CLC Immersion October 2011: Casa Building Reflections

"I realized..." - Tammy
"The unexpected..." - Elvira M.
"Gratefulness..." - Kevin N.
"Awareness..." - Magali

I realized…

“Upon  signing up for the "Immersion" trip, I wanted to have an eye opener. I love diversity and what better way than to get to know my neighbor and be more appreciative of what I have. God works in mysterious ways, so instead of opening my eyes, he showed me how similar we are. Upon visiting the school, orphanages, detain center I was reminded that we are all one human with the same basic needs all over the world regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. 

What impacted me the most was the visit with the detainees. When Alex showed me a picture of his baby son, I was deeply touched. Here was a man who was separated from the life that he worked so hard for and for political reason; he's separated from his son. I have to admit, when I hear news about immigration I was indifferent because it didn't affect me, but now that I saw and heard stories of men who just wanted to be reunited with their family and make an honest living moved me.

God revealed to me the richness of the community at El Florido. The people there truly cared for one another and a stranger like me. They heard that I was feeling ill and they tended to me like I was their child, such love from the community really showed me God's tenderness and care for one another. These people didn't have many material possessions, but their richness in kindness, compassion, and love for me was extraordinary. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and although I asked for the grace of opening my eyes, God had a better plan and opened up the eyes of my heart! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and looking forward in immersing myself once again with God's kingdom of heaven at work.”

 - Tammy

The unexpected…  

“My experience on this Immersion trip was quite an unexpected experience. I expected to see what I have known and lived....but that is not what I saw. I came home and the first thing I mentioned to my parents was, I experienced what "Does work". I have lived in communities were well intended people come and bring gifts to "help" but, that runs out and the help may not come again. What does work is building a sense of community, teaching others and giving of oneself. I suppose this is where faith comes in and checking with God to see exactly what fruit is to come from this experience and not my independent good intensions.

I expected to be heartbroken from not bringing home an orphan. However, I checked with God and it seems he wants me to help more than just one child. So, now I am asking him, how?

I expected to see malnourished and not so clean poor children. Instead, I experienced parents who want to learn and are eager to better themselves and the environment of their children. I was very impressed with the children being well groomed and fed at the Florido community. The sense of community was contagious. The empowerment of the women who are involved was amazing. This is what happens when education is offered. This program goes further, than providing for just today. I personally know that there can be resentment from a community that receives charity, which is not the case at El Florido. The Florido community is welcoming and appreciates the help and comradery.

Finally, I experienced a serious reality check while at the "Casa del Migrante". I realized just how blessed my family has been. We are a big family and none of us has had to battle what these migrants have suffered. I felt the frustration of true poverty (being away from loved ones). No doubt ignorance leads to ill judgment.

Every day since this trip I wake wondering what can I do God? How can I make a difference? I don't like feeling like I have forgotten, were I came from. Then I realize that I need to make sure that whatever I do needs to be "God's will" or it will not be good. I must make sure that whatever I do is not so that I can feel better, but so that it pleases God. His answer may well be that I do something very small, or something very big, I do not know. I just know it must be what he needs me to do and that he brought me to this experience for a reason.”

- Elvira M.

Gratefulness…

“I am grateful for a warm home and a comfortable bed. One of the houses that our group visited had for wooden walls that lacked tight insulation. During cold winter nights, body heat was probably utilized, since there were only two twin-sized beds for a family of four. 

I am grateful for a public school system and government that provide a comfortable classroom with supplies. The school that we visited did not have enough classrooms. So what did the community do about it? They tried to ask the local government for more classrooms. But when the government did not respond with the needs of the community, the community members took the project into their own hands, literally. Parents, children, teachers, and school administrators successfully built a small building which was divided into 4 classrooms. This allowed the local children to come to school here, albeit in only one of the two 3.5 hour shifts. The new building project was not done, however. With three sedan-sized piles of sand, gravel, and concrete mix, the community members spent their Saturday morning with us to build the concrete stage area and concrete walkway so that the kids could tap into their creativity and perform the arts through school plays. 

I am grateful for being stable in America. Our group visited a transitional home for migrant workers. Most of the men there recently got deported. I shared a meal with a man who grew up in California and had a wife and two kids. He got deported four times and came back to America each time. On the fifth time, he was sentenced to three years and served his time in prison before being deported again. His wife and two kids are still in America and he says there's absolutely no way that he's going to try to go back to America, after his experience in prison. Another man that I shared a meal with gave $4,000 to someone to help him try to cross the border into America. Something came up and his plan failed. The money was lost. He was there to try to cross the border again. He was 26 years old. When I asked him why he wants to come to America he said that there's no jobs in his hometown in Mexico.

I am grateful for my parents. Father Tri Dinh, S.J. presided Mass for orphans in Tijuana. Our group brought Halloween arts and crafts, candy, and cooked breakfast for the orphans there. Their age ranged from toddler to early teens.”

- Kevin N.

Awareness…

I experienced God in the love shown by the community and the love I was able to give, in the smiles of everyone present, in our heartfelt reflections, in sharing a meal with friends, in the generosity of the people of El Florido, and in holding the hands of the children and hearing them laugh.

I've grown aware of the mysterious pull I have toward being in community with the people of El Florido, especially the children. I don't understand it, but I'm very aware of the intense sense of love I feel from others and am able to freely give on these trips.

- Magali  

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