CPTNET
June 10, 2004

ARIZONA/SONORA BORDERLANDS: CPTers conduct first memorial prayer vigil

On Friday June 4, CPT Arizona team members held their first memorial prayer
in the desert for migrants who have died while crossing the desert. Juan
Manuel Guerrero Diaz, 35-years-old from Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico, was found
dead on Wednesday, bringing the number of deaths of migrants in Arizona to
at least 85 since last October. As part of the No More Deaths summer
movement, CPT Arizona--based in Douglas, AZ-- has said its members will
conduct a prayer service for each reported death in Cochise County, the area
in which CPT works.

Near the place where the body was found, CPTers Mark Frey, Elizabeth Garcia
and Scott Kerr piled stones in a memorial cairn, fashioned a cross out of
dead wood, placed Juan's name on the cross, and left a bottle of water next
to the site. Garcia poured water over the memorial invoking God's spirit of
healing into a wounded land. Kerr reflected, "Two days ago, this man was
fine. His wife and children thought they might hear from him soon. Now all
that is lost." Garcia and Frey also shared reflections. The tree then read
from the bible and concluded in song with "Nada Te Turbe."

Pictures at http://www.cpt.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album64