Chris and Caleb were a part of a border journey prior to the pandemic. Their perspective shines a light into what they experienced while journeying through the southern border with our team.

Partnering with Border Perspective

My son, Caleb, and I had been discussing taking a trip together for a few years. He is 27 years old and has his own life, but we are close and have always had fun together. We had talked about wonderful places, such as Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc. We knew they would be fun and entertaining!

During these same few years, we had been deepening our Faith in our Savior together, reading through the Bible in a year and a couple of good books together. The conversations were hearty, sharpening, and fruitful!

We would often land on similar, simple truths that God loves us so enormously, that love should be pouring out of us to the lost and hurting people in our world. Soon our desires for our trip changed to match up with our heart attitude. We decided our trip would be one of service, learning, and adventure.

In our search, we came across Border Perspectives in Pharr, TX. We had been keeping up on the issues at the United States border with Mexico and so there was that initial interest. Then we read the story of Pastor Hugo and Eunice Moya’s ministry with their son, Yonathan.

Part of the story includes Hugo, as a young child, watching a movie about the crucifixion of Jesus and how he was heartbroken, how he carried the painful image of Jesus being crucified in his heart and mind for 15 years. Then he met Eunice! She told him the “Good News” of our risen Savior and they have been telling and living the story of Jesus together in the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas), ever since.

Wow! We also spoke with Yonathan to make sure it made sense for us to join them on one of their Border Trips. After all, we aren’t Pastors or church leaders, just a couple of guys looking for an adventure in service and neither of us speaks Spanish. I assumed that my good grades in 4 years of high school French were not going to be much help, Yonathan agreed. He shared more about the trip and encouraged us that we would certainly have an opportunity to serve in a way that we hoped.

Traveling to South Texas

As we traveled to the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas), Caleb from Colorado, and me from Indiana, we had in our minds all the news reports and accounts from government leaders about the issues at our southern border. This had us arrive with mixed expectations and scattered thoughts, but we knew, for certain, that we would encounter hurting people that God loves.

We were on an adventure, led by faith, to love these people, not fix Washington or the media. “Nothing matters, but Faith expressing itself in Love” Galatians 5:6b was our verse for this trip, and as Bob Goff would say, “Love always assumes it will have an opportunity to express itself”.

Admittedly, we were a bit nervous and uncertain, we had never done anything like this before, but we were assuming this was the right opportunity.

Arriving at our Destination

We landed and, after a short drive, we were welcomed into the guest house by Hugo and Eunice. As they were greeting us and showing us our room, I kept imagining the day she explained our risen Savior to him. They are a wonderful couple! Eunice had things to do to prepare around their home, which is next door, so Hugo showed us around town and took us for tacos… DELICIOUS!

We sat and learned more about the ministry and the people we would encounter over the next several days. The situation, at the border, was in constant flux, as the policies were ever-changing, as was the uncertainty for so many. Hugo’s passion, as he shares these things, is evident. His smile comes easily and often. He is one of those humble guys that isn’t trying to be compassionate and caring, he just is. God’s love pours out of him.

Our First Adventure

With full stomachs, we went to Border Missions to load up fresh vegetables to be distributed to the needy and homeless. Ministries throughout the RGV come here to gather vegetables to be given in love to people on both sides of the border. “Both sides” is my terminology. I never got the idea that sides mattered with anyone I encountered in the area when it came to loving their neighbor.

There was a line of vehicles to be loaded at the Mission, so Caleb and I joined Hugo in loading each one. We got to meet the men and women of these ministries, as we loaded their vehicles. There were Holas’ and Gracias’ shared, but our Spanish limited verbal communication. There was a simple understanding of what we were all there to do, so nods and smiles said plenty. This was such a great opportunity to engage in the community! To see the hope being offered by this ministry partner and to join them in a small way was wonderful!

Learning About History

Our visit included more active learning about the community and its history. We were able to journey along the border, see the wall being built, and visit many historic sites. This allowed us a much better understanding of the area and the real daily issues that are being impacted by government policies.

The area is beautiful, as the Rio Grande River peacefully provides for the two countries. The concrete and metal structures being erected seem out of place and completely against the openness that we encountered. We came across Jackson Chapel, built by escaped slaves in the 1800s, as a place of refuge and hope. There were so many interesting places, parks, historic sites!

Too many stories to detail here, but know that weaving them together was important as we learned about the Rio Grande Valley. We even got pulled over by the Border Patrol! He was serious and diligent in his review of us, but also thoughtful as he performed and explained his duty. He explained that we had been picked up by sensors/cameras and he was alerted to investigate our purpose to be along the border.

Others We Met Along This Journey

There were two Pastors that were also on this trip. One of the best parts of this adventure was the times we spent talking about what we were encountering and sharing our different perspectives. Our backgrounds couldn’t have been more different, but the openness of the discussions quickly brought us together.

I loved listening as my son shared his heart with them and they consumed his words and spoke life back to him. I’m actually crying as I type this out. Yonathan would engage us with thoughtful questions that would challenge us to consider what we had seen, and how we would respond. We had seen quite a bit, but as it turns out, we were just getting started.

