this country could be fixed, eclipsing what was a lovely evening with the shadow of righteous elitism. "Feelings shouldn't come into it" was the concluding statement, though I am still confounded as to what the person was advocating for, only being sure of what they are against (answer: refugees). 

It was good fodder for thought as I arrived at my destination: a motel/emergency annex, where I was greeted by dozens of smiling faces, people so relieved to be out of the icy government facility and into the warm environment Annunciation house provided (even in their annexed location). It seemed almost comical that these friendly, smiling refugees were the same people that were perceived as criminals, sneaks, and lazy vagabonds (according to my friend from the previous night), and yet I do hold with me my friend's expression of fear, wanting to preserve a country they love. As nonconfrontational and noncommital as I was with my friend, I need to acknowledge that coming to El Paso is a choice and statement in itself, to not leave feelings out of it and see the people behind the wall of fear. 

I picked up two fellow sisters from the airport and we went through orientation together at the motel, now more knowledgeable about the processes and duties we will have here. Jumping right in (around 10pm), we escorted a woman and her daughter (who were released today from an ICE facility) to a different annex location, where her husband and second daughter were staying. The family traveled all the way from El Salvador separately, and all 4 just happened to be released at a similar time. They were reunited tonight for the first time since October! This is the story I will take to bed with me, dreaming of a new life for this hopeful, determined family and the good fortune that brought them together. 

Our next run to the bus station starts early tomorrow at 5:40am, helping 6 people get on their way to their families across the country, so I better catch some Z's myself. One thing I am sure of - these next two weeks will not be monotonous!