by Dr. Kristina “Tina” Campbell
Few would argue that we are living in a time when we long for symbols of hope in our weary and conflicted world. Several congregations and the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ have found hope in supporting the work of Centro de Esperanza in Sonoyta, Mexico.
Our own Holly Herman spearheads a local effort to support the work of Centro de Esperanza which started as a Resource Center and now houses 150 people who are seeking asylum in frightening times. The Center is located across the border from Ajo, Arizona in Sonoyta, Mexico. Visitors are struck by the spirit of joy and safety that is immediately experienced when entering the Center. Guests of the Center are critical to its operation, participating in food preparation and other tasks that keep the Center running like a large family home. Guests participate in three meals a day, receive legal assistance, and have access to clothing, showers and laundry services. Of the 150 guests at the Center, over 75 are children.
Under the skilled and heartfelt leadership of Aaron Flores and Karla Betacourt, Centro de Esperanza feels like a safe and sacred family space where children play, and adults sit at tables engaging in conversation. There is a conscious effort at the Center to make all financial donations transparent and to provide each and every guest with a sense of dignity and welcome. Dozens of volunteers join in providing a sense of calm through English classes, art projects, and companionship. Dogs roam freely throughout the Center, and a habitat was created for the Center’s pet tortoise.
Celebration is a focal point of the life at Centro de Esperanza, and Aaron explains that celebrating festivals such as Dia de los Muertos, creates a sense of community and a moment’s reprieve from trauma. The Center is alive with vibrant color and beautiful murals created by local artists and guests.
After visiting the Center, Diana Winston, member of Scottsdale United Church of Christ commented: “Among the many wonderful aspects of El Centro de Esperanza is that its services are comprehensive. Karla and Aaron assure that guests’ applications for asylum meet all the requirements of Customs and Border Protection. Then, while applicants wait for their asylum hearings their children may attend local schools and guests are able to work and get paid for various projects at the Center, including construction of much needed new sleeping rooms, and other facilities. The Center also participates in local activities in Sonoyta so there is a strong sense of community, not only within the Center, but with the town as well.”
Hearing of their important and lifesaving work, members of the Southwest Conference have stepped up to support the efforts of Centro de Esperanza. When the Southwest Conference downsized their offices, four truckloads of their no longer needed tables, chairs, plates, glasses, and flatware were transported to the Center. Black Mountain United Church of Christ has created and donated dozens of blankets to be distributed to guests. Desert Palm UCC applied for and received a grant from the national UCC setting that provided much needed cell phones for the guests to use in making their appointments for asylum hearings. Many members of our Southwest Conference churches have made personal visits to the Center and have been moved by the spirit of hope they experience there. Truckloads of clothing, vitamins, hygiene products, and toys have been dispatched to the Center by our SWC congregations.
In a political environment where those seeking asylum will experience escalated fear, we have an opportunity to embrace hope and to make a difference at the border. We will not be reaching out to strangers, rather we will embrace our wider family in a spirit of hope.
If you would like to join us in embracing hope, you can make a donation to:
Shelters for Hope
P.O. Box 322
Ajo, Arizona 85321
Or contact Holly Herman for more information.