"We really need you to be flexible." This is the standard line delivered during the orientation of volunteer work teams by the Isaiah 55 staff. While it is always true that flexibilty is key, this phrase was never more true than during the week of July 17-24.
Several weeks before our trip to the border Hurricane Alex & Tropical Depression 2 dropped torrential amounts of rain up the Rio Grande Valley and into the mountains of eastern Mexico. The deluge filled reservoirs and forced hydro-electric officials to release massive amounts of water into smaller rivers that lead to the Rio Grande flooding the valley from Nuevo Laredo to Matamoros. The floodplains bordering the river in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico were still eight feet under water two weeks after the initial flooding. These are areas that haven't bean flooded in 70 years.
Wes, Jess, & their 1 year old daughter, friends of Isaiah 55, are currently living at a property owned by the Isaiah 55 that is located near Boystown, the notorious walled portion of Reynosa that serves as homes to prostitutes and drug dealers. After flood waters covered a squatters camp near the border about 50 homeless individuals, between the ages of 6 months and 80+ years old, showed up at Wes' gate. Being the gentleman that he is, Wes invited them to stay.
This is the situation we walked into on Monday morning.
"Be flexible...”
Through out that day and the days that followed, I was able to have several conversations with a few of the folks staying there. The story I remember most was not told to me, but to a friend. So here is that story: Miguel was hoboing from one migrant farm job to another. As he went to jump off of the moving train he was caught between the wheels & tracks. In the process he lost a leg, below the knee. After being treated in a hospital in the States, he was deported. Driven to the border, dropped off, and basically told not to come back. He wound up at Wes' place after the squatters camp flooded. All Miguel had was his two crutches, a prosthesis made from a walking cast, and a shoe shine kit. At this, my friend expressed his sympathy. Miguel's response “Don't feel sorry for me. If I had three legs just like the one I lost, I would give them all to know Jesus.” Most of us who were there had conversations like these.
The point I want to return to is this... Be Flexible... Wes called Nono (Isaiah 55's team leader) on Sunday evening & explained the situation. Nono's response was not “Wes you need to find them somewhere else to stay” or “What were you thinking.” His response was “What do you need.”
This is the team Karen & I get to be a part of. A group of individuals whose call is to reach the deaf...and the deaf at heart.
Thanks for being part of the ride,
Ryan
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