We will take an immersive journey, guided by the organization Journey Home, into the relational and systemic implications of borders. While this experience is set in the context of the Mexico/U.S. border, the learning offers tools to evaluate and transcend any border that divides. Shared experience, particularly involving intentional displacement, offers a ripe environment for transformation—both personal and communal. Together, we will consider what discipleship to Jesus asks of our engagement with the various borders that divide and create a sense of “other” in our lives and communities.
Photo: Judy Adams
The migrant’s journey exists within the communities we inhabit—workplaces, friends and neighbors, church, and families. We hope that learning from and being inspired by the stories and efforts of those impacted by and working within the system of our national borders will equip us to become "everyday peacemakers" in our own context. Given the complexities of the issue and intensity associated with it politically, this experience gives us an opportunity to practice peacemaking in our conversations as we process this experience together.
Details
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We will meet with various folks and organizations from San Diego and Tijuana involved in or impacted by the immigration system and will listen firsthand to their stories.
Past trips have included: San Diego Border Patrol, Deported Veterans, Border Angels, Mothers of Dreamers, a Tijuana migrant shelter, and Border Church.
Our learning guides will be Jon Huckins, founder of Journey Home, and Alejandra and Abdiel Ortiz, National Staff for COMPA, Mexican partner organization of Intervarsity.
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Lodging: Hampton Inn San Diego Airport Liberty Station
Getting there: Fly or drive to San Diego on Thursday, arriving by 5 pm if possible. If flying, take the hotel shuttle from the airport to the hotel.
Going home: Schedule your Sunday evening departing flight for 7:00 pm or later.
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Thursday: Arrive and check in; meet in hotel lobby at 6 pm for group dinner.
Friday: San Diego locations
Saturday: Tijuana locations
Sunday: Reflection and debriefing + return to Tijuana for Border Church
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Shared room: $450 (estimated)
Single room: $800 (estimated)
+ transportation to/from San DiegoYour payment includes hotel, ground transportation, most meals, and the cost for Journey Home to facilitate this trip for us.
Payment is not due until you are accepted to the team.
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This trip is appropriate for adults and mature teens with a parent.
Payment is not due until you are accepted to the team.
You don't need to be able to speak Spanish.
A current passport is required, with at least six months before expiration date.
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Info meeting: Late September or early October
Application deadline: October 31
Interviews: October-November
Team finalized: November 30
Two mandatory team training meetings: January dates tbd
“The Border Pilgrimage puts you in touch with real people with real first-hand experience. You witness the need for God’s people to respond to any ‘border’ with compassion.”
“The Journey Home Border Pilgrimage provided an invaluable opportunity to engage deeply with the complexities of border issues, and foster a culture of curiosity and empathy. While the pilgrimage wasn’t about finding answers to these complexities, it did give me a renewed sense of compassion and understanding of the need for systemic change.”