The Flag is Delivered

On Saturday July 5 the flag was delivered to a Mexican pastor and his wife in El Paso. They were very happy to get this and assured me it would be delivered. And let it be said that the flag was folded properly and delivered by a U.S. Marine, and it’s on its way to Juarez to the women’s group. I’m going to continue collecting prayers for these women until these murders and disappearances along the border end or until there are so many people helping that my services are no longer needed. I’ve already received my next project—an international prayer flag for all the women and children who are suffering. People have asked me many times what motivates me to do this, and it’s actually a very simple answer. Before man showed his face on this earth, some creatures and then humans had a policy—women and children first.

The Day After

I talked to the press yesterday—Fox 5. They said they might do an interview with me. Last night I stayed in some ancient Indian ruins, and while I was sewing on the flag it dawned on me that the Marines are the ones who traditionally put up the flag (when they’re present), so I feel honored to carry this flag as an ex-Marine and will treat it with all the respect that a Marine treats the flag. Perhaps the mission that I’m on is to not necessarily deliver it personally into Juarez but to take it across America and to see for myself what’s happening along the border, which I have. I do believe this flag will eventually reach these women or they will hear about it. Everyone I have met on my journey has been incredibly supportive of these women when I talk to them personally, except for one man who wanted to send his wife to Juarez. I suspect but do not know yet that this flag might take on international colors. Something has come to my attention through the people I’ve met and my dreams and visions that there is a great attack from multiple sides on the Catholic church. This attack is not by one organization and not by a combined effort, and I will not mention these religious orders or financial groups’ names. That’s not necessary; anyone who has eyes or ears knows who they are. But I will say that these groups attacking the church have as much or more of the same problems and their reasons for attacking are not holy. Now I have a sacred transmission from heaven. It needs to be said this way or else it will lose its power. God is in all. God is one. Quarreling among the churches is forbidden and sacrilege. Stop fighting over God’s property. Your children’s children will thank you. May the Great Spirit of all things open your heart. May you walk the good road in the direction of truth.
P.S. It's no longer a curse but a blessing to stay here amongst you.

Aftermath of tornado

In helping recovery efforts from the tornados that devastated Macon, I began working for a sign company. My work involves fabricating signs and repairing signs that were damaged by the storm. Gathering prayers for the book continues, and people have inscribed some very touching sentiments. I am adding more crosses to the flag and show here a photo of the tiny crosses, each having been sewn on with a prayer.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Went to an ice cream social at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon and passed out some Atlanta-to-Juarez fliers. The rain held off, so the blossoms looked beautiful. The Japanese cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese government many years ago, and the Japanese ambassador was at the festival and met with the mayor of Macon. The flag now has over 500 crosses sewn on it, each sewn with one or more prayers. Two prayers often used are the Prayer of St. Francis and the Rosary.

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday morning I went to the Macon Sunrise Service. About 200-300 people were there, including clergy and the press. Before the service started, I did some tai chi. After enjoying the service, I stayed around for a while and talked briefly to the press.

Indian Mounds

I went to the Indian Mounds in Macon, Georgia. This is the Ocmulgee National Monument maintained by the US National Park Service. This site preserves and displays a collection of archeological artifacts dating back more than 12,000 years (nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm). While I was there, a school class came through; the teacher and the kids signed the prayer book. There were 5-6 college students who came along and also signed the book. The flag now has 130 pink crosses sewn on with 130 prayers.

Beginning the Journey

I began this journey on March 9 in Atlanta, and it will end on the 4th of July, 2008, near El Paso and Juarez. I am collecting prayers in a book that are prayed and made in America for these women and children, and I have a flag which will have 400 or more crosses sewn on it, each sewn with a prayer.

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ 2008

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ

FAIR WAGES AND SECURITY FOR WOMEN
TO, DURING, AND AFTER WORK

Women are being killed at alarming rates in Mexico and other countries, but the perpetrators are overwhelmingly never brought to justice. This problem has been termed "femicide," the most extreme expression of gender-based violence accepted culturally and by the State when its laws don't criminalize violence against women and/or the lack of political will results in almost total impunity for the perpetrators of such brutality. Approximately 400 young women have been murdered or abducted in the cities of Juárez and Chihuahua, Mexico since 1993. In Guatemala, over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered since 2001. The brutality with which the assailants abduct and murder the women goes further than the act of killing—many of the victims are tortured, raped, mutilated, beaten, shot or stabbed to death. In all cases the victim’s gender is a significant factor, in the kind of violence perpetrated and the level of response by authorities.

The authorities need help to solve these murders. Government agencies need us to ask “how can we help?”

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE WOMEN OF JUAREZ AND OTHER CITIES WORLDWIDE AND TO GET SIGNATURES AND ENDORSEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAUSE.
JOIN PART-TIME, FULL-TIME, OR FROM HOME VIA THE WEB.

THE JOURNEY STARTS AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S CHURCH IN ATLANTA ON MARCH 9, 2008, AT NOON AND ENDS ON JULY 4 AT NOON NEAR JUAREZ ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER TO PRAY.

For more information contact atlantatojuarez@live.com
For background info see www.amnestyusa.org/bordertown