The One With All The Singing

¡Hola familia!

Today we got down to business once again to complete our landscaping project within a large basketball court-sized lot near the Pio Decimo Center. Fortunately, we had access to a couple of gas-operated weed whackers, as well as 100% participation from our team. We completed the project (check out the before-and-after pictures below!), and the lot may eventually become a playground for the residents of the apartments operated by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona.

After that, we went into Pio Decimo Center and helped with the intake of some non perishable food donations. Franklin and Dave also assisted with shoveling compost into a new receptacle while the girls had a fun singing session.

At noon, we headed to Eegee’s restaurant to fuel ourselves for our one-hour drive to Nogales, AZ. The slushees there were great, brain freeze and all!

When we arrived at Lourdes Catholic School in Nogales, we were greeted by two students, Juan Paulo and Camila. They escorted us into the classroom, where both of them and several of their classmates shared about how they help migrants through the Kino Border Initiative and the Kino Teens program. They also shared their own personal experience, which included crossing the U.S./Mexico border every day to attend classes. Finally, we heard from Father Pete Neely who support and advocates for the teens in the work they do.

To end our day, we had a simple meal that consisted of “dino nuggets,” mac ‘n cheese, and ice cream, a song performance of the Lion King, and finalized with a reflection on the subjects of rights and inclusivity within the context of Catholic Social Teaching.

Tomorrow is our last day here (sniff sniff), and we will return to Nogales to visit the border patrol.

XOXO,

AZ Border ABST

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