Joy that Refuses to Disappear

If you spend even one day in our border community, you’ll see it–joy that refuses to disappear.

It might not be what you first expect from the border. After all, in Juárez we meet families who have endured long and difficult journeys. Many are unable to return home or move forward. Others have been deported or have even made the painful decision to self-deport back to Mexico. 

These realities weigh heavily on all of us. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with sadness and have moments of despair.

Yet even in the midst of such hardship, we still encounter a deep sense of joy. Not a fragile joy that ignores the pain, but a resilient joy that is birthed out of faith and community. 

Communities in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez have demonstrated over the last decade what it means to love boldly. Neighbors have opened their homes. Churches have opened their sanctuaries. And the community as a whole has opened its arms. Hundreds of volunteers have shared food, kindness, and presence without hesitation, sacrificing their time even when it is inconvenient. 

Our community has demonstrated a way of life that serves as an inspiration to the rest of the country: a way of seeing every person worthy of dignity, respect, and care. A way of moving through heartache while making room for joy and hope. 

Over the next few weeks, we will share stories in a series we are calling “Border Joy.” You’ll hear from a variety of voices who will speak to the heart of Abara from their own vantage points—stories of children laughing in shelters, friendships growing across cultures, and long-time residents welcoming newcomers as if they were family. These glimpses of beauty do not erase the pain of our borderlands, but they do reveal the strength and compassion that sustain this beautiful place.

Border Joy is more than a theme—it’s the foundation of what we hope to build together. And today, I want to share another dream rooted in this same Border Joy—one that I’m asking you to help bring to life. 

With your help, we will build Abara House, a Borderland Center for Peace and Transformation. 

This will be a space where painful histories can be acknowledged. A place where the beauty of our region is celebrated. A center where people can listen, connect, build solidarity, grow in faith, heal, and step into meaningful action—a space alive with Border Joy.

We are now in the final stage of Phase One of our capital campaign, having raised 87.5% of our goal. Only $400,000 remains to complete the full acquisition of the Hacienda and the surrounding property. 

We are so close to securing a permanent place of welcome, connection, and belonging. But we need your help to get there. 

Today is Giving Tuesday. Will you give a gift this holiday season to build a home for Border Joy? Your gift—large or small—will directly shape the future of Abara and the thousands of people who will learn, listen, and find hope within its walls. 

Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Your support allows us to nurture hope, strengthen community, and continue building a border defined not by division, but by compassion and collective flourishing.

— Sami DiPasquale, Executive Director, Abara