The Virginian-Pilot
©
EASTERN SHORE
On the first day of the mission, they already have a plan for the last.
"Leaving is really hard. It really makes you want to cry when they see that you're not coming back," said Bracey Parr, who's president of Suffolk Christian Church's youth group and a rising junior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
It's Sunday. The group of about 20 teens, and their chaperones, has just gotten to Kiptopeke State Park, which will be their base all week for the mission on the Eastern Shore to help migrant workers.
They have unpacked their food for the week - they'll be having spaghetti for dinner tonight - and they are getting settled. They haven't seen any of the children yet.
They wonder whether they'll see the little girl they met last year - the one who, when they first asked her for her name, said, "Hannah Montana." Her arms were covered in bruises, but they got her help, and they hear she's now in a home where she's not being hurt.
Children's bikes are waiting for them on the porch, waiting to be given out on Thursday, the last day, when maybe that'll make the goodbyes easier.
This is the third year that Suffolk Christian Church's youth group has helped migrant workers on the Eastern Shore.
They've been to Bible study camps over the years, many of them. They were great, but it was all "teaching, teaching, teaching," said Meredith McLaughlin on this first day of her third mission. After a while, it was like, "I have been taught all this. What do we do with this?"
Lisa Rath, their youth group leader, offered that, when she was a kid, her church did mission work with migrant workers on the Eastern Shore.
We should do that, they said three years ago.
Still, there were doubts. They knew that some of the migrant workers were here illegally. Meredith, who just graduated from Windsor High School, said that, before her first mission, she was "all Border Patrol, Border Patrol, Border Patrol."
Not now.
Same with Logan Masters.
"I was kind of skeptical. 'Is this really what God wants us to do?' " Logan, who's 15, said as she sorted clothes at Casa Esperanza-Alyson Jolly House of Hope in Wachapreague, a place that offers free food, clothes, even car seats, to those in need. Mostly, it's migrant workers who come.
Logan is playing peek-a-boo with a couple of children who are using the clothing racks as a playground. Sometimes, instead of peek-a-boo, she says, "Hola."
"This is what He gave us to do," Logan continues. "This is what we have to do. We can't stop."
"Hey, baby!" she says to a toddler. "I see you."
The teens believe that if people just knew about the tough lives of the migrant workers, they'd have to help.
"I really think that politicians should come down and see," Bracey said angrily. "These people work the jobs Americans don't want. People think they live off of us; we live off of them."
The teens want to see Carmen Colona, a missionary who runs Casa Esperanza, get more help. She needs more space. The building is in poor shape.
"Working with the migrants, working with the kids and seeing their faces, just to see how much they need," Logan said. "I cannot understand how they go through this. God must be with them every day just to get them through this."
It's Thursday, the last day with the kids. The last day for games and crafts and Bible stories at the labor camp.
They haven't seen Hannah Montana; she moved to another camp.
Jesus, though, has been keeping everyone on the run, usually wanting piggyback rides. He's about 7, the teens guess. They've been watching him grow over the years.
It's Bracey's turn to give Jesus a piggyback ride. He asks Jesus if he wants to be interviewed for a newspaper article. OK, Jesus replies, but only if they get running already.
What has been the best part of the group's visit? "When they have toys. Run!" he orders Bracey.
Making matters more urgent, Jesus is playing keepaway with one of the teens' flip-flops and she is fast approaching.
This year, Bracey says, Jesus has been preparing for the goodbyes, each day asking if this was the last.
But, they were right. The gift makes things easier.
On the dirt road out of the camp, Jesus, grinning, races them on his new bike.
Nancy Young, (757) 222-5559, nancy.young@pilotonline.com
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New Views contd.
These people are obviously not properly educated on the issue. Some say the migrants are living off of us, when in fact we are living off of them. They do the jobs that Americans WILL NOT DO(Gabrielle). I highly doubt you would work in a field from sun up to sun down making maybe 50 to 75 trips to the tomato truck to unload the 40 lb bucket you are carrying while only earning 30 to 45 cents a trip. Like I said before, uneducated. To call us brainwashed shows your lack of knowledge in this area. I plead with you to spend a day with us and I promise you will no longer have these dense and foolish ideals and inconsequential non-sense that you've conjured up from the media, political figures and who knows what else.
