Last Day: Jean in Mexico
It was bittersweet to leave my second home today and say goodbye to people I love. In these times of the corona virus, I found myself worried about how hard they would be hit. They are just starting to prepare, however so far I saw no real evidence of sickness. I just hope the brutal desert dry heat beats the virus or lessens the spread and impact in days and weeks to come.
Today we were part of the small world in which we live and witnessed, yet again, first hand what love and sacrifice looks like. Through MdC, I was introduced a woman in Upton MA, Sue Crosby, who has a heart for refugees. She herself is an ESL teacher and she heard of a family seeking asylum from El Salvador (grandma, mom, dad and two girls) that needed a sponsor to come to the United States. After prayer, Sue’s family decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and open her home to them. However, due to “Remain in Mexico” this family has been stuck at a shelter in Tijuana since May 2019, and now with Corona, their court date has been further delayed.
Francisco, Everett and I had the opportunity today to visit the shelter where they are staying and meet the family and greet them by name on behalf of Sue. We were able to deliver Hanna Andersson clothes to each of the 17 children staying in the shelter, ranging in age from one to thirteen, deliver a “Corona box” filled with medicines and cleaning supplies, as well as few books. We took a picture of the family for Sue and most importantly as a messenger, sent them her love. These situations are so heartbreaking. In this case, here is an asylum seeking family stuck in Mexico, when there is a loving family willing and ready to open their home and support them in the United States.
We were so glad to be able to do this as our final farewell.
After visiting the shelter, Everett and I walked over the U.S. border in Tijuana with zero people in line (in all we saw about 3 people, other than the border agents). When we got to the airport in San Diego, there were zero people waiting in the security line and we boarded a plan that was barely 1/3 full (we were cancelled off the last one because there were so few people).
We will return back to Boston for 5am where Everett and I will spend our time together in quarantine in an empty home in Burlington that my husband Dave and family have so lovingly equipped with food and all the things we will need from home. Everett begins school from there tomorrow and I can work from there.
Although it is a sacrifice to come back to separation, I know it is short lived. For the refugees we meet on the border, for many their wait for asylum has been well over a year (as it will be for Sue’s refugee family). My time there and our visits to six different shelters along the border from San Luis Rio Colorado to Tijuana confirms the need for MdC’s Casa Esperanza and the programs that we are going to provide. It is clear the Corona virus will be another set-back, as I am sure that it will interfere with my travel plans back to Mexico in April and also the court date scheduled for the transfer of our new property. However, we press on.
Francisco and I will continue our twice weekly video meetings as we continue to plan through the building of our facility. Thank you for your continued support in this effort.
Together we will have an impact and together we will changes lives.
Goodbye Mexico! Be well! Be safe!
