2021
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Named person(s)
Lynette Madrigal (SALT participant, 2021-2022)
Date photo taken
26 March 2022
Partner organization
Casa del Migrante
City/Town
Guatemala City
Province/State
Guatemala
Country of origin
Guatemala
Region
Latin America and Carribbean
Photo credit
Photo courtesy of Lynette Madrigal
Themes
Relief
Description
In November 2021, Lynette Madrigal, 2021-2022 SALT* participant, spent a day at the park with migrants from Casa del Migrante.
*MCC's SALT (Serving and Learning Together) program is a one-year, cross-cultural experience for young adults.
Personal/Project impact
"Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" (Matthew 8:20)
A morning at the park brought so much life to this group. Many awaiting their cases and when they'll be able to return home. Others downcast because all that they've lost as a result of migrating North. We spent the morning laughing together and listening to each other's stories. One in particular made me think deeper about the issue of homelessness. As we walked throughout the park, one mentioned having slept at a park for 2 months while in Mexico. I was humbled. Others began sharing a similar experience. Stories of displacement. I often think of Jesus, when I hear migrant stories. As I listened to their stories I immediately remembered the passage above. Jesus felt displaced and was close to those displaced, may we ask be close to those who feel similarly.
"Probably no word better summarizes the suffering of our time in the word ‘homelessness.’ It reveals one of our deepest and most painful conditions, the condition of not having any sense of belonging, of not having a place where we can feel safe, cared for, protected, and loved.”
- Henri Nouwen, Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement
Comments from the day:
"Regresare a mi paiz con tantas memorias."
"Me pude olvidar de todo."
"Hoy ni me di cuenta que estaba en otro paiz."
Project Summary
Casa del Migrante provides shelter, food, transportation, medical care, and basic human rights education to 2,000 migrants per year who are in transit, have been deported, or are seeking asylum in Guatemala City. The purpose of the project is to offer services not provided by the government to migrants who leave their places of origin due to lack of economic opportunities, lack of government provision of basic services (health, education, housing, etc.), and violence.