Operation Red Stripe

I dyed my hair today. Dark brown with red streaks.

In other news...the border is growing!

And not in the way that you may think. In the last week, YOUR tax dollars have been put to use building yet another fence between me and you--namely, Mexico and the United States. This new fence is 23 feet tall: 5 feet underground and steadied with concrete, and 18 feet above ground; hollow steel posts filled with even more concrete.

The comparison looks a little like this:

Also, I have been doing a fair share of travelling in the last week. Last Friday I went to Tubac, Arizona, for a coalition meeting that Frontera de Cristo is a part of. Nogales (AZ and Mexico) was on the way home, so Phil and I crossed into the Mexican side to get a look and take a couple of pictures.

A look of Nogales

Proof that Agua Prieta may be ugly, but not all of Mexico is

More of the culture of Nogales

Then, this past Monday, Phil and I drove across the entire state of New Mexico (4 hours) to El Paso, Texas, where we participated in an invitation only meeting with Congressmen Reyes, Gutierrez, and Baca. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise our voice to them about the immigration situation that our country is facing. Afterwards, being the risk-takers we are, Phil and I crossed into Ciudad Juarez to look around. We ended up getting horribly lost... but somehow made our way out and back to the US :)

The Boundary between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez

The monument marking the boundary.

A look over Juarez from the bridge.

My proof I was in the city :)

Though I don't have much free time, I have been filling up every hour that I don't dedicate to Frontera de Cristo. Lately, that has meant hiking all over Arizona's mountains. On Tuesday, a friend and I explored a cave near Sierra Vista, AZ in Coronado Memorial Park. The cave was really neat: not roped off and lit and guided as one may expect. This was a bring-your-own-flashlight-and-try-not-to-break-a-leg kind of cave. 

A look at the entrance of the cave.

Looking over Sierra Vista on a mountain peak.

I will be back in Iowa in 37 days...just in time for Thanksgiving! Can't wait to see everyone!!

No More Deaths Report Release

See some of our event in Naco.

Happy Birthday Clara!!

Well it has been far too long since I have posted anything on my blog. My apologies!!

Unfortunately, there also hasn't been much to blog about.

Today is my little sister's 22nd birthday. CONGRATS! There's some news :)

Also, I'm coming home on November 20th for a week...there's some more news.

My computer full on crashed: dead. Kaput. No more. That's really upsetting news.


Recently, an organization that I'm involved with, called No More Deaths, published a report detailing Border Patrol abuses against migrants in the last 3 years. The report is incredibly detailed, and takes samples of reports of abuse from Nogales, Naco, and Agua Prieta, where I'm living. My roommate Phil and I both did work on the report as well, translating pages into Spanish so that it may be published bi-ligually.

See it on CNN!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/us/border-patrol-allegations/index.html?iref=allsearch

You can also download the whole report for free, or buy it for $15 from our website: (please be advised, this website has very graphic images of the types of violence that we see on the border)

www.cultureofcruelty.org

Here are some pictures from our Report launch outside the Naco Border Patrol Station yesterday.

Middle School Playground Spats

This situation that is happening between us and Mexico (see post USA vs. Mexico), seems to me to be a really public and dramatic playground spat.

Mexico, "They want to have homos in the church. Grosss!!"

PC(USA), "OMG, like, get over yourselves! We already have women, what's the BIG DEAL?"

Mexico, "But, women have cooties! We can't let them be pastors!"

PC(USA), "Do what you want, you don't have to play on the swings with us."

Mexico, "FINE! We won't even be on the same PLAYGROUND! How do ya like them apples?"


I have mixed feelings about the Mexico decision, for a variety of reasons. First off, I think it was incredibly childish, rushed, and overall foolish. What kind of message are we sending to God's people if we can't get along over some really basic issues? For the record, the INMP, Mexican National Presbyterian Church, wasn't even voting about the issues of openly gay pastors. That wasn't even on the table.

Secondly, there is the question of what now?

The directory of PC(USA) World Mission has already said that he can't encourage mission groups coming down and participating in the bi-national ministries in Mexico, one of which is Frontera de Cristo.

On the one hand, I really would like FDC to continue strong, and move forward with the others projects that we have that don't really involve the groups. And I'd love to help.

