- Amy Cox -

Day 1: The Day We Probably Should Have Been Stopped By Border Patrol

Day 7: Sanctuary at St Francis in the Foothills UMC

November 9, 2014

Amy Cox

A Kind of Big Announcement

November 9, 2014

Amy Cox

Well, here's some big news that is being announced today.....I've accepted a worship leading position with Restoration Church, a united methodist church plant launching in Reston, VA!!!!! I led for a couple of the preview services this fall and I'm really excited for what God is doing through this new community.Today is the third and final preview service, in our "permanent" worshipping location of Forest Edge Elementary School..... we are planning a Christmas concert at the Reston Town Center for December 20th and then we launch weekly services the first week of January!

As I've been sharing the news with friends, the first question I get asked is, "how far is that from your family?" :o) Reston is a little over two hours from Colonial Beach, more if there is heavy traffic....which is almost always. So Mitch and I will be moving from the Shed early next year and making our home back outside of Washington D.C. Until then, I'll be doing a bit of guest room/couch surfing and getting to know a new area of Northern Virginia. I love that church planting is all about meeting people and making friends....sounds perfect! I also am excited to be working alongside Tim Ward.....a great pastor with a heart for reaching people.

You can learn more about Restoration Church here. And to my friends who live outside of Virginia.... the D.C. metro line has just extended the silver line out to Reston, and Dulles Airport is super close. I promise to buy a comfy couch so you can come visit in style!!!

November 4, 2014

Amy Cox

Arizona, Beyond Borders Tour

November 4, 2014

Amy Cox

Darci and I talked on the phone today. The first question I asked, "Was it really only a week ago that I left you in Tucson to catch your plane while I met up with my dad?" If time can expand, implode on itself and expand again....well, it's been one of those weeks. I find myself back in the "normal"....if living in your parents backyard in a small river town can be called that. But it's my normal and I am thankful for these past few days of cuddling with Mitch, catching up on television episodes of the past five weeks, and hanging out with the family. There is much to process and unpack and I'm not sure how to start sharing about Arizona. I brought faces and names and stories home with me and left a piece of my heart among the desert cacti. To be so openly welcomed and cared for and shown....

I thought to compile the posts here, a table of contents of sorts, to keep this journey organized and growing as time goes on....here goes nothing.

Pre Trip

When You Have More Questions Than Answers

My First Immigration Vigil

The Road Trip

And So It Begins

The House Concert Leg (Va to IN to IL)

Driving the Countryside (IL to KS)

Colorado

Wyoming to Utah

Every Night a Different Home

The Pacific Ocean

Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference 2014

Arizona

Day 1: The Day We Probably Should Have Been Stopped By Border Patrol

Day 7: Sanctuary at St Francis in the Foothills UMC

October 28, 2014

Amy Cox

AZ Odds and Ends: San Xavier Mission

October 28, 2014

Amy Cox

One afternoon, on our way from one adventure to another, Darci and I stopped off at San Xavier Mission, a still in use Roman Catholic Church which dates all the way back to 1692.

Well, that is when the mission was originally started, the building was built from 1783-1797. It features beautiful paintings, statues, and icons.

The room holds such reverence. The old, dark pews invite one to sit and gaze at the walls, the ceiling, the altar. A moment spent in prayer and reflection even as a tourist sidles up the aisle to snap a quick photo. The smell of incense wafts through from the rows of candles lit off to one side. It is a step back in time, to Spain on North America. Beautiful.

The brief half hour we spent wandering the Mission in the hot, arid Arizona afternoon was a welcome break in the midst of our week long immigration immersion. There is a small museum, gift shop, and gorgeous courtyard that overlooks the mountains...... a beautiful breath.

Read More in the Arizona Series

Day 1: The Day We Probably Should Have Been Stopped By Border Patrol

Day 7: Sanctuary at St Francis in the Foothills UMC

October 26, 2014

Amy Cox

Arizona Day 7: Sanctuary at St Francis in the Foothills UMC

October 26, 2014

Amy Cox

““It is difficult... but as I say, I have no other choice.””

— Francisco Perez Cordova, on his decision to move into Sanctuary

Francisco

We met Francisco on Friday afternoon in the sunlit office of St Francis in the Foothills UMC. Darci and I had just come from the Office of the Medical Examiner and I was still reeling from the overload of information. Francisco shared of his many journeys crossing the border as a migrant worker and to his final two crossings...one by desert and one by a refrigerated truck.

"In the desert, I had three gallons of water, you know? And the coyotes...they say 'no, no, only take one, that's too many', but I say I need it, I need water. They say, 'we know where water is, only take one'. It's hard to know if they know or not. We walked all night, fast, fast, and you have to keep up or they leave you behind."

And we talked about Francisco's current fight; to receive a stay of deportation so he can remain with his family here in the U.S. This fight has led him to move within the confines of St. Francis, to join a movement known as Sanctuary.

