By Ashley Minks
Youth from First United Methodist Church of Gilbert
A day that shook America: September 11, 2001. Before that major incident, many people could easily travel between countries and into America. Once we were attacked though, many things changed, including border security. A wall already covered the length of the border with Mexico, but to the leaders of the United States, it was not enough protection. A second and more secure wall was built between America and Mexico. This long fence stretches into the ocean, separating two different cultures. When I entered into Tijuana, I learned that my group and I would travel to Friendship Park, which is one of the only places where families and friends that are separated by the fence can meet. My friends that stayed behind in America, would meet at the other side of the fence and we would soon link pinkies, to have a firsthand experience that the many loved ones that are apart experience.
When I arrived at the park, the border wall in Tijuana was vibrantly colored with many murals and names of people that were physically separated by the wall. But looking through the small boxes left open by fencing material, I could see the American side was very different. There was no color, people, shops, or roads. I will just put it this way: there was dirt and a lot of bushes that covered miles of uninhabited land. I felt sad to see that my friends could not enter the land between two separate fences until border patrol checked the land multiple times. Even when the other visitors walked between the fences to meet those that were in Tijuana, they were only allowed to stand in one small circle, not passing designated posts. After meeting with my friends pinky to pinky, we prayed, and loaded back into the vans to travel to a men’s Salvation Army shelter.
There was no color, people, shops, or roads.
This place was a two story building where many people searching for a way to America would stay. Currently, the shelter was housing many people from Haiti, after they left Brazil, who allowed many Haitians to enter the country following the devastating hurricane and earthquake. Although Brazil had good intentions about allowing the people of Haiti into the country, many of the people have started leaving the country from persecution they are receiving from the Brazilian people. As I met many of the men and heard their stories, I realized how lucky of a life I was given by God. I grew up in a small Arizonan town that was very sheltered. I never truly experienced a life changing moment until today, when a young Haitian man told my group about traveling through many South American countries to reach Tijuana, in hopes of an easy passage into America. This man grew up with many brothers and sisters and left his home to try to make money to send home. After a morning of multiple testimonies, I went downstairs where I played dominoes with men that only spoke Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish. Let me tell you, taking Spanish One in high school does not prepare you for a day of attempting to translate stories in a foreign country.
I never truly experienced a life changing moment until today
After many hours in Mexico, my group got to head to the border. This was really eye-opening as well, to experience waiting in line for hours to go to the land of the free. I am so thankful for being born in America, and for having the life many wish to live. One wish I hold for the future is that the mindset that keeping human beings separated for being born on one side of a fence or another, will end.
Editor’s Note: Registration for the 2017 summer opens October and will be first-come first-served. Read more about the San Diego experience.