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| ...The crowds are starting to lineup to receive a sign:
a sign of repentance. "Remember that you are dust…." My words are
lost in the cacophony of labor. Ashes. The young and strong labor force takes a short
break to recall what life is all about. "Return to Jesus, our Lord and God," I
cry the gospel. "He is your life, peace, joy. He is your justice in an unjust
world." I look into the tired eyes of these dedicated workers. "Dios les
bendiga," (God bless you) I say with a smile. Some of the young people approaching me
have faith and practice their faith. They have a friendship with Jesus Christ and they
want a deeper relationship. Others, like children taking their first steps, barely know
how to walk the path of life and faith called Jesus.
Victor and I pack up our bibles and ashes to hurry to another location. Once again, the
faithful are faithful. Waiting, watching, wondering … what is repentance? I want to
change my life; I want to change my harmful words and actions. I want to have lasting
peace and joy in my life. I want to renew my love to my husband/wife and children. How can
I accomplish that? What is missing in my life? By the end of the afternoon we distributed
ashes to seven different factories. Our "work" was spiritual. Trying to bring
the light of Christ into the often dark and complicated worlds of some hardworking young
adults. Did we succeed? From Fr. Martin (Mission Director)Fr. Tom poses two questions in the above article: "Does anyone really 'hear' Each year the season of Lent offers each one of us the opportunity to reflect on these questions. God speaks to us in so many ways and in so many places. For the factory workers, the voice of God came in the persons of Victor and Fr. Tom. For us God may use a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor, and even our parish priest. Lent is the time to hear again the word of God. Have we been successful? None of us can say we have been successful. For we know that it is not success that God asks of us but faithfulness. In this season of Lent let us again renew our commitment to Jesus Christ. He is the one
to whom we turn. He indeed is the gift of love, whom we are invited to bring to the world. Triduum of Saint Martin de Porres How can you help? Find out how to support the Western Dominican Missions. |
Unfortunately, besides work and sports,
(each factory fields teams in every sport for the city adult recreation league), the
factory can be a place of malfeasance. The number one social problem here in la frontera
(the border) is drugs. Oftentimes, the drugs that are destined to arrive in the United
States do not; so, they are sold in Mexico for a much lower price. Other times, the drugs
are destined to stay in the border areas like Mexicali. The factories become an easy
"front" to sell the illegal narcotics or stimulants. Often the $70 to $100 pesos
($7 to $10 dollars) made in nine hours of daily work are wasted on drugs instead of buying
the necessity for the house: food. Often the physical and spiritual harm done by the
substance destroys marriages, families, and the person doing drugs. Mexicali is full of
(80+) centers for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. A high percentage of the youth here
spend a year or more in a rehab center. Some are rehabilitated; others fall into
temptation again and again. 
"There is
another way to live your life; life has a name called Jesus. He is your peace and joy; He
is your salvation. The Lord, your God, calls you to a life of dignity, love, and
forgiveness," my words echo through the vast halls of labor. Does anyone really
"hear" my words? I wonder. 