Sanctuary

It is an act of civil disobedience to offer sanctuary and safety to an undocumented person in the U.S. Yet there also is an unwritten law in the U.S. that law enforcement won't forcibly enter a public building (i.e. church or school) without there being a threat of physical harm to those inside. This has made churches a great environment to offer shelter to individuals caught in immigration battles. The Sanctuary movement (started in the 80's) seeks to apply pressure and publicly cause action on the part of the government, by churches taking in undocumented individuals in threat of deportation. This is the last resort on the part of the individual, some having lived in fear for months or years with families to care for and no home in another country to go to. Currently, there are about a half dozen individuals living in sanctuary within churches across the country. This is getting real.

St Francis in the Foothills UMC

One of the questions of this past month is "What is the church's response in the face of injustice?" St Francis seeks to respond in love and in action. It is the sheltering of Francisco, of standing alongside him and advocating on his behalf. Of loving on his family, playing with his children, praying with him as the days go on. Of putting a face and name and story to the broken immigration system and choosing to act in this very personal way.

Today, Darci and I joined in worship at St. Francis for the morning. There is beauty in visiting a new place, making friends, and worshipping within the community come Sunday morning. We sang for the offertory, 10,000 Reasons with a little bilingual twist. We were thankful to offer up a small gift of encouragement, in light of all that has been given to us this past week.

As we said goodbye to Francisco today, he walked us to the front gate. I moved to unlock the car and as I turned back one last time, Francisco was watching from behind the grated window. A courageous man. Caught in between.

Would you consider helping Francisco? There is a Facebook page you can LIKE and follow updates. As well, they are looking for people to sign an online petition in support of Francisco and to stop his deportation. Every voice counts my friends. Every voice.

More info on Francisco's story: Tuscon Sentinel Article

More info on Sanctuary: Sanctuary 101

Read More in the Arizona Series

Day 1: The Day We Probably Should Have Been Stopped By Border Patrol

Day 7: Sanctuary at St Francis in the Foothills UMC

October 26, 2014

Amy Cox

Arizona Day 6: Water is Life

October 26, 2014

Amy Cox

““If you had told me back in 2000 when I started taking water into the desert that I would still be doing these trips in 2014, I’d have called you crazy....I thought we would fix the problem by now.” ”

— -Karl, Humane Borders Volunteer

It was a hot one today, or as Arizonans like to call it "warm", as our new friends Scott and Karl took us on a water run with Humane Borders, one of Tucson's humanitarian groups working to prevent undocumented border crosser deaths. We serviced a couple of water stations to the south of Tucson, mostly driving two lane paved highways until we reached the dirt roads that led directly to the water. We checked the barrels for water levels and vandalism, as Karl pointed out the trails and washes that migrants and border patrol often use.

The most common water station consists of a plastic barrel with a spigot and a flag marking its location that is visible from the surrounding area. Their locations are determined from the Red Dotted Map that marks where all UBC deaths are found. Some water stations are on ranching land, an access point through a trough or spigot. Humane Borders only puts water stations in places where they have written and legal permission from either the land owners or the county. The resources that go into recovering remains has led to some cooperation between ranchers, humanitarian groups, and local government.

After learning yesterday the harsh reality of so many deaths in the desert, it felt all the more important to stand under the unrelenting sun, with the flies buzzing around, and imagine myself in another's shoes. Of course it is a mild, G-rated comparison at best; this is hardly the hottest time of year, I do not have to spend the day and night walking, nor do I have to avoid border patrol.

These water stations are crucial for many people who walk their way across the border. Migrants only have the water they can carry, either in their hands or in a backpack and that is if it isn't gone by the time they make it to the border. Often the "coyotes" or human traffickers will demand that those traveling with them only carry a single gallon jug claiming they know where to refill. Some coyotes know where to find water and some do not. It is a game of gamble and trust. Coyotes also claim it will be a day's walk from the border to Tucson, whatever they can do or say to take advantage of the migrant's lack of knowledge and receive payment. Those who cannot keep up are left behind and death by desert is not pleasant.

There is still so much I don't know or understand. There are laws and trade agreements and other such legal jargon that our government has put into place that has helped create a need for the migrants to seek employment to support their families. There is also a great need for migrants to work in the U.S., to take the labor jobs that American citizens wouldn't dream of doing for wages that are far below what one would find acceptable. And yet the U.S. government has beefed up border security and made the path for these workers much more dangerous, with the consequences far greater.... I just don't get it.

What I do know, is that I am thankful for groups like Humane Borders. Who see beyond the politics to the human beings who deserve life. There is a face and a name and a family to that set of bones laying in the medical examiner's office. We may not be able to easily solve the greater issues of a broken immigration system. But this. This we can do. A simple drink of water. Life.

Read More in the Arizona Series

Day 1: The Day We Probably Should Have Been Stopped By Border Patrol