{"id":1273,"date":"2013-12-18T19:38:42","date_gmt":"2013-12-19T02:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/?p=1273"},"modified":"2013-12-18T20:42:34","modified_gmt":"2013-12-19T03:42:34","slug":"the-gift-of-a-stranger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/?p=1273","title":{"rendered":"The Gift of a Stranger"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I&#8217;m padding around the house at midnight unable to sleep. The full moon lights up the living room with a ghostly sheen, but I turn on the twinkling Christmas lights anyway.\u00a0 They dangle and twist around the agave plant spire that acts as our Christmas tree. The desert is glowing with a silvery patina; the night owls are hooting. While the dogs are softly snoring (along with my husband), I look out at the glittering stars and frost blanketing the surrounding mountains.\u00a0 It is the most magical time of the year.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">And I wonder who is out there. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1274\" style=\"width: 406px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Jaime-and-baby-Angel.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1274\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1274\" alt=\"Samaritan Jaime and baby Angel\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Jaime-and-baby-Angel.jpeg\" width=\"396\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Jaime-and-baby-Angel.jpeg 396w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Jaime-and-baby-Angel-237x300.jpeg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Samaritan Jaime and baby Angel<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I met at least a dozen men last Tuesday at the <i>comedor <\/i>who told me they plan to cross the border into the Sonoran desert and head for Utah, Washington, Florida. Did they find a little cave to sleep in on this freezing night? Did they build a fire to ward off the freezing temperatures? Are there children out there? Maybe they are taking advantage of the moonlight and covering some miles on foot tonight. Are they crouching in fear as helicopters hover overhead?\u00a0 How can people survive this frigid December weather? <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1275\" style=\"width: 373px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Linda-and-baby-Eveline.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1275\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1275\" alt=\"Samaritan Linda and baby Eveline\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Linda-and-baby-Eveline.jpeg\" width=\"363\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Linda-and-baby-Eveline.jpeg 363w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Linda-and-baby-Eveline-217x300.jpeg 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1275\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Samaritan Linda and baby Eveline<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">A few days ago driving to town, I saw a man and woman walking along the side of the road, crossing a bridge heading toward the freeway. They looked Latino, or perhaps Native American; the woman appeared elderly, wrapped in a shawl. The man was assisting her as they walked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I was late for a doctor appointment, had my mind on a long list of things to do, and needed to drive 60 miles more to Tucson. Slowing my car down, the couple looked at me. I looked at them. The woman waved her hand and looked me in the eye, trying to get my attention. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I kept on going. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Driving about a hundred yards I pulled over, trying to decide if I should go back. I was alone and it was still dark, before dawn. I could not let this couple into my life. My mind was too full of appointments and Christmas lists. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1277\" style=\"width: 384px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/abby-2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1277\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1277\" alt=\"Volunteer Abby and baby Eveline\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/abby-2.jpeg\" width=\"374\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/abby-2.jpeg 374w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/abby-2-224x300.jpeg 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteer Abby and baby Eveline<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Feeling both fear and guilt, I looked behind me in the rear view mirror. I saw the car in back of me slow down and stop to talk to this couple. It looked like they were giving assistance, as the two climbed into the car. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I haven&#8217;t been able to get this incident out of my mind. It was a reminder to me that I need to pay attention to the stranger in my midst. I need to slow down and face my fears. Here I live in the wealthiest and most heavily armed country in the world, and I feel fear about people walking along the side of the road asking for help. I need to get a grip. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I&#8217;m also just too damn busy. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1278\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-Joseph-the-wall.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1278\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1278\" alt=\"The Holy Family and the wall\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-Joseph-the-wall.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-Joseph-the-wall.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-Joseph-the-wall-300x292.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1278\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Holy Family and the wall<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">This week I participated in the annual <em>posada<\/em> in Nogales, Mexico\u2014an event sponsored by the Kino Border Initiative and the Diocese Without Borders. The <em>posada<\/em> is the reenactment of a pregnant Mary and Joseph searching for a place to stay in an inhospitable land. There is no room for them in Bethlehem. No one is welcoming, and the exhausted pair end up in a stable with the animals. Mary gives birth in a manger, a feeding trough full of hay. It is difficult to imagine a more humble birthplace.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">They are the strangers at the side of the road.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Walking with several Samaritans from Arizona into Nogales, Mexico to the appointed meeting place for the <em>posada<\/em>, we wended our way through the aisles and gates of the port of entry with shoppers, honking cars and children running about. