Pastor Sosa picked up bicycles to give to migrants in a shelter in Palomas, Mexico

With COVID-19 turning the world upside down, so it seems, the impact has been felt immensely by several groups of people, among them migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.  In September, Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) has connected with a shelter in Palomas, Mexico, across the border from Columbus, New Mexico, eager to help with the needs they are weighted under due to an influx of migrants being deported to Mexico due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Pastor Rosalio Sosa, overseer of the Palomas shelter along with several other shelters along the border of Texas, has been at the YLM campus several times to pick up much needed items, among them over forty bicycles donated by the Summer Outdoor Adventure Club (SOAC) from Wisconsin last year.  Twenty of the children bicycles were donated to San Elizario over the Christmas season, with adult bikes stored to find where they can make the most impact.

“We’ve been searching for the right people who would need these bicycles,” Rev. Dr. Karl Heimer, CEO of YLM, shared at a staff meeting, “With Pastor Sosa, these bikes will be going to refugees, just like Gary (SOAC) had asked.  It took some time but we had to make sure they would go where they were meant to go.”

Adult refugees in shelter use bikes to travel around Palomas

Pastor Sosa shared how Tierra de Oro Shelter in Palomas is the most populated with adults, many who have found jobs in the area but have no way to get to and from work or stores.  “There’s no public transportation, so that means walking miles to and from wherever they need to go.  These bikes YLM gave have been a great blessing, as it has helped them cut their commute time.”

Considering Tierra de Oro Shelter keeps curfew hours, cutting commute time not only helps those currently living in the shelter meet their curfew, but also keeps them safe as they won’t be out after dark.

Over forty bicycles were quickly distributed among the refugees in shelter

According to an interview Pastor Sosa did with the Border Report, there’s danger of migrants getting drawn in by drug cartels.  “With these bikes, our migrants will be less of an available target.  They’re very grateful for them.”

YLM continues to find ways to reach out to its community, and beyond borders, to help those who are in need.  With Pastor Sosa’s help, it has been possible to get bikes, along with medical supplies and other needed items donated to YLM, across the border to distribute to where they are most needed.

“We look forward to working with Pastor Sosa,” Pastor Heimer stated over lunch with his staff and Pastor Sosa, “We’ll be able to take many of the donations that come into our campus and put them to work.”

With over $5 million in in-kind donations, it’s always helpful to create new connections to surrounding communities and organizations to ensure the abundance in blessings coming into YLM continue to flow out to people in need of hope and encouragement offered through kindness and compassion.