La Posada Providencia is a refugee house in San Benito, Texas sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence of Allison Park, PA.  This ministry was started by the former province in St. Louis, MO.  For many years now Sisters and staff have “welcomed the stranger” to  our country.  With the immigration crisis at our borders, La Posada has been overwhelmed with asylum seekers and has continued to try and meet their needs as best they can.   The following story is just one of many like it.  Pregnant women are often released from detention centers because the guards there do not want to deal with the pregnancy and all that will be required.  So they bring them to La Posada, knowing that the Sisters and staff there will help.  These are the words of one such client.

“I am from Peru.  I am 24 years old.  My husband and I had no choice but to leave our home country because of corrupt political organizations that were growing at a dangerous rate.  We could no longer survive with them insisting that we hand over all our wages.  We decided to begin our journey toward the United States with the promise of providing a better life not only for ourselves but also for our unborn child.

At first, it was extremely difficult to process the idea of being seven months pregnant and alone in a strange new world.  I am grateful to La Posada Providencia for accepting me with open arms.  They were extremely gracious in assisting me with all the services I needed as a pregnant woman.  They provided transportation to doctor’s appointments, gave me some maternity clothes, proper nutrition and ESL classes.  

When the time came to bring my daughter into this new world, a wonderful volunteer accompanied me throughout my labor and the birthing process.  She stayed with me the entire time I was in the hospital.  This made me feel safe and protected.

Now that my daughter has arrived, La Posada continues to assist me by providing all that my infant daughter needs.  They are generous enough to provide her formula, diapers and all the necessities that come with a newborn.

I will forever be grateful to La Posada Providencia for all their help.  Had it not been for this beautiful shelter taking me in and the efforts of the entire Sisters, staff, and volunteers, my fate could have been detrimental.  La Posada will always be in my heart because they have given me the opportunity to experience what a true family is.”

So as you can see, La Posada really does save lives and give people a safe environment for themselves and for their children.  They are always in need of help–through prayers, donations, and hands on volunteers.  Thank you to La Posada for welcoming this immigrant mother, her daughter, and so many others from countries around the world.

Barbara McMullen, CDP