My grandpa was one of the hardest working men I’ve ever met. When I was a child, my family moved often, both within Mexico and throughout the United States. One move I remember vividly is when we moved to Tijuana. Financially, we were dirt poor: My whole family worked in the dumps of Tijuana. We walked the streets, looking through garbage piles for cans, bottles, or anything we could sell to survive. But we were rich with happiness. I was surrounded by family, friends, and other migrants who arrived on a regular basis to cross the U.S. border in search of the “American dream.”
Every morning, I would walk holding my grandpa’s hand, and he would buy me a small carton of milk y un pan dulce, and to work we would go.
My grandpa never went to school, but he knew Bible stories and sayings that had been passed down from one generation to the next. He wasn’t a person who prayed often, but I learned so much from watching him in action. He would give away everything he owned so his loved ones could have some special moments. From him I learned that God has many ways to teach us. The question is: Are we willing to listen and live out what others teach us through action?
I remember one day, my brother Juan (Banano) was crying, because he was hungry. I saw the tears in my grandma Micaela’s eyes, as she explained to my brother that she didn’t have any food or money to buy food. He continued to cry, and I watched my grandma take off her earrings, which were made out of Canadian silver dimes. She broke off the dimes, gave them to my brother, and sent him into the store to use the dimes to buy a piece of meat.
Later, I moved with my mom to different towns in California, Oregon, and Washington to be closer to our relatives. We moved often, looking for work and a better life—it was not easy. My mom was a single mother, and she held many different jobs. Often she would work in the field during the day and at other jobs in the evening. During the summer, my brothers and sisters and I all worked in the fields. We put our money together to help Mom pay bills, and we saved money so we could survive the rest of the year. But even though we were poor, we didn’t realize it at the time. My mom was always finding other migrant workers living in their cars or in parks. I remember one night, while we
were living in a one-bedroom apartment with our large family, she showed up with 10 other kids and their parents. They lived with us for a few months until we were all kicked out.
From my grandpa, grandma, mom, and the rest of my family, I learned the truth of Matthew 25:31-46. In that passage, Jesus tells us, “As you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” It is not hard to remember Bible verses, but it is hard to apply them to our lives if we haven’t learned them by watching others’ actions along the way.
I’ve had the privilege of having many unsung heroes, role models, and friends who have taught me how to live the gospel and held me accountable. A priest at my local parish, Padre Miguel, was one of these role models. He adopted my family and took us in like we were part of his own. He brought us food, money to help my mom pay the bills, and Christmas toys. One day, he asked if I could join him to visit the families in the migrant camps.
Today, my work has taken me to see migrant families on the move from our borders to the Seattle Archdiocese and Skagit Valley. I’ve seen children without food, clothing, or housing. I’ve become closer with God, not only because I learned more about our faith but also because of the actions of Padre Miguel and others I’ve met.
One day, at the end of a retreat, I found myself in tears while praying to God. I asked God, “If you are real, come down from the cross and hold my hand. Guide me. I don’t know how to follow you or do your work here on Earth.” I didn’t realize that God had been guiding me since I was born through my family, friends, and great heroes. I have learned my faith through prayer and action. The challenge is not to only learn about injustice or see the needs of the world; it is to apply what we have learned.
“It is not hard to remember Bible verses, but it is hard to apply them to our lives if we haven’t learned them by watching others’ actions along the way.”