Day 2: AWB Bonds & Goes Deep :-)

It's nearly 11:00pm on Friday night. Back at school, most people would be out & about but we're here at the hostel playing hilarious games and having dance parties. That's one thing I love about this group-- we're 16 girls who have only generally known each other for 3 days, yet our unity has grown so much. We're able to get a long because we not only share a similar purpose for being here in Texas, but I can see the servants' hearts in each of the girls in the group. The man at the hotel desk who talked our ears off earlier (but has wonderful intentions) even said that to see groups of young people and the current young generation with so much passion really gives him hope. That's all for the cheesy stuff for now =)

Today, our group had to split up for the first time. We contacted an organization located nearby in New Mexico called Tierra Madre. This organization is geared toward forming a sustainable community with low-income housing for people who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford a decent home. The approved homeowners are basically expected to do most of the housebuilding themselves, but they have contractors to show them the ropes, and Tierra Madre coordinates logistics and supplies. I was in a group of eight girls who went to Tierra Madre, and we learned a lot about the organization and were able to do a couple hours of painting a base coat on the outside of the house as well.

The other eight girls did a variety of activities like driving near the Mexican border and visiting a Museum of Archeology. From the stories I've heard them relate, the border was crowded with lines and lines of people who were waiting to get on the United States side. The girls described the sadness they felt after seeing the situation. Also, the archeology museum ended up being an adventure because they got lost on a mountain, and once they finally reached the museum they were disappointed by the 20th century "artifacts" and dead flower gardens :-)

The two groups merged again after lunch, and we visited the El Paso History Museum. One exhibit that caught most of our eyes was a group of walls lined with pictures and stories of women who had immigrated to El Paso. These women came from Lebanon, Syria, Mexico, and many other countries.

I feel like the problems and issues we face in Maryland and around D.C. are so different from the daily worries the people here in El Paso face. The border is such a sensitive issue in many circles, and I think we are all eager to learn about the many different viewpoints concerning immigration. Being in this area has made me feel so incredibly blessed for the opportunities I have at home. Hearing about injustices has really made me and a lot of the other girls struggle with the idea that our own convenience has the potential to inflict so much suffering on others. Watching a documentary last night about women factory workers on the Mexican side of the borders really strengthened these sentiments. That's all for tonight!!

Quote of the day by the hardcore coordinator-woman from Tierra Madre:
"So I sued him, and I won."

--Whitney Beck