It’s December! Again. It seems we were just here, although it was roughly 345 days ago. My desire was to start this month by sending you encouragement for this Advent season on December 1st, but instead I found myself on the Texas border serving alongside the Humanitarian Crisis Relief center there.
Let me just tell you right now — there were no words to pen the day of that experience.
I left for the border with the word advent running through my mind. Advent means coming. It’s the perfect season where we practice the waiting for the coming.
My grandchildren wait for the coming of Christmas morning and those gifts that Santa will bring.
Friends wait for the coming of job opportunities, while the work force seems silent.
Loved ones waiting for test results and answers to health issues.
And 2000 years ago Christ was born and the world had been void of God’s voice for 400 years, the people waited for the coming of the Messiah.
But on December 1st my heart was a wrecked up mess over another coming.
As I visited, served, toured, and asked many questions at the HCR, my heart cracked. People there piled in every room — waiting.
As these children wait, they helped me sort hygiene products.
These legal immigrants longing for asylum, waiting for help.
Help with transportation to loved ones.
Help with a meal, hygiene items, and a set of new clothing.
Help with a shower and diapers for their infant babies.
These refugees (mostly from Guatemala, which if you’ve been reading here long enough, you know that steals my heart), waiting for the coming.
The coming of a new day where they are no longer persecuted by their government and gangs.
A longing to be united with family awaiting them here.
A HOPE that tomorrow would be filled with their dreams and prayers answered.
The true meaning of the manger burst forth as refugee’s outside wait for buses to take them to family.
That coming — advent — has Jesus written all over it.
He was the baby and all were waiting on his arrival. His coming.
He came with a new authority and power, he came with eternity on his mind where everything would seem backwards to the ones looking on. This King was not of the throne, but was born in a manger. He went on to teach that the first would be last. The least would be greatest.
He was born as his parents fled from a king who ordered his death.
He came for the least of these. The overlooked, marginalized, hurting and needy.
Jesus was born lowly for you and I.
When I think about the people and children I met, I’m still a wreck. Truthfully, my thoughts are still a jumbled mess, but now I’ve seen with my own eyes this coming of families fleeing for a better tomorrow.
Here’s a few facts I learned first hand on the border:
FIRST — The majority of the people we served were from Guatemala. Y’all you know that wrecks me up as I’ve spent 5 years leading teams there to help get children sponsored.
SECOND — Each family was there LEGALLY. They had papers, documentation, and were waiting to make connection with family and await their court day. They were the sweetest and most appreciative!!
THIRD — This center was run by Catholic Charities. They see over 700 families per day!!!! EVERY. DAY. They are volunteer driven and provide the people with bus transportation to their family, a package of hygiene products, a hot meal, showers, clothing, medical attention (if needed), and a sack lunch with water as they leave. Some families end up staying over night while they wait to connect with family.
My heart broke and yet felt so at home serving them.
While I’ve had broken times in my life that have laid me flat out helpless, I have never lived in an environment where I felt the need to travel absurd and unsafe miles to get my family to safety. If you live in the United States, seriously, THANK GOD you were born here.
This advent season, if you’d like to help bring goods and resources to the HCR, please let me know.
I will be going back soon. They are in need of hygiene packets — travel-size toothpastes, toothbrushes, travel-size deodorants, and combs. Links for items provided. (Please have them shipped to me – email for address) They can also use gift cards to a local grocery store here to help with their to-go sandwich bags. The need is great!
May each of us use this Advent season of waiting and anticipating Christmas morn, to reflect on the ones who are outcasts and how they await the coming birth of a hope and a future.