Skip to main content

Build Bridges Instead of Walls

¡Hola a todos! 

Our day started really early since we had to drive to Nogales, AZ once again. Before  we actually hit the road, we had to pass through the Pio Decimo Center to pick up our great alumnus, John Lohse. 

After driving for one hour, we arrived at Nogales Border Patrol where we were kindly greeted by three officers, one of which was Border Patrol Agent Sergio Leones Jr. who coordinated our experience. Once we signed in, we had a very thorough presentation about their job description and the responsibilities that come with it. They seize any kind of illegal contraband; monitor areas by using sensors, cameras, and tracking skills; protect wildlife and vegetation; and attend classrooms or meetings to inform the public about their duties and why life as a criminal is not worth it. Most importantly, they care about the safety and well-being of people. 

We briefly saw their command center, and afterwards separated into two groups to drive by the border wall. The officers explained how people attempt to cross it and what they do afterwards if they are successful. We also saw hundreds of water bottles laying near the fence. After finally seeing this giant fence of steel, we all sat down quietly trying to process and comprehend what we just learned and saw. 

Once we arrived to Tucson, we yet again went to the Pio Decimo center to thank John and Marcia for everything they have done for us. We reflected on how much we accomplished and learned but also how much we enjoyed it. 

For our reflection, we all shared how much we were affected by visiting the border wall. We also did the “string situation” in which we all share how much each and every one of us has grown through the trip.

We will be ending our night going out to enjoy our last meal together at a local Sonoran-Mexican restaurant. 

Tomorrow we wake up early so we can drive to Phoenix and finally get back to our lovely homes in Erie, PA.

XOXO, 
AZ ABST




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reading, Weeding, and Ice-Creaming

¡Feliz Lunes desde Arizona! (Happy Monday from Arizona!)  Today our group embarked on our first day of true service here in Tucson, AZ. After a telling conversation about the one person each of us would choose to have a meal with (anyone dead/alive and real/fictional), the group took a short ride over to the Pio Decimo Center and was welcomed by our friend, John Lohse. Not only is John a member of the Catholic Community Services board, but he’s also an engaged volunteer at the Pio Decimo Center. After arriving, we were oriented on all of the services that the Center offers to the Tucson area by John and Marcia, the executive director of Pio Decimo Center. The Pio Decimo Center is a branch of the Catholic Community Services (another name for Catholic Charities) of Southern Arizona, which provides services to a portion of the state that is approximately the land size of Pennsylvania. The Center offers numerous programs to aid low-income individuals and families including a foo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hector the Loneliest Saguaro

Hola from Arizona!  Today, our ABST team was lucky to spend the day with John Lohse, our alumni guide for the trip, who was gracious enough to show us some of Tucson’s finest sights. We started with an early morning stop at Gate’s Pass, a beautiful overlook where we could see miles and miles of Arizona’s natural, cactus-filled landscape. Then, we drove through some windy and bumpy terrain to reach our next destination: The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.  John led us around the museum, pointing out some of the larger wildlife exhibits as well as some key aspects of the vegetation native to the area. The javelinas and river otter as well as the lush cactus garden were definitely some crowd favorites!  Next, we headed for the Mission San Xavier del Bac , nicknamed the “White Dove of the Desert.” Here, we took the time to explore the gorgeous mission started by Father Kino, and even climbed up to a cross overlooking the mission grounds (and surprisingly, no one was inju...
Post a Comment
Read more