On the other hand...I'm ready to be home. I don't have groups at the moment, so my days feel kinda wasteful (though I've been attending meetings and babysitting a lot, so I still work all day), and simply wouldn't mind calling it a job well done and exiting gracefully.

Though, that leaves the question of what I should do when I do finally relocate to Iowa. Any job suggestions?

A brief interview

I did this description a while ago...I would assume in March. The only real idea of time I have is sitting in my arms during the interview :)

You're a Racist

Disclaimer: in reading through my posts that got written, but never published, this was one of them. This group visited Frontera de Cristo in late July/early August.

This title is not something that people would generally like said to them, especially not when a person of another race is within hearing distance.

I certainly wanted to say it to a Customs official though.

Over the last 2 days I hosted a group that came to visit Frontera de Cristo, and upon arriving we had schedule changes, and decided to take a quick walk over the border to shop for a few minutes in Mexico.

After a 45 minute romp around the shopping street and the ice cream shop at the plaza, we headed back to the port of entry, to cross on foot across to Douglas. I went first, allowing the 8 members of the group to see what crossing through the pedestrian entry was like, and waited for each one to be let through by customs officials. While the officials asked me a couple irritating questions ('Why were you all standing out front in a group?') Duh...we are one.

I watched as the 2 men of our group passed through without a single problem, and hardly any questions asked. The customs officials simply swiped their passport, asked where they were coming from and what they were doing in Mexico, and then let them through. Soon after a couple more members had passed, the 2 Latino women in our group also presented their passports, each to an individual agent.

I watched in disgust as the customs agent automatically spoke Spanish to Isabel (name used with permission), assuming that she couldn't speak English (which she does). Then he badgered her with questions, looking through every page of her passport, asking why she was in Mexico, what she was doing there, what she was bringing back into the United States, and finally asking what she had in her bag. When she responded 'Nothing', the agent requested to see inside her belongings. She willingly put the backpack on the inspection table, and the customs agent rifled through her bag, taking things out, putting them out on the table, and after what seemed to be every other item, asking her why she had carried each of those items. 

After he seemed satisfied digging through her personal belongings, he left them out on the table, and told her she was free to pass.


Now we are up to date....Present day.

Perhaps these agents just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Perhaps they assume that the only people trying to cross illegally into the United States at the Douglas Port of Entry are Mexicans, and for that reason, keep an eye out for allll Latinos (which are easily 99 % of the people who cross through there daily).

If that's the case, I should have brought the Polish dude, who came through our Migrant resource center, over to say hi.

USA v. Mexico

This is just really sad.

World Mission responds to ending of partnership by Mexican Presbyterian Church

5 months more

Not the most creative title, but there it is. I have been working roughly 60 hours a week for the past couple of months, so the end in sight is helpful.

That's also my reason for hardly ever blogging.

However, last weekend I had a free half-day, and spent it selling a car. Here's the video. I call it Tucson Transformers :)

Healing Our Borders

Every Tuesday, at about 5:15 pm, we hold a peaceful, legal, remembrance vigil, to keep in our minds and hearts the names of those persons who have died crossing the desert in the hopes for a new or better life. Thanks to Tommy Bassett, here's a little bit of what goes on.

Many Things

Many things have been going on in the past few months- ironically the majority not work related. The retreat, as pictured in a previous post, was wonderfully refreshing, and greatly needed.

In the last few weeks, to supplement all of the paperwork I've needed to do, and all the sweeping I've had to keep up on (having a dog that sheds is the PITS), I've also bought a guitar and started to learn to play. While I've only had a few formal(ish) lessons, I've been tinkering for about 3 weeks, and can now play a little.

I'm not one to toot my own horn (too much), but here are my latest advances on the guitar.

[I welcome comments!!]

Puerto Peñasco 2011

This past week was Frontera de Cristo's retreat to the beach in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. We stayed in beach houses, had time for prayer, cooked community meals, and of course, enjoyed the ocean. I added a little exploration and surfing (ish) into that combination, and had a fantastic time. It was the perfect getaway.

Since the house I stayed in also had a 4-wheeler, I re-taught myself how to drive, and enjoyed daily zooms through Choya Bay (the part of the city we stayed in). Here's a taste of the week:

A view from our porch

My view every morning :)

A look over Choya Bay

More Praisin'

Here are some more videos of the CPC Praise band "Reunion Tour" one stop only.

