Kentucky and El Paso: two places with very tangible needs for people to address. Kentucky is recovering from a recent flood, while El Paso is flooded with people in need. John Brown University students served in both places over spring break. Diego Flores, sophomore criminal justice major at JBU, served in El Paso. This spring break mission trip was Flores’ premier experience in the mission field.
“The trip was organized by ABARA,” Flores noted, “an organization committed to providing relief and support to those at the border as well as facilitating border encounter trips such as the one we were on in order to change the narrative on the issue of immigration and to spread the realities of the border and what it is really like.” Flores said that the El Paso mission group, comprised of students from JBU and the University of the Ozarks, traveled across the border to serve two immigration shelters: one in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and the other in El Paso, Texas. Flores said, “[We] focused on experiencing the situation at the southern border of the United States in order to form our own perspective on the issue and allow us to come back to our communities to change the narrative on immigration.”
Flores commented, “The location in Juarez allowed us to simply listen and enjoy the time with immigrants in order to hear their stories and put a face to immigration.” However, the mission trip had more than just first-hand learning to experience. The mission trip included serving immigrants who were already in the United States. “The second location in El Paso, Annunciation House, was much more hands on. We helped incoming immigrants into the country as they transitioned from out of detention centers and into the homes of those who would host them as they awaited trial.” The immigration center, Flores noted, is a milestone in the immigration process. “Annunciation House provides immigrants with a place to stay for a couple of days, some essential hygiene items, new clothes, a meal, and the means to communicate with family members in order to make travel arrangements.”
The troupe made the simplest tasks lighter for the immigrants. Flores stated, “We assisted in … feeding them, doing their laundry, picking out new clothes for them, offering them hygiene items, filling out legal paperwork and most importantly making sure they felt comfortable in our presence so that they knew we were there to help them.”
Flores talked in detail about the people he met on the trip, including a courageous immigrant named Nahum. Nahum had been through a lot and was waiting on the U.S. government to know if he would be allowed into the country. “It was difficult to say bye to him because we knew that the chances he had to come into the U.S. legally were very few,” Flores lamented.
Flores was not alone in having an impact on another’s life; Nahum deeply impacted him. “Nahum is someone I will never forget because he reminds me that the hope of Jesus always will exist despite the difficulties in life.” Flores noted through his time with Nahum that “It is up to us to look for God in the midst of darkness to guide us and keep us pushing despite everything that we may endure.” Flores returned from amazing experience to JBU with the testimony of performing Christian service and developed a wonderful friendship. Spring break for Flores was not a vacation; rather, it was an invitation to work for Christ through serving others.
The El Paso and Kentucky mission trips have no doubt left a lifelong impression on those who served and those who were served. That service has also undoubtedly left an impression that will last long in the memories of those involved. Perhaps Flores will see Nahum again in person one day.
Flores had good reasons for choosing to join the El Paso mission trip. “I chose to spend my spring break on this trip because I wanted to learn more about immigration, but I also wanted to experience a different perspective of our world. It is so easy to get stuck in the bubble that JBU puts you in,” Flores said.
“This trip allowed me to go see the world for what it is … to experience the brokenness of this world and to realize my place in God’s kingdom and how he is navigating my life to love others as he loves us despite the differences we all have.”
Photo curtsy of Roland Denes at Unsplash