Campsite A to Campsite B
13.7 miles
(Four water stops, four full stops)
We experience our first full-length walk. Unlike the day before, we head out in the early morning to avoid the heat of the desert afternoon. Like most days on the trail, we set up camp by mid-afternoon and have downtime in the evening.
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Crime and Justice, Immigration, Latin America/Caribbean, Migrant Trail, U.S. Economic Justice | 
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Posted by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
Sásabe to Campsite A*
4.8 miles
(One water stop, one full stop)
During the afternoon, Valerie and I are being driven down to the border. After crossing the border to Mexico and returning to the United States, we begin our first (relatively) short walk.
*Specific locations are not being published, by request of the Migrant Trail organizers. The maps included in these posts are approximations.
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Posted by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
MCC Delegation Learning Tour: Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25, 2008.
Excuse me, sir, you’re in my seat. I waved my boarding pass as evidence only to find that the gentleman in my seat had the same seat assignment. One moment I was seat-less, standing in front of the cabin and convinced we would miss our flight to Phoenix. Minutes later, I found myself walking to a seat in first class. On my way, I noticed Sen. Joe Lieberman, and asked to have my picture taken with him. He asked me if I’d like to meet his neighbor across the aisle, Governor Mitt Romney (former Republican presidential candidate)!
I found my seat, but I was too busy to enjoy the leather comfort. My brain raced. Part of my work entails speaking with congressional staff. Was this not a great opportunity to speak with a senator and governor about the Migrant Trail? I confided in the stranger next to me and she responded “more power to me,” then moved over so I could make my way towards Lieberman and Romney. Gabe, however, seemed shocked that I would want to talk to Romney about the Migrant Trail, considering the strongly anti-immigrant sentiments he expressed during the Republican primaries. I sat down, not completely satisfied, but agreeing with Gabe that talking to the politicians wasn’t the wisest thing.
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Posted by Valerie Ong
As I pack my sunscreen, I’m already anticipating triple digit temperatures. But, I have not yet felt the sun on my back nor have I viewed the vast and often unforgiving desert. My body has not yet felt the physical challenge of an arduous walk. I’m praying but perhaps without the faithfulness of a migrant walking through the desert, because I have not felt even a fraction of fear for my life. Meeting recent migrants and learning about their journeys have brought me closer to reality, but I am still a far way off.
I hope that the Migrant Trail will bring me closer to understanding the difficult journey that migrants make, and why they make it.
As the Migrant Trail approaches (May 26-June 1), I feel relieved, anxious and excited all at once!
I am relieved because you can now find resources and ways to act on our webpage.
At the same time, anxiety is slowly creeping in: Walk 75 miles (in the desert) with some 65 other people I mostly do not know for 7 days in 100+ degree temperature? What have I gotten myself into?
However, I am mostly full of anticipation for the journey and experience ahead.
Please keep the MCC delegation in your prayers. Pray that we will have strength to thoughtfully process what we see and learn together and that our experiences may make a difference for others.
Most importantly, please pray and think of the many migrants who make the trek daily, for some 5,000 migrants who have died making the journey and for those who have survived but fight daily to stay alive.
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Posted by Valerie Ong
The MCC Washington Office has a co-worker in Arizona who helps plan an annual event called The Migrant Trail. It’s a 7-day, 75-mile walk through the Sonora Desert reminiscent of the trip many migrants take to get to the United States. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to stand in solidarity with the marginalized.
A few years ago, Jodi Read started enjoining this office to participate. We’ve come up with plenty of excuses – but she’s been persistent. Luckily, Gabe Schlabach and Valerie Ong have stepped up to make the journey this year – and to let the rest of us off the hook.
And Gabe and Valerie are excited to do much more than just walk. They’re going to use this blog to update us on their journey – both physical and spiritual. They’ll also connect their experiences and observations to current issues and policy debates. So keep checking this blog for their updates. And visit our Migrant Trail page to learn more about the purpose of the event, actions you can take to support them and the migrants themselves.
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Posted by Krista Zimmerman
“For everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1a)
As the writer of Ecclesiastes observes, seasons come and seasons go.
Soon after Mennonite Central Committee first opened its Washington Office forty years ago, the Washington Memo print newsletter was launched. During that era, letters, telegrams and phone calls comprised the main ways of communicating a message.
But seasons have changed, and technology now allows us to do much more. That’s why I’m pleased to welcome you to the brand-new MCC Washington Memo blog.
We see this blog as a continuation of what is found in the Memo–reporting and analysis of U.S. public policy issues from an Anabaptist perspective. But we can now provide much more timely updates on policy issues which change quickly.
Of course, there is still a role for print media. The print version of the Washington Memo continues today and this fall we will unveil a new look for it. Later this year we will also launch a new e-mail newsletter.
All of these ways of communicating are really just instruments to serve the mission of the office: “to be a Mennonite and Brethren in Christ presence on Capitol Hill, providing and encouraging prophetic witness to the way of Christ on matters of public policy.”
We hope that you will join us in this prophetic witness. Thanks for reading!
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Posted by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
You are currently browsing the MCC Washington Memo blog archives for May, 2008.
