In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we read, “And we all know that in all things God works for the nice of those that love him, who’ve been called in keeping with his purpose” (Rom 8:28). We humans are able to dreaming—that’s, we will create great goals for our lives. Sometimes we cannot fulfill our projects, but other times it is feasible. But we all the time hope we’re working toward God’s greater good.
In my very own life, I actually have had the chance to fight for my dreams. I actually have tried, and tried, and tried again. But now, this fight isn’t for my dreams, but for essentially the most wonderful human being, God’s gift for me—an element of me—my love, my son.
I’m fighting to construct a life for us here in the USA. Let me let you know why.
I’m fighting to construct a life for us here in the USA. Let me let you know why.
I’m a Colombian woman in my 30s. I used to be born in the town of Bogotá. I’m a tough employee, entrepreneur and single mother; my son is currently 12 years old. It is extremely difficult to inform our story because it stirs up many feelings in me, but it will be important to me that the world knows that anything is feasible with God’s help.
All of it began because safety and public order are increasingly complicated in my country, Colombia. The neighborhood where I grew up is now called a “risk zone.” For the past few years, insurgent gangs have recruited children who’re 11 years old and older. They force the youngsters to be a part of their gang, take them to training camps and teach them easy methods to manipulate others. The gangs train the youngsters to grow to be people able to fighting for the gang’s own goals. This is the reason my son’s life was in danger—these gangs could have easily recruited him.
I finally decided that we should always flee after a gaggle of eight gangsters entered our house at about 3 a.m. and threatened us with weapons. They tied our hands to our feet and took all the pieces we had. The one thing they said was that we had to go away. It was clear to me at that moment that I needed to make sure my son’s safety.
Despite all of the terrible moments we went through during that point, God accompanied us.
Once we were free, my mother asked other people in our neighborhood in the event that they knew the names and addresses of the aggressors. We got the answers. We knew who was behind the violence. But once we reported the incident to the police, they told us to not submit the report. They said the gangs were dangerous and will harm my brothers and son again. The police advised us to go away it alone. Many officers support these gangs by taking bribes and collaborating with them. It’s useless to attempt to denounce the groups when there isn’t any law. It’s an actual cry into the void.
Within the spring, six days after the horrific event, we left Colombia and headed to the USA. We flew to Panama after which to Mexico City. Then we took a three-day bus ride from Mexico City to the border with Mexicali. We were met with more corruption among the many immigration agents in Mexico. They charge migrants money to pass checkpoints; in the event you don’t give them money, you’ll be able to’t cross. These payments should not official government requirements but simply motivated by greed.
The immigration agents stopped the bus and told everyone to get off. They rummaged through our things, taking whatever they wanted. I had hidden our money in my underwear in order that they didn’t take away all the pieces from me; otherwise, we wouldn’t have even made it that far. Despite all of the terrible moments we went through during that point, God accompanied us.
You can’t imagine the fear in our hearts seeing the wall. Its height makes you are feeling like you might be in a forbidden place, something really dark.
Once we arrived at a spot where the Colorado River runs through Mexico, we went to a different town by truck. We stayed at a hotel in a tiny village. Being there’s something I cannot describe. We sensed spirits of fear, death and evil—but those feelings occur whenever you end up in a cartel-run town. We began being followed by some people, and we knew we were in trouble. My family split as much as lose them. We had a lot fear and anxiety. After we tried to go away the town, they told us we needed to pay or die, so we agreed to a payment.
But God was all the time with us.
Then we finally reached the U.S.-Mexico border. You can’t imagine the fear in our hearts seeing the wall. Its height makes you are feeling like you might be in a forbidden place, something really dark. We walked until we found a spot where the border became a river. We went over the primary wall using all our strength and gripping the bars with our hands. Then we climbed a second wall. But there have been no border patrol agents. It jogged my memory of when God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. We intended to give up but had no approach to achieve this. The one thing we heard was a helicopter that flew over, but it surely was as in the event that they didn’t see us.
God was all the time leading us, just as he led the people of Israel after they left Egypt, guiding them day and night.
We walked along the river and saw many baby clothes and the clothing of adult men and ladies who passed before us. At first, it was very shocking to see so many things discarded. But people shed their items because walking within the beating sun is exhausting, and your body gets depleted. The less weight you carry, the simpler it’s to walk. That’s the reason many individuals who arrive in the USA on an identical path only have what they’re wearing. Once I take into consideration all of the individuals who walked through the desert for days or passed through the Rio Grande, it gives me chills. I kept thanking God we were O.K. during such a tragic time in our lives.
We followed the river until we had to go away the trail. The one thing we found for miles was a journalist who interviewed us. He gave us water. I attempted to make use of his phone to call immigration so we could present ourselves to them and seek asylum, but they never arrived.
We walked for seven hours until we reached Yuma, Ariz. We were so drained, sunburned, thirsty and worn out; even our underwear was ripped from the journey. But once we were in Yuma, we thanked God because we officially had a likelihood at a life on this country of opportunity. God was all the time leading us, just as he led the people of Israel after they left Egypt, guiding them day and night.
A mother’s love overcomes any fear or wall which will arise.
We met one other migrant family along the journey, they usually introduced us to the people at a Catholic Employee house in one other state. To this present day, the Catholic Employee does a superb job assisting us. They offer us food and housing and helped me enroll my son at school. They’re helping me with resources to locate an attorney to determine my asylum petition and fix my situation on this country.
I never imagined myself being an asylum seeker and living without official documentation until I can find an excellent lawyer. Although some parts of this journey were my plans and thoughts, I do know others were God’s plans for us. He has helped us, and his mercy is renewed every day. I’m grateful because, in the midst of all the pieces, I don’t feel like someone who has done something mistaken. I just got here so I could offer my son a lifetime of opportunity. I hope that he can fulfill his dreams of playing soccer, possibly eventually at a university or at the same time as an expert. In our country, he cannot play in any respect.
The one thing I ask in my prayers is that we win our asylum case. I pray for a permit to work and that this country of opportunity will allow us to prove we’re grateful human beings and need to contribute good things.
I do know my son will represent the USA as his homeland proudly. I dream of seeing my son graduate from school, that the USA will allow him to check at university so he can grow to be an expert who contributes to the community.
In Jos 1:5, we read, “Nobody will have the option to face against you all of the days of your life. As I used to be with Moses, I might be with you; I won’t ever leave or forsake you.”
Regardless of what happens, I’ll show this same steadfast love of and protection for my son. A mother’s love overcomes any fear or wall which will arise.