Running on God’s Time

When I first moved to El Paso with FMS, I was placed as a volunteer in the shelters of Annunciation House for people migrating to the United States. The main shelter I was assigned to was Casa Papa Francisco, but one day, I was asked to do an overnight and morning shift at another shelter called Casa Rita Sanchez. This ask came within my first two weeks in El Paso — at a time when I was already feeling overwhelmed and learning the ropes of El Paso and the shelter.

Nevertheless, I arrived at Casa Rita in the evening before my overnight shift began and felt my anxiety heighten somewhat. I still felt very new to this work, and this shelter specifically.  I did not know Casa Rita well, and I was worried about what I would do and who I would contact if something were to happen to one of the guests in the shelter that night. Luckily, nothing happened that night, and I was able to get a few hours of sleep before getting up early the next morning to unlock the doors and start breakfast for the guests.

Throughout my shift, I felt anxious and a sense of urgency to get things done quickly. We had a few families leaving for the airport that morning. I recall rushing around the shelter to check families in for their flights, serving breakfast to the guests, and confirming transportation from the shelter to the airport for the folks leaving. I was letting the stress and anxiety of wanting to do well at a new position in a different shelter get the best of me; it made me feel like I was running out of time for everything. At one point, one of my fellow volunteers was helping me make travel bags for the families that were leaving. She noticed I was hurrying through everything, and she turned to me and said, “Are you okay?” I realized then that I was reaching a breaking point — but I needed to make sure the travel bags were finished. Luckily, my fellow volunteer and I finished the bags and sent the families on their way to the airport on time. 

After we sent the families off, I walked back to the office to the computer to confirm more travel details for some guests. I sat down at the desk and was about to start more work when suddenly, the toddler of one of the families staying at the shelter walked in the doorway of the office — carrying a coloring book in one hand and crayons in the other. She plopped down on the ground in the doorway and started coloring. Seeing this, I immediately left the desk and joined her on the floor, picking up a crayon and coloring with her. In that interaction, my stress and anxiety melted away. I was able to take a moment to breathe and just be present with another person.

 I realize now that this has been one invitation from God that has been constant for me: to slow down and be where my feet are. My time on mission has been highlighted with a constant invitation to simply be present and be with the people I am accompanying. When there are times when I am overwhelmed with the tasks in front of me, God is there to remind me of my “why” for mission – and occasionally He will use a toddler to get the point across.

Question for Reflection: Where is God inviting you to slow down and be present with those around you?