I, Meredith McLaughlin, along with my good friend Bracey Parr and 20 other teens are set out to complete a mission. With the help of others or not, we will succeed. God has sent us here for a reason, and we will not stop until justice is served. If you would like to help or contribute in any way, contact Suffolk Christian Church at (757)-539-9182. God Bless All.
New Views
If people would just spend one day with us and see what we see, their opinion on this subject would drastically change. It definitely changes mine after one trip. This particular migrant camp is one of thousands located up and down the east coast. This is not just a local issue. This problem is found in peach orchards, apple orchards, and tomato fields throughout the US. Many people don't fully understand this situation. These migrant workers try and live just as regular Americans. Those not so fortunate to have legal citizenship still live as regular citizens; paying taxes, having taxes deducted from their paychecks, purchasing the same costly products, etc while not being able to file for taxes because they do not have proper documentation. To say that these people are taking the jobs of Americans is complete ignorance......
"I really think that
"I really think that politicians should come down and see," Bracey said angrily. "These people work the jobs Americans don't want. People think they live off of us; we live off of them."
The old canard that Americans are too lazy to work, so the illegals had to come and save us from ourselves. Please; If life is so unbearable and difficult for them here...well, no one invited them here, and nobody is forcing them to stay. They can just take their illegally obtained (and often tax-free) earnings and head for whatever tropical paradise they call "home".
No, Americans aren't too
No, Americans aren't too lazy to work, we are just spoiled. Most Americans would never work under the conditions the migrants work under. Most of the migrants do not plan to stay here forever, they just want to be able to feed their families (and they do pay taxes, but never get to collect Social Security or get the other benefits that we get). I guess if people have never seen outside their own little box, it's hard to understand.
We need to remember that
We need to remember that "Migrant" doesn't necessarily mean "Illegal." I think it is a shame that these folks are treated so poorly. They work hard under hard conditions. I know I wouldn't want to be doing stoop labor day in and day out.
Compassion is wonderful
It is, and I applaud these kids for what they are doing.
However I must find fault with the adults brainwashing them that the migrants are doing work Americans won't. That is 100% total hogwash.
There are plenty of locals, born and raised locals and comeheres, here on the Eastern Shore who would take these jobs, but are never considered for them. The locals don't even know about them because they are NEVER advertised locally.
I would pick tomatoes in a heartbeat, and I know plenty of other locals who would as well, but we can't get jobs with these outfits, and we also can't get assistance from these charities who cater to the migrants. The growers don't hire locals, only migrants because they know the locals will not put up with the abominable way they treat the day laborers.
These kids are not brain
These kids are not brain washed, they see it first hand. The unfortunate thing that people do not realize is that if these companies had to pay Americans the wages that we demand, we would not be able to afford to buy food. As for the charities not giving assistance, I only know about the one these kids worked in, and it caters to anyone needing assistance, not just the migrants.
Which one is it?
Gabrielle,
You contradict yourself when you write:
"There are plenty of locals ... here on the Eastern Shore who would take these jobs..." but then go on to say:
"The growers don't hire locals, only migrants because they know the locals will not put up with the abominable way they treat the day laborers."
Which one is it? Would you or would you not take these jobs, abominable treatment and all? You make the very point you try to dismiss: the migrants take the jobs locals like you do not want to do!
Casa Esperanze
Casa Esperanza(Hope House) assists both local and migrants. I would know as I helped both while I worked there.
Amen!
Just as God told the Israelites to be kind to the aliens living amongst them, that still holds true to God's character, will, and love to us today. I do believe in obeying the authorities and laws He has set up for us but that does not mean we are not to be merciful and loving. If not, we are rebuked as the religious leaders of His day were. They did all the right things, but lacked compassion and mercy.