And finally, if that wasn't enough fun for you...a little bit of puppy play.

Puppy pt. II

Well..since I've had Wally for almost 5 months now, and he's getting huge, I figured I'd take some comparison photos. Here they are!

Back to Mexico, Back to Work

I've been back for a couple weeks now, and I have been busy than ever. Thankfully, I've had 2 fabulous groups come through, and finally...RAIN!!

Here are  a couple videos from an experience in the desert, as well as the drive back, and some photos taken after some afternoon rains.

Reunion Tour Pt. 1

Iowa. Home.


I MISS YOU!!!


Here's a little bit of what I was up to when I went back home. Those of you at CPC...the reunion tour will be back in December! :)

Caborca 2011 pt. 3!!

I created this video to highlight our adventures in Caborca. Enjoy!

Caborca 2011 pt. 2

Thanks to Amy for her brilliant rhyming skills, and our partnership throughout the week which provided most of the inspiration for this song.

Caborca… in 27 verses

(to the tune of the “Gilligan’s Island” theme)

The time had come to take a trip;

The van was piled high.

Pointed ourselves toward Mexico

And prayed we wouldn’t die.

Permisso lines and sleeping bags,

New friends to make… or not,

Bonded by puke beside the road

At a 50 cent pit stop.

No passing lanes and yellow lines-

We prayed for lots of luck.

Started to wonder when the middle van

Got slammed by a semi truck.

A customs point came mid-way through

Our 3-4 hour tour.

A nice U-turn to the USA –

A 14 hour detour.

“I hate my life” was the refrain

When the trailer was cleared out.

But Captain Kirk, he led the crew

And so we didn’t pout.

“Just go straight” the directions said.

When the fork came, we chose West.

Found ourselves in Hermosillo,

Realized that wasn’t the best.

Turned around and missed a cow

And the crack head as he roamed,

While the other vans, they kissed each other,

And then hit traffic cones.

‘Twas 8pm when the first arrived.

‘Twas 5 once all were here,

Falling upon the tile floor

Amid their piles of gear.

Construction was the morning’s task.

Blueprints – there were none.

Some concrete here, a big nail there.

As long as it gets done!

With talk of screws and getting wood,

No space to turn around,

A wall to build and power tools –

Just don’t come falling down!

As pot fumes float across the wall

The morning gets more fun

We’re climbing walls and dropping things

And still this isn’t done!

Escuela Biblica time is here.

Let’s test our Spanish skills.

With promises of answers soon

And the best sex – what thrills!

Then sickness came and struck some down.

Contesta Bill’s in bed.

Is Opera Sean just sleeping there?

I hope he isn’t dead.

Beans for breakfast, beans for lunch,

Beans for dinner too.

The food looks great, now say a prayer,

And go wash your hands too.

Friendship bracelets, duct tape bags,

Amid our sweat and stink.

The smell is getting worse each day,

But we shower in the sink.

The week wears on, the tensions come.

Loud voices at break of day.

We almost reach a boiling point –

Chris rubs it all away.

How long ago did we all meet?

Has it only been a week?

I’ll tell you ‘bout the sex I’ve had,

And watch you while you sleep.

Do a wood dance, drink horchata,

What’s this milky drink?

Conversations in Caborca

Are not what you think!

Inhaling sawdust, cement showers,

Nails into our feet,

Fiberglass between our boobs,

And still we won’t be beat.

With sandpaper and hammer swings,

This window WILL behave!

And now this classroom’s taking shape

From what was a cave.

Shower time has now arrived,

Don’t flush or I will scream.

Just make sure we all take one

And all smell like a dream!

Out to dinner, lots of salsa,

Guac, and other dips.

Turns out that when it’s the real deal,

Sadly there aren’t chips.

Drink sangria, eat your onions,

(Seems this one’s a boy?)

Eat intestines, lick your fingers

Remember-food’s a toy!

Driving home now – is it over?

Rolled through that stop sign

“You alto-ed like a Mexican!”

Right into a customs line.

What will we do now – there are showers!

Toilet paper too!

