Magnetic North

May 6, 2019

I had a video call with Felipe and Carolina. We covered a lot of ground in our conversation, including Carolina’s trip to Seattle to be part of the fundraiser. They are really in the thick of things in Cotzal.

One of the Horeb teachers, Catarina, delivered a stillborn baby yesterday. I could tell that this grieved them greatly. We had been told in March that her baby was not showing signs of brain activity. Which I do not totally get – but she carried the baby full term in hopes of a miracle. But the baby was dead at birth. They also were excited about a neighbor who delivered a baby in her home over the weekend. She did not want to go to the hospital because she was afraid the doctors there would tie her tubes. 

F&C shared news about a boy in second grade named Brandon Enrique. I have known Brandon since he started at Horeb 4 or 5 years ago. A real character and a very intelligent kid. A few months ago, his dad took off to the States with his younger brother. I understand that he took the younger brother not out of love for the boy but to use him as a pawn to enter the states. 

Mom learned that the father made it to the states but is drinking heavily – not taking care of her young boy. So, she sold their house/property in Cotzal and took Brandon to head for the States. Most likely she used the proceeds from the home sale to pay for the trip. She did not tell anyone she was leaving. Reyna, Brandon’s teacher, went to their house to find out why he had not been to school last week. She was informed that Mom had left for the States, taking a crying Brandon with her. Their fate is unknown at this time.

I have never before witnessed such a strong magnetic pull toward life in the States. Fathers used to go sometimes to provide economic support for their families. Now children are accompanying family members on the exodus. Claiming “asylum” and getting processed into the States to await a court date. Children are really being used as a ticket for admission.

On a side note, I am frustrated that Felipe was turned down last week for a tourist visa to travel to the US for our fundraiser. The US embassy told him it was because he lacked possessions which would compel him to return to Guatemala. For the indigenous poor, their lack of hope of travel to the US, by legal means, is dismal.

I don’t know the answer to immigration policy, but I know of the consequences for a small school in Cotzal. The long-term answer is building a life-giving economy where they can find hope, thus eliminating the magnetic pull of the land to the north.