[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ome people protest through rioting, others through their art.
For two Methodist missionaries, their love for God’s children is shown through music and prayer.
“This is our form of peaceful protest. We play for the deported migrants who are victims of unjust immigration laws,” Edward White said.
White, who is from Florida, and fellow missionary Celeste Cato, from North Carolina, are members of the United Methodist Church. They are on two-year missions in Tijuana.
“We work in the main almacen [shelter] for deported migrants here in Tijuana,” said Caton. “We are here to show that God’s love is bigger than any border wall that could ever be put up.”
The two twentysomethings work with Mexican counterparts to help migrants reintegrate into Mexican society while in transition.
“We classify them first, then figure out how we can help them best,” said the Rev. Guillermo Navarrete Prince.
“Some got deported because they had bad luck, others because they are criminals or drug addicts. We help those who want to be helped.”
Prince delivers mass every Sunday at the border wall in Playas de Tijuana. Thousands have received communion from Prince at Parque Binacional.
The pastor has not missed a sermon in three years.
Border Field State Park was commissioned in 1971 by President Richard Nixon. First Lady Pat Nixon cut the ribbon to allow citizens of Mexico and the U.S. to meet on Monument Hill. / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
The trail leading to Monument Hill runs directly through the Tijuana River National Estuariane
Research Reserve, where water is contaminated with raw sewage. / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
The hours of operation on the U.S. side are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol follows strict guidelines, such as no passing of paraphernalia through the metal grate. / Jose Servin / el Don
It is a total of 1.4 miles from the parking lot to the border wall. People who are familiar with the trek sometimes use bicycles to avoid walking on foot the entire way. / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
After visiting with family, park goers must hike back to their vehicle, making the total distance of the trip a 2.8-mile journey, half of which is alongside the heavily guarded wall. / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
The murals that have been painted on the bars are mostly forms of peaceful protest. Some have been commissioned by Union Indio, a project by Indio beer focused on music and art. / Jorge Campos / el Don
Some of the murals represent groups of people who have been deported such as the DREAMers Moms and the Deported Veterans. The groups meet about once a month to paint them. / Jorge Campos / el Don
Pastor Guillermo Navarrete Prince is a member of the Methodist Church. He has been performing mass for the people along the Tijuana side of the wall for three years. / Jorge Campos / el Don
Band members Jose Cota, Jaime Luis Martel and Edward White play folk songs for the service. They use their music as a form of protest against mass deportation. / Jorge Campos / el Don
Missionary Celeste Caton helps Pastor Prince in serving communion to members of the Border Angels and other activist groups who attend mass with the migrants on the border. / Jorge Campos / el Don
Father Rodgers visits Friendship Park most Sundays to deliver a brief mass in hopes of keeping the park open. / Jose Servin / el Don