Cuban Refugees

Our church has pushed us to find opportunities to serve refugees (here). I tried to look for opportunities, but couldn't really find anything and decided I'd try to volunteer once I got to San Antonio. Then one day, Aubree VanTiendren informed us that 4,000 Cuban refugees were expected to arrive in El Paso soon and they were looking for volunteers. I jumped on the opportunity and attended a volunteer orientation that night. I filled out a form with my information then waited for them to call me. Well, a few days past by and I was anxious to be a part of this, so I went to Aubree to drop off some supplies. While there, I peeked my head in the medical room and asked if they wanted help from a nurse. They assured me that they needed my help, and to show up the next day in the evenings, because no one was planning to be there. 

I was SO nervous! I hadn't even thought about nursing for about a year, and no one was going to be with me to help. The center is located in a sketchy part of town. I didn't know what to expect, except that Cuban refugees speak no English at all. 

Bobby agreed to go with me, and we had such a good experience. We did basic first aid, helped people find the medication they needed, triaged health issues to the hospital, did well child and pregnancy checks, and gave a lot of reassurance.

The Cuban refugees were mostly coming from Panama. Because of fear that the USA's wet foot dry foot policy would soon end, there have been an influx of Cuban refugees trying to gain residency here. In addition, Ecuador recently closed their doors to Cuban refugees, so Panama asked the US if some refugees could be sent here. 

The Cubans were flown from Panama to Juarez, crossed the border (which took between 3-9 hours) then take a bus to community centers, Houchen being the one I was at. To many Cubans, I was the third American they met.

I volunteered 10 times, 9 times without Bobby, and I just can't believe that that week could have been filled with errands, cleaning and cooking, but instead was filled with service, a slap in the face of what others go through, a cultural lesson, learning Spanish, practicing medicine and meeting a bunch of the most beautiful, resilient people I have ever met. They are humble and kind and so good. My heart aches with wanting the best for them. I would lay awake every night after coming home just praying to Heavenly Father that these people make it, that they are surrounded by good influences and have a chance at the American dream, that they send their kids to college and get to see the beautiful sides of the USA and not the bad. I hope they find what they fled from Cuba looking for. I can't believe that these people were just 15 minutes from my house and I so easily could have never known.

I (almost) always had a translator, and the translator would always say things like, "They are leaving a blessing upon you." "They are so grateful." "They want to thank you so much." I really didn't do much for these people, as our resources were so limited. But what an experience this has been for me. They have added so much color to my life. Most of them have left El Paso now, and I hope if any are reading that they will find me on facebook and tell me how they are doing, because I still think and pray for them and my mind wonders and wonders what they they are doing and how they are getting along. I miss them so much.

We were not supposed to take pictures of the refugees or their living areas for privacy reasons.

It was also a great bonding experience for me and my husband to be able to serve and practice medicine together. I had never seen him in his role of a doctor before. 

I also loved working with my interpreters, mostly my friend Maria Toscano and some MA students from El Paso. They are such good people.