November 19, 2022

We woke up at 5 in the morning and left by 6:45 to Reynosa. The drive was a bit rough, pretty uncomfortable squished in between two people, but it’s not much to complain about. The living conditions in Reynosa are terrible for the residents. Because a lot of refugees are staying near the border, there are camps crowded with people, trash and makeshift tents. Their urine is kept in containers near their tents and many of them are barefoot in 40 degree weather in the mud, some of them are hardly clothed properly. 

We also got to meet the family we’re constructing a home for. It’s a super young couple, they’re about 23 and 21 and they have a six year old and a two year old, and they’re expecting a third. The grandmother also lives right next door to them and she’s the sweetest old lady. The kids are so cute and very interactive. 

We didn’t get to any construction work today, we mostly counted supplies and connected with the family. Tomorrow is when the real work begins. 

November 20, 2022

Today made for an amazing day! It was freezing outside but we finished the painting for the houses and I used power tools for the first time ever, which I enjoyed way more than I thought I would. I made friends with the little two year old girl fast, showing her how to paint and kicking the soccer ball around with her for a bit. She’s the sweetest thing ever and offered me some of her candy; she’d even want me to carry her. 

We were hearing about some of the testimonies of the refugees there and it’s gruesome. The living conditions are one thing in Reynosa, but a lot of the refugees are Haitians who walked 6,000 miles from Brazil to Mexico. The travel is exceedingly dangerous for them, sometimes they’d even have their family members swept from the current when crossing the river. Many of the women and girls didn’t get by most central borders without being raped. It’s awful. 

We had a sponsor child that we got to meet as well. She was a nice girl, around my age, who needed funding for school. 

I’ve been surprised by how good the food is here too. We’re staying at a hotel that’s near our location where we’re building the homes, but I’m not kidding when I say the hotel food is the best hotel food I’ve ever had. Not even hotel food, just food in general and it’s super good. 

So many people have gotten really emotional with this experience, and although I feel for these people, I haven’t been emotional at all about it. I don’t feel the want to cry, but I wonder if it’s a need to cry. Probably not, but would that mean I’m not sympathetic enough? I don’t know. 

I remember when I cried once with this kind of situation. It was the first time I had ever gone to a homeless ministry and I just started bawling. That happened to me once and hasn’t happened again. Now that I’ve been exposed to more it doesn’t hit me as hard. Have I desensitized myself and is that bad? I’m not sure. Either way though, I’m grateful I’m on this trip.

November 21, 2022

We had another very eventful day today. We finished most of the construction and are planning to complete everything by tomorrow. I used more of the power tools today and even got on the ladder for the roof top construction  even though I’m mostly terrified of heights. Heights and power tools just don’t seem to go hand in hand for me, but I did it, so I’m glad I could help. 

We heard more testimonies from the other missionaries there, and they shared really heart wrenching stories. This one man at one point was saving for college but had to spend his savings by ransoming his son out of the cartel. His son died shortly after he got him back. I have no idea how to understand what these people have gone through and their stories, but I’m willing to help with whatever I can manage. The least I can do is try to be compassionate, even though I kind of suck at it sometimes. I can’t just say that all of them choose to live in abject poverty, I don’t know how much of this is their choice at all. 

Oh! But the best part of my day was assisting in translating for two families. One of them was for the sponsor family of my friend Lauren. It was a boy of about 11 and his father, and they sponsor the child for their education and basic needs. The father works in garbage trucking and said he hasn’t managed to get by much work because of the bad weather and because he only has another coworker to help him out. I was happy I could manage with whatever rusty Spanish I could muster up; it didn’t turn out to be half as bad. The other family I helped with escorting out since they didn’t know the event was over. Pretty simple, nothing big. However, I was glad to get out of my comfort zone a bit. To be honest though, I think I’ve been doing that more on this trip and it’s been very enlightening. 

The locals have also been very supportive and the families we’ve been helping even made a contribution by cooking us an authentic meal. It was so generous and thoughtful of them, given the circumstances of course. We had tamales and pozole, which was one of the best meals I’ve had on this trip. It reminded me a lot of my grandma since she’s made this kind of stuff for us before. In Reynosa pozole is definitely a real treat for them though. Good meals aren’t necessarily a commonality, so processed sugars make up most of their diet. 

As for the weather, I’ve been wearing up to five to six layers since it’s 40 degrees outside and wet. Because it’s been raining quite a bit, most of our paint has been running, but we’re trying to make do with what we can. The house isn’t going to be a grade A kind of project, mostly like a cute shack, but it’s the best you can do with a handful of people and a limited amount of supplies. 

The cultural dynamic here is also very giving despite their conditions. Even the children are really great about sharing and will typically give their candy to their siblings before they get some. Even the family we’re helping has contributed a lot with helping out with the house, like painting and construction, even providing a few supplies. 

Although tomorrow is our last day, everything really did go by quickly. Yes, I won’t lie, the work is exhausting and you’re all cold and sweaty and gross by the end of the day, not having a good place to shower, but it’s been so so rewarding. I would do it again if I’m being honest. Just seeing the kids smile is sufficient enough for me. I acknowledge that I’ll never know what it’s like for them, and that I do have it good, but it really allows you to be grateful. It’s opened my eyes in being grateful, and what a coincidence that it’s thanksgiving week, huh? It was the perfect timing and I think I spent my thanksgiving break well.

I’ll end with a quote,

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” 

-G.K Chesterton

It is. It really is.