What does it mean to practice solidarity, to become a neighbor, to exchange hospitality? As a white, U.S. citizen engaged in immigrant justice work, my reflections on these difficult questions are constantly evolving. When I consider my intentions for walking from Tijuana to Los Angeles as an ally [...]Read More
Listen to their Stories: A Social Worker’s Perspective
Dear Friends and Family, Thank you for taking a moment to read a short blog about why I am choosing to walk El Camino with the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) from August 26th to August 31st (Most people are walking from Aug 20th-August 31st, but I could not get that much [...]Read More
Walking Together as Newlyweds: JB and Laura Byrch
A few months ago, we were planning our wedding. We had a ceremony to plan, people to invite, food to coordinate, decorations to arrange, and everything else that comes with a wedding. While our wedding was among the simplest and cheapest of any we had seen, it still took a disorienting amount of [...]Read More
A Changed Perspective on Latinos
I grew up in rural Tennessee. When it comes to Latinos, the only framework I had was that they were temporary farm workers. In my context, most Latinos were Mexicans, and many of them worked on the tobacco farm. I remember one summer, there was a possibility that I might go work for the tobacco [...]Read More
Bishop José García: Why I am doing El Camino
Prior to coming to Bread for the World, I served as the State Bishop for the Church of God of Prophecy in California. About seventy percent of the churches under my care were Latino churches. In many of them, I came across families that were undocumented. Many shared with me their stories of why [...]Read More
I Hear Whispers: Cheryl Miller’s Story
I have lived in South Texas most of my life. My community is on a corridor for trafficking. There are two routes from Mexico that intersect in my hometown. One is Highway 59 that starts in Laredo, goes through my community on the way to Houston, and then on to Canada. The second is Highway 77, that [...]Read More
I Will Remember: Irene Finnigan’s Story
I missed childhood. I was old at five, wizened at seven and a sad old creature at eight. Yet, already, I was intent on remembering every detail, every sound. I eavesdropped because nothing was ever explained to me. I learned to hang around adults and listen. I learned never to ask questions [...]Read More
The Hidden Truth: Ismael’s Story
There is a moment in every person’s life when they become self-aware of a truth they have hidden from. For some, that moment comes in a near-death experience, or when they take a trip to a third-world country. Others live day by day without experiencing that moment. Yet, no matter who you are, [...]Read More