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1279\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Let-the-posada-begin.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1279\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1279\" alt=\"Let the posada begin!\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Let-the-posada-begin.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Let-the-posada-begin.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Let-the-posada-begin-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Let the<em> posada<\/em> begin!<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p>\u201c<span style=\"font-size: large;\">Is this going to be super religious? What happens during this parade,\u201d asked one of the Samaritans, a newcomer to this work. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<span style=\"font-size: large;\">Well,\u201d I answered, \u201c it IS the Christmas story. And the sisters and Jesuits will be running the show. So, yes, it will probably be religious.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1280\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Pete-2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1280\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1280\" alt=\"Fr. Pete Neeley, Joseph, Mary and the burro.\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Pete-2.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Pete-2.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Pete-2-300x265.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1280\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fr. Pete Neeley, Joseph, Mary and the burro.<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">When we reached the plaza there were people from the <i>comedor <\/i>in Mexico, with participants from Tucson and many surrounding villages and towns of the borderlands. Mary was fussing with her blue veil, and the angel&#8217;s wings were askew. Joseph, a hunky teen from a local high school, looked nervous. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">When the burro arrived, Mary suddenly realized she had to ride this animal. She looked to her mother and expressed her fears about falling off. In fact, riding astride the donkey was a challenge, as she hiked up her gown and tried to figure out how to stay on the beast and look serene, composed and Biblical. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1281\" style=\"width: 462px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-at-the-wall-2DSCN0478.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1281\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1281\" alt=\"Mary at the wall\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-at-the-wall-2DSCN0478.jpeg\" width=\"452\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-at-the-wall-2DSCN0478.jpeg 452w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Mary-at-the-wall-2DSCN0478-271x300.jpeg 271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1281\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary at the wall<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The street hawkers were out imploring me to stock up on their low priced pharmaceuticals, Viagra, bottles of tequila, and anti-depressants. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<span style=\"font-size: large;\">K-Mart prices,\u201d they shout. \u201cAlmost free!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The day was dazzling and warm, and the sun shone fiercely on our motley group as we began our <em>posada<\/em> procession winding through the streets of Nogales, Sonora.\u00a0 Shopkeepers watched silently as we slowly walked along the wall toward the <em>comedor.<\/em> A chorus of dogs created an opera of barks and howls as we walked by their yards.\u00a0 Sirens wailed, and motorcycles revved up their engines. We quietly marched along the bumpy streets, watching out for the potholes and pavement cracks. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1283\" style=\"width: 385px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Marla-2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1283\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1283\" alt=\"Marla Conrad at the wall\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Marla-2.jpeg\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Marla-2.jpeg 375w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Marla-2-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1283\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marla Conrad at the wall<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Stopping at the wall for singing and reflection, there were<em> posada<\/em> singers on the American side and on the Mexican side. Peering through the slats of the metal fence, the singers expressed the sordid truth about the plight of thousands of Latino people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The songs did not mince words:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">On the Mexican side of the wall the women sang out:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0\u201c<span style=\"font-size: large;\">Dehydrated and hungry<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I crossed this desert.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">As we jumped the wall<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Our life was uncertain.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1284\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Songs-of-injustice-at-the-wall.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1284\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1284\" alt=\"Songs of injustice at the wall\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Songs-of-injustice-at-the-wall.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Songs-of-injustice-at-the-wall.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Songs-of-injustice-at-the-wall-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1284\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Songs of injustice at the wall<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">On the American side of the wall the words pierced my heart:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201c<span style=\"font-size: large;\">I don&#8217;t care if you die.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">If you come to take advantage<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">And if you continue to interfere<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">We will shoot you.