June 24, 2019
It has been a difficult week for me and asylum seekers.
I have been devastated by the news of the young man and his daughter who drowned yesterday in Brownsville. He and his daughter had been on the Gateway bridge (where we serve) for two months. That means that I probably helped feed them and surely played with that child in May and June. He became desperate and attempted to swim the Rio Grande with his daughter. Apparently, his wife saw their bodies float up along the shore. (My friend assures me that I did not know them…but I think he is lying to me because he fears that I will have a total breakdown in front of him!)
Yesterday, I also learned of the young woman, her toddler and her two babies who died of dehydration in Mission, TX. about an hour from Brownsville.
Good God in heaven….what is happening? Who are we? Who do we want to be?
Last week I volunteered at the Gateway bridge in Brownsville. I took 500 t-shirts and 40 Yoga mats to be distributed, only to realize that what the asylum seekers REALLY need is WATER! We work with asylum seekers who are “camped out” in a Plaza (think asphalt and concrete) before you get to the bridge. It was swelteringly hot and we were only providing 192 bottles per day, for approximately 100 people. That is less than two bottles of water per day. My friend Michael and I were able to arrange a deal with five Methodist churches in Matamoros where they pick up, deliver and distribute 480 bottles of water each day at the bridge. They bring 240 bottles of water twice a day, once in the early morning and again at late afternoon.
But water is expensive! It is costing us $475 per week or $2060 per month.
My friend Cathy Bonner has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the water. Cathy is going to MATCH the donations, dollar for dollar.
Please help…you may save a child’s life! And please share with all of your friends and contacts.
With many tears and much gratitude,
Ann