simpco-spring-break

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Adios Mission, TX!

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Day 4 and 5 are over and we’re on the bus!

I took a little break from posting every day so I could be a little more present on the last couple nights and also rest a little extra. Service trips like this one have a way of filling your heart and soul but draining your body. On Day 4, we finished painting the house and celebrated Seth’s birthday. We also helped the home owner throw a little party for the neighborhood, where I spent most of my time face painting. We saw a little community grow together with memories, and our own community got strong eating burgers for dinner and cake from heb. I’ll include pictures, of course.

Yesterday, our last day, we went to South Padre Island and had a day at the beach. We started the trip on a boat where we got to see dolphin. Members of our group made friends playing sand volleyball. I collected sea shells to take home and show my little brother. A few of us went to a bird watching center. Over all, the day was a fun way to wrap up our trip, and we ended with a celebration dinner at a mexican restaurant.

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Day 3 has came and gone.

Our group spent the day in the colonia we are working in, where are group worked hard to to caulking and painting the home we’re working on.

Today our group leader Molly began the day with a question for us to reflect on: what is a home? what makes a home? Without realizing it, myself and a few of the other team members answered this question amongst ourselves when we were talking about what we’d be doing if we weren’t on this trip. Most of us said we’d probably be at home. We decided home can mean different things depending on the context. For me, home can be Kappa Kappa Gamma, the sorority I belong to. It can also be my home where my family lives, a place I can always go to for breaks and on weekends for a home cooked meal of chicken and dumpling soup from my mama or a good steak from my dad. Sometimes, when I think of Home i think of my grandmas house or the house I grew up in when I was little, where my family doesn’t live anymore and I’ll almost definitely never return to. But when I think of home I also think of the people: like my sisters at Kappa, or my parents and siblings. But, also, the memories, like talking til all hours of the night or playing board games around the kitchen table.

After our long day, we drove to the border wall and walked around a park in Hildago to see it. For those who don’t know, part of it is literally a chain link fence, and most of it is just sections no wider than a football field with plenty of gaps. I appreciated the experience of seeing what it looked like up close. It seems to me (and this is strictly my opinion) that it is not a border wall there to protect our country, it is a symbol. It is there to create an “us vs. them” mentality. it is a symbol of divide. racism. and hate. Communities have been split because of that wall. Property owners have had their land split. Instead of sewing seeds of decision and hate we as christian’s should be sewing love and faith. We should open our arms as Jesus would. Tonight, I’m going to pray for love, and reflect on something that God planted in my heart today, which is lyrics from a church song I’ve sung more times than I can count.

“Open my eyes, Lord. Teach me to see your face. Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear your voice. Open my heart, Lord. Teach me love like You.”

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Day 2 is in the books!

We headed for Proyecto Azteca today, where we learned 132 powerpoint slides worth of information about colonias and immigration. There’s no way I would have been able to remember the hours worth of information without some note taking.

Some of the details I found particularly important were related to healthcare. I mentioned this yesterday, but as a pharmacy tech, a good amount of my knowledge about healthcare comes from what I learned behind the counter. There are heart-wrenching stories from home I could share about people who can’t afford insulin, or who are addicted to their prescriptions. But in places like this, the cases aren’t few and far between: they’re everywhere. The city I’m in right now is the “asthma capitol of the state” because of children growing up in poverty and suboptimal housing. For every 2000-something people there is only 1 doctor, which creates a huge disparity. Additionally, many people can’t get any sort of healthcare since they don’t have insurance. They have to literally be on deaths door to receive treatment.

The poverty here is a huge issue, and many families only being paid minimum wage, or, worse, stolen wages. For those who don’t know, stolen wages are when someone is promised payment, they do a job, and never receive the money. This can happen for a few reasons, but a major one is “well, they’re undocumented, so i don’t have to.” but, of course, they do. you can’t promise someone payment and never give it to them.