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The refrains flowed back and forth. There were many verses which made me flinch. As an American, it was difficult to listen to these words. Unfortunately, the songs spoke of truths that my fellow Americans do not want to hear. The U.S. government has turned its back on a humanitarian crisis of huge proportions. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1285\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Killing-site-of-Jose-Antonio-Elena-Rodriguez.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1285\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1285\" alt=\"Passing by the killing site of teenager, Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Killing-site-of-Jose-Antonio-Elena-Rodriguez.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Killing-site-of-Jose-Antonio-Elena-Rodriguez.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Killing-site-of-Jose-Antonio-Elena-Rodriguez-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1285\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Passing by the killing site of teenager, Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">This was more than a religious procession about Mary and Joseph. The political and spiritual soul of Christmas was profoundly explored during our parade through Nogales. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I walked beside a couple of migrants who carried a banner proclaiming that \u201cLaws are Unjust That Separate Families.\u201d As we stopped along the way and heard the stories of men and women who were lost in the desert or locked up in detention centers for months, the migrants listened attentively.\u00a0 There were silent tears as many stared into the distance contemplating what lies ahead. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1286\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/The-Holy-Family-in-the-streets-of-Nogales.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1286\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1286\" alt=\"The Holy Family in the streets of Nogales\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/The-Holy-Family-in-the-streets-of-Nogales.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/The-Holy-Family-in-the-streets-of-Nogales.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/The-Holy-Family-in-the-streets-of-Nogales-300x240.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1286\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Holy Family in the streets of Nogales<\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">At last we reached the <i>comedor<\/i> where a feast and music greeted our procession. I thought about how my life is enriched when I let people in\u2014poor people, rich people, people of color, white people, gay and straight people, Republicans, Democrats, agnostics, atheists, Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Sitting down to eat with the diversity of this<em> posada<\/em> crowd, I felt connected to my brothers and sisters south of the border. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">It was good to get away from the rampant consumerism of the Christmas season and just break bread with strangers and friends. We have so much in this beloved country of ours, and yet we are so involved in the frenzy of gift giving and receiving, we do not let the people in who matter. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">May the spirit of this Christmas holiday give you a deeper connection with family, friends and the strangers among us. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">May we open the doors of our hearts to the outcasts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">May we stop and help the stranger on the side of the road. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1287\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arriving-at-la-frontera-the-border.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1287\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1287\" alt=\"Arriving at la frontera, the border\" src=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arriving-at-la-frontera-the-border.jpeg\" width=\"500\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arriving-at-la-frontera-the-border.jpeg 500w, http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/arriving-at-la-frontera-the-border-300x248.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1287\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arriving at <em>la frontera<\/em>, the border<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Please direct your comments and thoughts to Peg Bowden in the <strong>&#8220;Comments&#8221;<\/strong> section of the blog.\u00a0 I can also be reached at<strong> pegbowden@yahoo.com\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you wish to receive regular postings (usually once\/month) to this blog, register in the <strong>Announcement<\/strong> <strong>List<\/strong> space in the right-hand column, and you are automatically on the email blog list.\u00a0 This is a new system.\u00a0 Many of you have already registered.<\/p>\n<p>The<strong> Green Valley\/Sahuarita Samaritans<\/strong> is a non-profit organization whose mission is to prevent deaths in the desert.\u00a0 Information and contributions can be directed to:\u00a0 www.gvsamaritans.org<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kino Border Initiative<\/strong> directs the activities of the <em>comedor<\/em> in Nogales, Mexico.\u00a0 The mission is to help create a just, humane immigration policy between the United States and Mexico.\u00a0 Their website is:\u00a0 www.kinoborderinitiative.org<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Border Community Alliance<\/strong> is an exciting new organization in southern Arizona focusing on the economic, cultural and humanitarian needs of the Arizona borderlands.\u00a0 Non-profit status is pending.\u00a0 Contact Bob Phillips at: rtp9@earthlink.net\u00a0\u00a0 for more information.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\nP { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }\n--><\/style>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m padding around the house at midnight unable to sleep. The full moon lights up the living room with a ghostly sheen, but I turn on the twinkling Christmas lights anyway.\u00a0 They dangle and twist around the agave plant spire that acts as our Christmas tree. The desert is glowing with a silvery patina; the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1273"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1299,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1273\/revisions\/1299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.arroya.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}