No more beans for every meal,

And we have beds here too!

So we’ll remember our last sunset,

Standing in the park.

Prayers with friends both new and old

Until its time to part.

We’ve got stories, lots of pictures

Spanglish in our heads

New friends to stalk in Facebook land

And memories of Caborca!

Caborca 2011

Day 1:

• scheduled to leave at 1:30, Leave at 3 instead
• feel carsick immediately
• pass a semi trailer, miss oncoming traffic by 20 yards
• puke in the car, get out at pit stop, continue vomiting
• Dramamine. :)
• Ram into a double trailer semi while passing other semi. Lose side mirror and mangle van.

• Stop at pull off and check damage, Anne switches vans (and blames it on the non-existant nausea)
• Reach customs stop. First 2 vans proceed. Third van gets stopped because of church name printed on side and trailer hitched to back.
• Anne argues with customs, saying that Agua Prieta officials claimed that van didn't need permission to travel.
• Van did need permission.
• Driver of 2nd mini van exits van, forgets to put in park. 
• Car accident number 2.
• Third van with trailer attached turn back towards Agua Prieta, time stamp 5:30 pm. 2 minivans continue to Caborca.
• Reach AP, get trailer/van permission. Cross the border to pick up car sick pills at WalMart, and pizza at Little Ceasars.
• Leave AP at 9:15 pm. Receive message from rest of group that they have made it to Caborca at 9:30, just in time for a 6 pm worship service.
• Try to pass crack head swerving over all 3 lanes of traffic on a blind curve on a mountain. Almost get car accident #3. Pass successfully.
• Reach customs stop again. In and out in less than 2 minutes.
• Ask directions to Caborca, told to just go straight.
• Reach Santa Anna. Can go right, or can go left, but can't go straight.
• Ask Taco Stand Dude for directions.
• Follow Taco Stand Dude's directions.
• 2 hours later, call Pastor. Told to go back to Santa Anna. Taco Dude was wrong.
• Turn around, encounter new Customs stop. Time Stamp: 2:30 am.
• Change drivers. Customs soldiers command that trailer be emptied and x-rayed.
• Anne. Pissed.
• Continue to Santa Anna.
• Take wrong street to Caborca in Santa Anna.
• Reach Altar, Mexico. Roll through stop sign. Warmly greeted at 4:00 am by Mexican Federal Police.
• Worm way out of ticket. Pull into Caborca church at 4:37 am.

Day 2:

• 7 am wake up call. FML
• work construction. Kirk demotes himself to bottom of group, Anne takes over. (Seriously)
• lunch.
• Shower in the sink. NOTE: 1 bathroom:25 people; 1 shower:25 people
• First day of Bible School
• 6 kids show up at start.
• 40 kids leave at end.
• Success.

Day 3:

• Wake up much more refreshed.
• Breakfast: more beans
• 2 members fall ill, Montezuma's revenge hitting very often. NOTE: still only 1 bathroom.
• Construction: climbing on neighbors roof to reach our roof. Second hand marijuana high. Good MORNING.
• Shower in sink again.
• Lunch. 
• Second day of Bible School. Total of 80 kids. Oldest member of group unknowingly wets his pants. Begin urine smell in common space at night.

Day 4:

• Wake up at 6 am- Group leader using outside voice while rest of the world is sleeping.
• Thererfore, wake up really cranky
• 7:30 Breakfast
• Contingent to leave for Hermosillo, Mexico.
• Begin insulating classroom ceiling for construction.
• Very quickly be covered in fiberglass
• Sweat- a lot
• Lunch: Group leaves for Plaza tour, Kirk and Anne try to finish insulation
• Staple gun out of staples with brand new box of staples no where to be seen. Give up on insulation
• Take REAL shower.
• Third day of Bible School. Those who went to Plaza arrive late. Frantic scramble to be prepared for apx. 60  kids.
• More success.
• More pee smell from group member who only brought 2 pairs of pants, and still hasn't realized that he smells.

Day 5:

• Wake up on my own schedule.
• Breakfast at 7 ish
• Continue with construction. Finish insulating the ceiling. Build and install window and frame. Feel incredibly accomplished, and very dirty/sweaty/itchy.

