St. Dunstan's Response to the Current Humanitarian Crisis

Our Rector, Tricia Templeton, regularly sends out an email, which she calls "This and That," about information of interest to our parish.  Here is the text of her email from last week:

Dear friends,

At last night’s vestry meeting we spent a good deal of time discussing the humanitarian crisis occurring on our nation’s southern borders. Charis Bowling, who is our parish representative to the Episcopal aid organization Episcopal Relief and Development, shared information about relief efforts there. St. John’s Episcopal church in McAllen, Texas, is very involved in helping with the flood of unaccompanied minors seeking refuge. This morning I talked at length to St. John’s rector, Jim Nelson, about the situation and how he and his parishioners are responding. I’d like to share some of that conversation with you.

St. John’s mission statement is: “We seek to be a sanctuary for equipping people to deal with the issues of life in an atmosphere of love, security, and support. We find our sanctuary in Jesus.”

In recent weeks St. John’s has been called to live out this mission statement in ways they could not have imagined. Life in a border town means that people crossing into Texas from Mexico is a daily occurrence. But what is happening now is well beyond the normal situation. Jim says that about 150 people a day, many of them unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, are seeking refuge in McAllen alone. Other border towns are facing similar situations.

The response of the mayor and people of McAllen to this humanitarian crisis has been heroic. A coalition of churches and religious organizations have joined together to  respond. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church is set up as the reception center, providing shelter and showers.  “They can get rest, get clean, get clothing and toys for the children,” Jim says. It takes about 100 volunteers a day to run this center, doing everything from processing those who arrive to cleaning showers. Many of St. John’s parishioners are volunteering there. Others are volunteering with the Salvation Army, which is preparing meals for the refugees.

The goal is for people to stay in the reception center for only a few days. Children who are with adults who have relatives in this country are given bus fare to go to the relatives’ homes. Unaccompanied children are taken to federal detention centers, which are spread around the country. As Jim says, “detention center” sounds harsh, but the goal is to have the children in a safe place where they can be cared for. He notes that children traveling alone are vulnerable to all kinds of danger.

In addition to volunteering at the center and preparing meals, St. John’s has also taken on the task of providing hygiene and nutrition packages to give to each refugee as they leave to travel to relatives or a detention center. The packages, containing food, soap, shampoo, tooth paste and brush, Tylenol and other necessities, are assembled at the church, then taken to Sacred Heart.

I asked Jim what kind of emotional and spiritual effect this situation has had on him and his parishioners. “It’s a very complicated issue,” he replied. “If you don’t live in a border town it’s very hard to understand our realities here. I have parishioners who are ranchers who have found bodies on their property, or who have had their fences cut and all their cattle escape. I have parishioners who are border patrol agents who have been attacked. There are innocent people coming through, but there are also drug cartels moving drugs through. It can be very dangerous. It’s easy to turn your eyes from it or to get absolutely fatigued by the enormity of the situation. That is our normal, constant situation living here.

“But this is beyond the normal. Our normal mission has changed. Christ has put these people in front of us. Whether we’re conservative or liberal doesn’t matter. Whatever we think about immigration policies doesn’t matter. These are children. They’re here. And we need to take care of them. It’s like we are base in a game of tag. You can’t stay on base forever, but when you’re there you are safe.”

St. John’s and the other churches in McAllen are in this for the long haul. They expect this crisis to continue for at least another nine months, and they are committed to continue their help and support.

Last night, our vestry voted to send $1,000 to St. John’s to help them be the body of Christ to people seeking refuge. For the next several Sundays we will also be taking up a special collection to send to McAllen. If you would like to help please make a check out to St. Dunstan’s and mark it for border disaster relief. I know many of you are traveling and may not be in church the next few weeks. If you’d still like to help you can mail us a check.

It’s beginning to feel to me like our theme for the summer is caring for “the least of these,” particularly children in crisis or need. Throughout the month we will continue to collect school supplies for the children of Path Academy, the charter middle school in Brookhaven whose students are immigrants, refugees, and the poorest of the poor. The pile of supplies in the narthex is growing, but more is needed. When you are out and about please remember to pick up some school supplies.

And finally, Hotel St. Dunstan’s will be open for business the week of August 10. Right now we expect that 11 guests, four adults and seven children, will be spending the week with us. As always, we need volunteers to set up rooms, provide and serve meals, and spend the night. You can sign up at our website, www.stdunstan.net.

I realize there are a lot of requests for help here. I am so grateful to be part of a congregation that understands that we are called to serve our brothers and sisters and that in welcoming or helping “the least of these” we are serving Christ.

Peace and blessings to you all,

Tricia