After our educational morning, we were able to travel to the colonia we will be working in for the next couple days. We handed out fliers for a community building party we’ll be throwing for the local children. The culture there was so interesting to me. Dogs were everywhere, often used to protect property. (Pictures attached of a few who followed us around, barking.) Yet, some things are the same. There was a little girl who was wearing a baby yoda shirt, which made me instantly think of my little brother. We picked up supplies for the party, and started planning what we want to do. This included a stop to a local piñata store to get candy. (pictures also included.) Over all, it was a good day. But I’m excited to get to work painting tomorrow. More to come!

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Alright, so, day 1 is in the books and our second group has arrived. They got here a little after 7, while we were eating dinner, and I spent the last few hours before now… (It’s 11 at night and i’m up way too late, oops.) Reflecting on my day. Honestly, I’m not done reflecting, but here’s what I have for now.

Today, we spent the day at Catholic Charities Respite Center for immigrants who had just been released from the detention center and are making the next step to entering the US. There were so many things I noticed and learned that I don’t even think I can jam it all into one post. My mind is still swirling with all the things I learned, saw, and experienced just today, and I’m so excited to see what the rest of my week brings.

Myself and Adrienne Gathman, one of our “designated adults” were behind the “pharmacy” which was really just a counter with necessities and OTC medicines. For those reading this who know me personally, I’ve worked as a pharmacy tech-in-training since summer of 2021, and I felt very lucky to be able to put that skill to use, as well as some Spanish speaking that I learned through four years of high school. I am far from fluent, and definitely rusty, but was able to pick up on things, and by the end of the day I was better than when I began. (I’ll be sending my high school Spanish teacher an email at the end of the week. Shout out to you, Señora Lee!) Basically, the people who were there, many children, would come up, tell me what was wrong or what they needed, and I would give it to them. This light include diapers, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste, acetaminophen, tums, or a number of other things. Oh, and you can’t forget shoe laces. I handed out a lot of shoe laces.

For those of you who are like me and have never been in a detention center, or detained for some other reason, you might not be aware of the fact that when they take you into custody, one of the first things they do is take away your shoe laces. But they don’t give them back when you’re released from custody. I dare you to take your shoe laces out of your nike’s and try walking around for a day. It can’t be easy. Imagine not having this every day item. An additional note: this is true if you end up on the US side after you’re detained, and if they send you back to the Mexico side of the border. Our guide told us about the fact that for those who aren’t as lucky as those who get to enter the country, having no shoe laces makes them exceptionally susceptible to being picked up by human traffickers or cartel members. Tonight, I will pray for those who made it to America, and those who aren’t as lucky.

That’s all I’ll share about my first day for tonight, but later this week if I get the chance, I’ll write more about the mat’s these people slept on, the clothes they wore, the funny, human stories, and so much more. This first day has already changed me, and I’m so excited and open to what comes next. First, though, I want to share a quote I’ll be meditating on tonight, one by St. Theresa of Calcutta.

“We can do no great things. Only small things with great love.”

All I was able to do today was give people shoe laces, medicine, or a smile. But I also was able to give and receive a lot of love that will stay with me. I’m so excited for the rest of this week. More to come.

Buenos Noches!

Aleah

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Day… 00?

Last night, our first group arrived at around 8:45. We met our group leader, Molly, who is a spunky woman who I think will make the trip all the more exciting.

She gave us the layout for today, explained rules to us, and told us what the mission for wonder voyage is. She said it something like this, and it’s something I’ll reflect on throughout the week: Wonder, there is wonder everywhere, and love everywhere. Voyage, you have to go out into the world to find it. Missions, the way to find wonder, and give it, is through service. I’m so excited for today, which I’ll post pictures of tonight, but for now, that’s all!

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Friday Group stopped at a buck-ee’s on our drive today!! We’re around an hour away from our destination, but so far, so good!

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Welcome!

This is where I will be keeping everyone updated on the goings-on of our spring break service trip! Here’s the link to our photo circle, where all of the photos will be that I don’t post here. Thanks! -- Aleah 

https://join.photocircleapp.com/2V8QN49TY9