• Notice member has wet his pants again. Try not to suffocate in small room.
• Contingent back from Hermosillo.
• Lunch
• Real shower again. Try to get rid of all fiberglass in skin.
• Pack and clean common room for trip back to Agua Prieta.
• Bible School: last night. Hotter= less kids. Balloon fight for Recreation. 
• Dinner with Church pastor, fill up on Horchata. YUM.
• Leave Caborca at 8:30.
• Customs stop- no problems.
• Drop off ladder in Altar.
• Pee.
• Pull off road halfway through trip to check new tire on van. Seems to be without problems.
• Reach church in AP 3 hours later. Check tire in van. MANUALLY move lug nuts. WHOOPS.
• Lead group across border for coffee and breakfast stop.
• Return home 4:30 am.

The division wall in the classrooms we were constructing

Future location of cinderblock wall

Practicing the puppet show for Vacation Bible School

The most beautiful insulation work Mexico has ever seen

Here's where I'm headed this week: Caborca, Mexico. Temperatures in the 110-112 range.

If I haven't blogged again by Friday, I died of heat stroke.

Have a great week!

Caborca Map

Culture

I took this video in Naco, Mexico, during the processional for human rights. Both United States citizens and Mexican citizens walked in solidarity opposed to the cruel treatment that many Mexicans have faced in the United States. After the march, there was a gathering in the town plaza with food, music, and dancing.

Then, today, I took this fun video of our menagerie at home.

Puppy

Wally is getting enormous. This video was taken a few days ago with some local boys...they were playing soccer and Wally just couldn't wait to get in on the fun.

What is just?

This is a video that I (badly) recorded on my bike the other day, showing a little bit of the wall between Mexico and the US.

I included some tunes and some facts, and the video ends showing (on the Mexican side) a memorial for a 19 year old man who was shot in the back and killed by the US Border Patrol.

Café Justo

If you've bought it already, you know that it's the best.

If you haven't bought it, support both the CPC University group, but also an overwhelming number of Mexicans in need!

I take no credit for this video, but please watch and learn.

History Lesson

One of the activities that we have for each group that comes to visit us, is something we call Border Games. We take the group out to the countryside near the town, and right up to the fence to do some activities, and learn more about the history of the United States/Mexico border. For those of you who know nothing about the border, the history of it is incredibly interesting. And for those of you who hate history (like me), note that even I get a kick out of this stuff when it's applicable to what I'm doing :)

We start in the year 1550- who inhabited this territory then? (By this, I refer to the present day United States/Mexico border).

Not Mexicans. Not Americans.

The land belonged to the native peoples.

In 1819, the border land would have been considered New Spain, but also the land of Native Peoples (still).

It wasn't until 1821 that Mexicans claimed their independence from Spain, and the land you are *figuratively* standing on became Mexican land.

When did this land finally become the actual border you may ask?

In 1853 the United States completed the Gadson Purchase, which in 1854 established the southern borders of what is today Arizona and New Mexico. The invisible border between the United States and Mexico has been the same since.

However...

In this 300 years of history, it was not people crossing the border (a topic we as a country are soooooo fond of these days). It was in fact, the border crossing groups of people. Most specifically, groups of native people, who had been established in the area for many years.

Why is this important?

In 1910-1920, Mexico was warring with Pancho de Villa. Woodrow Wilson eventually broke a neutrality pact to deploy American military to the United States/Mexico border, to stop the surge of Pancho de Villa and his troops. Pancho de Villa was defeated, and the border continued to be peaceful (for the most part).

Then, in 1924, the United States formed the United States Border Patrol, for 2 main reasons:
1) to enforce Prohibition (1920-1933)
2) to enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act (1886).

In 1930, the Great Depression brought a great fear upon the country, and with this fear, the first mass deportation of people from the United States to Mexico. This deportation included United States citizens, who had been in the same place for years, but had been crossed BY the border.

In 1942, as World War II was in full swing, and our men were out fighting for their country, our country's women joined the workforce. We are all familiar with the image of Rosie the Riveter, taking her stand for justice by working in factories. What seems to be rather unknown to most, was that Rosie and her fellow ladies were joined by another force of workers: Mexicans.

The Bracero Program was begun in 1942 to compensate for the lack of workers in the United States. Originally started to be a 5 year program, it stopped when the war ended, and the men came back home to work.

