Enjoying the Borderlands

Hi everyone,I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived safely in Arizonaand am now situated in the Sonoran Desert borderlands. Outside ourwindow is where the Rockies leave off and the Sierra Madres begin.Absolutely beautiful.The delegation I am leading is going very well and it has been anincredibly eye-opening experience for me. I got to practice plentyof my rusty Spanish in Nogales yesterday, when we crossed the borderand visited several small Mexican organizations trying to heal thebroken bodies which are returned to the city after deportation fromthe United States. I promise to write in detail later, but for nowI must say this--In the end, that's all the immigration debate boilsdown to: the simple right to be treated like human beings, and ourduty not to further others' deaths or suffering by our policies andpractices.While in Nogales, we also visited a squatter's camp of families fromthe South who served us a wonderful lunch. Especially good were thenapales, or cactus. The appearance is a little like stewed greenpeppers, but mighty tasty. I also had fifteen minutes for souvenirshopping and got an overpriced serape and an underpriced beadedbracelet.Here we are staying quite generously in the snowbird home of anolder Quaker couple from northwestern Iowa, who happen to be quiteactive on migrant issues since migrants began coming to her door inneed of water, food, and medical attention. I hope to meet her whenI get back in state. Several of the church women and peace peoplewe have met so far have been about retirement age. Our neighboracross the street is turning 75 tomorrow. Who says you must beyoung for this kind of work!I should get to bed and off the phone line now. Email may be a bitsporadic in access here, and I will be out in the desert sanctuarytent over the weekend I believe. You may call atAZ phone: 520-364-8033 (okay to leave message) if you like. I amhere until July 15th.If anyone sees my younger brothers James and Andrew, please tellthem to call soon to discuss Milwaukee trip arrangments. I had hopedthey could join me at the Global Mission Event this year, but wecould only come up with possibly half the tuition required. Theywere also my ride to speak at the event, which complicates things abit! Life does seem awfully complicated these days. Ack.Meanwhile, I get to try my hand at 'The Lutheran''s onlinediscussion boards next week about my article. I got a nice noteback from a Lutheran, out there somewhere, who wants me to comespeak now. Hope he writes back to tell me where he is. I amnervous about maybe getting hate mail through the web boards, as amI a bit nervous about being able to juggle it with project. Ithought this was going to start July 16--23, so I timed my projectstay in Arizona accordingly, but they published it as July 6-13,which is my last week here. Uff-da! Again, life is complicated, butmy teammates are supportive.Oh dear, I think this was a rather Lutheran prolonged farewell.Really, I'm signing off now.peace,Le Anne