Reflections from CampWe arrived in the No More Deaths (NMD) Arivaca Camp late on Sunday evening (September 7th). We got acquainted with the other volunteers and our new home amongst the tent city in the Arizona desert. I was unsure what to expect for the week ahead, what and who would we encounter? I would soon find out.
Late in the afternoon; I was hot and sweaty after only my second day in the hot Arizona desert when a group who had gone out of patrol returned to camp and they had come across a 16 year old boy from Michoacan, Mexico - Julio. He had left Mexico with his uncle and a g
roup of migrants and walked for two days before they were separated
when Border Patrol chased them in the night. Julio then continued walking through the hot and rough terrain for three days by himself.
Julio hid in a river through the night, careful to not to get caught. NMD volunteers found him weak, tired, and dehydrated. The NMD medics checked his condition and he was in fairly good condition given what he had been through. His feet were blistered and damaged from sitting
in cold water through the night and we gave him liquids to begin to drinking again slowly.It's hard to imagine water in the desert, but its monsoon weather, and the rain falls in buckets and the temperature can drop very quickly. Hypothermia is not uncommon.
I was asked to come over to him and help with translation. The rest of the camp went out on patrol to leave food and water and look for injured migrants on the trails and I stayed behind with Julio.
I gave him a changed of clean clothes and some water and he fell asleep in the shade. He fell into a deep sleep; I could tell that he felt that he had reached a safe place. He awoke and got some dinner and then shared with me his story.
Julio said that his mother and sister didn't want him to make the journey north because he was too young and in their words, "he would cry all along the way". But Julio said that he did not cry, not even for the days he was wandering the desert alone. I could see the wisdom in his eyes, the hope of reaching his destination and getting the opportunity to work and help the rest of his family. He told me that he prayed every day for his own survival.
Julio knew not to drink from the streams or cattle tanks because he knew a friend who had died from drinking the contaminated water. So he resisted the temptation to quench his thirst with the green murky water where he hid. He was only 16 years old, yet had led a life that few 16 year olds in the US could even imagine. Julio was on his way to live with his aunt in California to look for a job.
Can you imagine a teenager in the US risking their life to cross a deadly desert for the opportunity to work? What were you thinking about or worrying about when you were 16? I was truly humbled to be in Julio's presence.
After resting, drinking water, eating, washing himself, and getting clean clothes and shoes, Julio was on his way. We helped him as much as we could and he continued on his journey in hopes of fulfilling his dreams. I don't where Julio is now, but I pray for his safe passage and will always keep him in my heart.
(written by Jenny Dale)
Late in the afternoon; I was hot and sweaty after only my second day in the hot Arizona desert when a group who had gone out of patrol returned to camp and they had come across a 16 year old boy from Michoacan, Mexico - Julio. He had left Mexico with his uncle and a g
roup of migrants and walked for two days before they were separatedwhen Border Patrol chased them in the night. Julio then continued walking through the hot and rough terrain for three days by himself.
Julio hid in a river through the night, careful to not to get caught. NMD volunteers found him weak, tired, and dehydrated. The NMD medics checked his condition and he was in fairly good condition given what he had been through. His feet were blistered and damaged from sitting
in cold water through the night and we gave him liquids to begin to drinking again slowly.It's hard to imagine water in the desert, but its monsoon weather, and the rain falls in buckets and the temperature can drop very quickly. Hypothermia is not uncommon.
I was asked to come over to him and help with translation. The rest of the camp went out on patrol to leave food and water and look for injured migrants on the trails and I stayed behind with Julio.
I gave him a changed of clean clothes and some water and he fell asleep in the shade. He fell into a deep sleep; I could tell that he felt that he had reached a safe place. He awoke and got some dinner and then shared with me his story.Julio said that his mother and sister didn't want him to make the journey north because he was too young and in their words, "he would cry all along the way". But Julio said that he did not cry, not even for the days he was wandering the desert alone. I could see the wisdom in his eyes, the hope of reaching his destination and getting the opportunity to work and help the rest of his family. He told me that he prayed every day for his own survival.
Julio knew not to drink from the streams or cattle tanks because he knew a friend who had died from drinking the contaminated water. So he resisted the temptation to quench his thirst with the green murky water where he hid. He was only 16 years old, yet had led a life that few 16 year olds in the US could even imagine. Julio was on his way to live with his aunt in California to look for a job.
Can you imagine a teenager in the US risking their life to cross a deadly desert for the opportunity to work? What were you thinking about or worrying about when you were 16? I was truly humbled to be in Julio's presence.
After resting, drinking water, eating, washing himself, and getting clean clothes and shoes, Julio was on his way. We helped him as much as we could and he continued on his journey in hopes of fulfilling his dreams. I don't where Julio is now, but I pray for his safe passage and will always keep him in my heart.
(written by Jenny Dale)
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