JUST KIDDING. The men of the United States didn't go back to work. Because of the GI Bill, men went to school, and the Bracero Program was renewed. In fact, contracted laborers from Mexico and Latin America were continually brought to the United States from 1942 to.....



1964. It was in 1964 that 2 main groups expressed their concern about the Bracero Program. The Unions argued that the Bracero Program suppressed wages for hard working American citizens. The Civil Rights Movement was concerned that the Bracero Program was simply an example of legalized slavery. (Braceros could only work for the 1 person to whom they were contracted, which led to a lot of abuse/taking advantage of the workers).

Therefore, the Bracero Program ended.

Having been very used to cheap labor, the United States quickly found a solution to their desire for more- the Border Industrialization Act, which was enacted in 1965. This Act created a 25 mile area to both the north and the south of the United States/Mexico border free of tariffs and taxes, in which the States placed factories, and took complete advantage of cheaper labor.

Because of this, a system of factories was started on the border. This attracted the poor population to the border of Mexico, and thus, border town populations exploded.

As we fast forward a bit, we reach 1994, in which 3 pivotal events took place. They are?




...........


If you guessed NAFTA as one, you are right! The other 2 (of course), were the Zapatista revolt, and the carryout of Operation Blockade.

With the implementation of NAFTA, Mexico was required to do 3 things to enter the treaty.

1. Change their constitution to allow for the sale of communal lands
2. Stop charging tariffs on United States and Canadian commodities
3. Remove all farm subsidies.

Mexico complied with all the terms; the United States actually increased the amount of subsidies that their farms were receiving, creating an incredibly unfair market for Mexican farmers.

Skipping over the Zapatista revolt, I'll quickly explain Operation Blockade.

Changed to Operation Hold the Line (which supposedly just sounds more appealing), this was carried out by the United States Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas in 1994 (approved in 1993), as a way of deterring illegal migrants from entering into El Paso. It was basically a large, expensive game of Red Rover, Red Rover, Let the Mexicans come over (and be detained), and it worked. Because of its success, Southern California implemented Operation Gate Keeper. This blocking of entrances into the United States subsequently funneled migrants more and more toward Arizona and New Mexico, until ultimately, the Agua Prieta/Douglas crossing was and is the busiest of migrant traffic in the history of border crossings.

This was extremely long, and I have dishes to wash! I hope everyone learned a little something :)

On a side note, I'm planning on coming home in the middle of June, and can't wait to see family and friends!!

Happy Easter!

There have been several things going on in the past month- my parents came to visit, we had back to back groups, I dropped my phone and got ripped off my the insurance I was paying...etc.

Having my mom and dad here was great, though the four days they were here seemed to FLY by. They came and were gone much too quickly.

The groups that we had mostly all through April have finally left- now my job includes going through all of their evaluations. I prefer the people experience more than I do reading what they thought of us, but it's a job all the same. Now that the last group has left, and we don't have any coming in for the near future, I can relax a little bit.

Finally, just a couple of days ago, as I was getting out of the car, my phone dropped out of my lap and landed flat on it's screen, shattering the bottom half. It's a miracle that the phone still worked nearly perfectly, but it was ready to die. So, after going through the claim process, my insurance that I was paying on the phone kindly informed me that after paying 90 dollars, I would receive the same phone, brand new.

I filed the claim, and was THEN informed that the phone I had wasn't even manufactured anymore and there was no chance of receiving the same one.

After a lot of stress, a lot of money, and a very unhappy Anne, I have in my hands a new working phone, different model, different style, but functional to say the very least. I'm hoping that as I learn to use it, I'll be less frustrated by the fact that it's not MY phone.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Easter, and that the Easter bunny brings plenty of Cadbury Eggs :)

Quinceañera

 This past weekend was another first for me- a friends 15th birthday, which here in Mexico is greatly celebrated. The quinceañera in Latin America is similar to the American sweet 16- where the birthday girl is celebrated and goes through several ceremonial traditions that symbolize her coming into womanhood. 

Here is a video that I did as an introduction to the festivities.

Cindy made for a beautiful birthday girl, and I was asked to be in charge of videos and pictures for the event. Here are a few of my favorites!!