A few days ago, La Posada Providencia housed families from the Congo, other areas of Central Africa and families from Central America, Brazil, and Mexico.  There was an abundance of families in need and La Posada gave them shelter, love, and kindness. “Blessed be thy neighbor who even on hard times finds room for one more guest.” Sisters, other staff and volunteers gathered clothing, prepared snacks, assigned clean beds, and made accommodations to ensure that not one person was turned away.

While at La Posada, it has been my good fortune to witness humanity in all of its diversity united with the single goal of helping one another in times when help is hard to find. Recently, I noticed one of the Sisters playing outdoors with the children. I saw their laughter, their smiles. I closed my eyes for a bit to pray not for myself,  but for these children’s future – to be filled with love, joy, peace and to find a place where they can be safe from the war, terror and extreme poverty they fled to escape. Some of these children have endured so much in their short time on earth. Not today, today these children will not be victims; they will not live in fear.  They know they are safe, loved and cared for at La Posada, whether for a few days or just one night.

” When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
-Leviticus 19:33,34 (NIV).
Cyndi Loredo is a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley master’s student in the School of Social Work, Brownsville Campus. She is Treasurer of the Phi Alpha Mu Honor Society and has been interning at La Posada Providencia since August 2019. Her first term ends this week; she hopes to return for her second internship in January 2020.