MyExperienceWithOurMigrantBrothers&Sisters Anonymous

Esquipulas, Chiquimula Guatemala C.A.

These are experiences that get to me, when I see children crying because they are hungry, cold, or thirsty or when a child wants something sweet, and the parents will not give it to him because they do not have the money, but they will physically abuse him to get the child to calm down Consider if this is not something that hurts. As members of one human family, we feel the pain of others. But how do we help in this situation? It's not time to teach to fish as is said, but to lend our brothers and sisters a helping hand to quench their hunger, their most urgent needs I also feel vulnerable to that as well because it is not only one person but hundreds every day.

Due to my work, I travel often, and I see at the bus terminal that the cost of their travel ticket is higher than that of Guatemalan nationals. In addition, there are police roadblocks; sometimes, you can tell who the trafficker is because that person will negotiate with the driver an amount for each person to pay so that the police officer will let them get to the capital. Some do well, and others are left halfway, even if they have paid the required amount This is unjust, but for fear of retaliation, I stay quiet and only cry in my heart When possible, I give them a hand with food or some cash so that they can buy something, especially when they're traveling with children. To others, I provide face masks so that they are permitted to board the bus

There is a migrant house in Esquipulas. I visited it twice in 2016, but since the migrant caravans started to travel from different countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Africa, I don’t have the courage to visit again because I feel sensitive to this reality, and not having enough means to support them to cover the needs of our brothers and sisters It is said, "Guatemala is the waist of America; for that reason, it becomes a bridge or passage for all our migrant brothers and sisters [fleeing their countries]." The local church provides support, but when we see on the news that some die during their journey, the Bishops ask, what are we doing? Are we helping or harming the people that migrate? These are questions without answers, but we cannot remain indifferent Therefore, it is an opportunity to find them and contemplate our Lord Jesus Christ’s face, who seeks relief at our hands.

Praised be the Incarnate Word. Forever. Amen.