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Common Place - January 2001
I came to the United States illegally in 1987. I was 15. I had seen
American movies and thought I would live in a big beautiful house.
Instead, the first home I had in Reedley was an old barn. With several
other men, I slept on the wood floors, and it was always cold in
the winter and hot in the summer.
No one wanted to give me a job. They said I was too young. I was
willing to do anything. I needed money to buy food and soon I would
be asked to pay rent. Finally, the owner of the barn told me I could
work around his house and in return he would give me food and shelter.
It was a blessing. His wife taught me how to prune and thin trees.
One man had a car and when we needed to go to the store he would
charge us for gas and we also had to buy him dinner. I soon realized
I would never be able to send money to my family if I stayed in
the barn since we had to pay for food, rent and rides. Because I
was not considered an employee, I wasn't paid much. At the end of
the month I was left with only a couple of dollars.
I moved into a house in town but it was just as bad as the barn.
Many men were living in this house. Some slept on the floor and
others shared beds. When we were sleeping on the floor, rats would
run by. We could hear them nibbling at our food all night.
We had to share the stove in the mornings to heat our food to take
to work. We had to be ready by 5:15 a.m. Sometimes we had to get
up at 3 a.m. just to use the stove. I really could not think like
a 16-year old. I had to worry about work, food, shelter, clothing,
transportation and sending money to Mexico for my family.
One winter I got pneumonia. I thought we needed to be in the United
States legally to see a doctor. I had heard of a man who sold medicine.
I went to him and he gave me a shot of penicillin. I could not walk
for several days . He probably used an old needle and I got an infection.
My pneumonia went away but my leg hurt for several weeks.
One day someone told me about an amnesty program for illegal workers.
I went to the immigration office and they gave me a temporary resident
card and work authorization. Later they gave me my permanent green
card that allowed me to work legally in the United States.
At the end of two years I saved enough money to visit my family
in Mexico. When I got home I realized how beautiful my country is.
The people, the food and the music are so beautiful! But I realized
I had to return to the United States to work. My family depended
on me to help them. I put my brother and sister through school and
I worked hard to buy my father a small ranchito (farm). Now my father
has a few cows and horses.
I know that if I would have stayed in Mexico we would not have
this. It is sad to think of all I had to leave behind but now I
know that my parents have a place to call their own.
Something in me was changing. I no longer felt that I would be
able to call Mexico my permanent home. I was growing and learning
new things in the United States. I understood that even if I went
back to Mexico, I would never be able to provide for my family like
I could if I worked in the United States.
In 1992 I was working on the grape harvest when my crew boss invited
me to church. I was homesick and I needed a personal relationship
with God to fill me. I decided to go to church and there I came
to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior. My life will
always be His. I thank God for allowing me to know him.
That same year I also met my wife. She worked with me on the grape
harvest for several seasons. She now works with MCC's refugee and
immigrant program. Her name is Miriam Cardenas.
My wife and I are now helping immigrants. I help the young men
find a clean and safe place to live. My wife and I take them to
the grocery stores and to buy clothing. I recall needing someone
to show me how to use the washing machines and now I am showing
young men how to wash at the Laundromat. We consider it a ministry.
Antonio Cardenas continues to work in the Central California fruit
industry. He is a crew boss who supervises 10 to 30 other workers.
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