Our Next Adventure

We sat around the kitchen table that night and began to plan our next adventure, a trip into Mexico. We would have the opportunity to serve asylum seekers that had been turned back into the streets of Mexico. These are people that escaped danger in their home countries in Central America, seeking asylum in the United States.

They escaped danger and now are stuck in another dangerous place. There is little hope for most of them to gain access to the United States and they are without resources to make the dangerous journey back to Central America. We stayed up late to sort hygiene kits and baby supplies, then planned to wrap tacos early the next morning before heading out. We could hardly sleep. This adventure was just taken to a different level and we were eager for the opportunity!

Serving Migrants in Matamoros, Mexico

We got up early, wrapped several hundred tacos, loaded the van, and we were off!! Hugo and Eunice were upfront leading the way. We weren’t far across the border when the sea of displaced migrants came into view. I was immediately overwhelmed by the size of this group with so many little children.

They were living on the streets without any water or facilities. It was hard to see. I had served the homeless in Indianapolis for 6 years, but this was worse than I had previously encountered. Hugo and Eunice led us down the streets, as we pulled carts of supplies.

Hugo was letting the crowd know, as we walked, that we had supplies for women and children. I was amazed as the men in this scene stepped to the side and allowed the women with children to follow closely and be first in line.

Learning to Encourage Others

At first, I thought “what nice guys”, then I realized it was really the Spirit in which Hugo walks and speaks that was directing this scene, setting the stage for God’s love to be distributed. We came to a stop along a curb and divvied up what each would hand out.

I knew we would encounter children on our trip and I wanted to be able to encourage them in some way. My nephew, Nicolas, who is on his own journey with God, was kind enough to translate some phrases for me to offer as encouragement.

So as Caleb and I were passing out tacos, I was able to crouch down, look a child in the eye, hand them a taco and tell them, “You are beautiful!”, “You are strong!”, “God loves you!”, etc. It was so much fun! The children would smile and say “Gracias”. I could see hope in their eyes and they would excitedly unwrap their taco. I would then stand up and offer a taco to their Mom/guardian and her eyes were much different.

Her hope had been shattered and she was scared for herself and her child. This happened over and over until the supplies were gone. Most of the migrants pulled back to their places on the street at this point. A few adults were sharing their stories and being prayed for in our group. A few children were still lingering with some curiosity about our group.

We wadded up some paper cups and started playing catch with one young boy. A couple of others joined in on the fun. I would take turns throwing to them and it was clear they had not played much catch, if ever. It was heartbreaking to be reminded that they didn’t have a school playground or a Little League to learn this skill.

Then in an emotional rush, I began to consider all the things they were missing, the other important skills they were not developing. I was thankfully pulled back into the moment by the excitement on their faces for this game of catch. It was like each time I would throw the cup in their direction, they felt chosen and special. This is the God we have been learning so much about, this is what He wanted them to feel and know, me to feel and know!

A discarded paper cup, thrown by a flawed sinner communicated His Love. They are chosen and special and Loved!! Immigration can never be just an issue to me again, it is Carlos, Luis, and Sophia.

Visiting the McAllen Respite Center

Another place we visited, made this scene so much harder to stomach. We visited the Catholic Charities Refugee Center. This wonderful place, just a short distance back across the border into the US, is almost empty. Thousands of people, like the families we just met, would come through here each week, before the recent (MPP) policy change. The stories of the hope and opportunity offered in this place are incredible.

The gentleman that explained all of this was clearly saddened by the current reality, as he pointed out the available showers, stacks of bedding and supplies at the ready. All of those hurting, displaced people we had encountered earlier could find hope and rest here. How can this be?

I am left to wrestle with many things discovered on this trip. I have written letters to the members of Congress from Indiana. I have written to all the Democratic candidates for President, as well as President Trump and Vice President Pence. I will not go into my thoughts on policy, as that was not our goal.

A Struggling Spirit and Heart

My spirit and heart struggle with what feels like a meanness of a country I love. A country so consumed by personal safety and health that our hearts are paralyzed from acting beyond our fears.

Jesus offered “Do not be afraid” often and I believe it is applicable here. I could go on, but it would be as incoherent as the struggle feels right now, I welcome this struggle and the added depth it brings.

I leave with a much better understanding of the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas). In its history, I found it to have always been a place of hope and refuge. The slaves escaped to this valley to find hope and refuge. They built a chapel to worship their source of Hope. I think about Eunice offering the “Good News” to a young man and the miracle of that Hope in his life. I think about the line of people at Border Missions loading up their vehicles with produce with the Hope of impacting a life for Christ.

The gentleman at the empty Respite Center, keeping his supplies organized and ready, as he expects love will have another opportunity. I can still see the look in the eyes of Carlos, Luis, and Sophia just across the river and I hope they will find their way to this valley.

I would like to thank Hugo, Eunice, and Yonathan for allowing Caleb and me the opportunity of this adventure. Our trip was more than we could have ever experienced in our own planning. I pray many will be brought to experience the border though Border Perspective.