Piedras Negras

For those that met Father Pepe, this news will be a bit of a shocker. As you may know, he was moved from Acuña to nearby Piedras Negras several years ago. We’ve helped him and the people of Piedras, although our main focus has been in Acuña.

In May of 2011, one of his workers from a shelter was abducted. A bag was placed over his head and he was taken to an unknown location. His abductors told him that until the people in charge of the shelter began paying (for protection) employees would be taken. The abductor placed a revolver to the victim’s head and plaid Russian roulette. The hammer of the pistol fell on an empty chamber and the victim was released.

Since that time, more threats and other actions followed. Father Pepe received so many death threats that the bishop moved him to an undisclosed location.
The shelters continue to operate and we will increase our presence and support in Piedras Negras.

Violence Arrived in Acuna

October 4, 2011

Four Injured - Gun Battle in Acuña near one of our School Cafeterias

Since 2006, the media hammered the border with stories that implied every border-city was filled with murders. The media destroyed the tourist industry in Acuna long before a state police commander, allegedly involved with a cartel, was murdered in May of 2010. Since that murder, we’ve not seen violence in Acuña until today.

At least four people, including two women, were injured Tuesday in a shootout between gunmen and Mexican authorities in Evaristo Perez colonia in Ciudad Acuña.

The confrontation began shortly before noon today when a convoy of troops and state police encountered a Dodge Durango with armed cartel gunmen. Authorities chased the Durango through the streets and a gunfight ensued. The chase ended near the Maria Braulia Garcia Primary School, one of the schools where we feed children at our cafeteria.

None of the students at the school were injured.

At least four people were injured, including two women that were struck in the legs by bullets.

The newspaper Zocalo identified the four victims as: Graciela Moreno Rosales, 30; Veronica Herrera, 32; Andres Orenelas Lozano, 41; and Carlos Ledesma Carrillo, 29.

Acuña residents, who didn't want to be identified, said that confrontations between the authorities and the Zeta cartel will probably continue. Mexican marines have been deployed in Acuña during the past three weeks.

This is the third week that the Mexican Marines have manned checkpoints and conducted vehicle inspections at the entrance and exit at the International Bridge and at every highway into and out of Acuña. Last week a gun-smuggler was apprehended entering Acuña and automatic weapons were confiscated.

Paper Houses continues to walk the streets, visit the schools and meet with the families of the poor in Acuña. Although we’ve curtailed mission trips, we’ve increased the number of times we will walk the streets of the poor.

The poor in the colonias need us, especially now. As the world continues in an economic slump and as the people in Acuña are living and working in midst of this violence, we know that this is the time when we must step up. Church-led mission groups and charities are likely to focus their resources to help other places. We are needed.

Acuna - Where is the Violence?

The violence is against the people of Acuña. There are rumors about businesses being forced to pay protection money to the cartel. There are rumors of kidnappings and ransoms. Businesses continue to close and relocate in Del Rio. (Many of the wealthy have dual citizenship).

Some mission groups continue to arrive and there has never been a report of violence against Americans on a mission trip. There are no gunfights in the streets.

The last (and only) shooting occurred over a year ago when a state police lieutenant that was allegedly in the pay of a cartel was shot dead. A cardboard sign was laid on his body that warned other police officials not to do business with the Zeta cartel. As disturbing as this is, it was one killing over a year ago. Nobody recalls any murder in Acuña prior to that single instance.

The real 'violence' is the damage caused by the over-reported news about violence in 'border cities' that include a 2,000 mile border. Almost every new story includes at least five references to other stories about violence in Mexico. These are often rehashes of old news and some of that old news is about violence near Mexico city or the Pacific Ocean! The end result of this form of reporting is that the entire tourist industry along a 2,000 mile border was destroyed. Even in a peaceful city like Acuña.

We Just Keep Doing

As violence continues to surge across Mexico I am certain that I have no solution. I am also certain that we will continue to help one child at a time and not become discouraged because we can't immediately solve the big picture.

When we began, we never envisioned a 'war on poverty' or providing medical help to every child in need. Instead, we walked down the dusty streets gave away sacks of groceries.

People from all walks of life continue to send money and we continue to pay for life changing medical treatments; we continue to support shelters for children and we continue to help in the best ways that we can. It seems that every week we see another miracle.

We can all become discouraged when we focus on what we cannot fix. However, when we focus on little Ambar and Juan Pedro receiving prosthetic limbs, or when we sit with the children as they eat the lunches we provide - there is great satisfaction.

I do not know how long the drug violence will last and we've had to curtail mission trips for the time being. But, I return to the border every few weeks to bring a few more children to the hospital, to help a few more families over a rough spot and to make sure that the people know we are still with them.

We fix the things we can fix and we do it right now!