Written by Missy Homer after getting home from Tijuana this week!

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My Homeland

Riding in the fifteen passenger on the way to the border

I see the brilliant white smiles plastered on every billboard

When I see what they advertise it’s clear a change is in order

If only they could see a goal worth moving towards

Sign after sign, they all promise a big win

But I know where I can find a better and truer grin

My crew walks up to what’s left of a shelter, i’ve seen it once before

Hammers in hand and tool belts strapped, this ain’t no chartered tour

We go there to serve and try to improve their living

But when it comes to real knowledge, we aren’t the ones giving

Caretaker comes out with a look like she’s been searching the sky

“Dios te bendigo!” she shouts out as a tear slips from her eye

God bless us? What more could He give?

Shouldn’t she be looking for a reason to live?

Her city is the one saturated with poverty and crime

Wouldn’t blessing her be a better use of His time?

I know she appreciates what little we can do

Yet I feel like our potential blessings belong to her too

She and those like her teach without a degree

I learn from them how to love humanity

Smiles from ear to ear fill the faces of kids living without a family

Can’t help but ponder how it is they get so happy

Then I realize it’s something simple indeed

They haven’t been corrupted by the disease we call greed

The people on the ads think they’ve got it so good

But they don’t fill their hearts half so much as they could

I want them to know what it means to feel love

I want them to know how to quit being alone

I want them to know the sweat and dirt in their gloves

I want them to know what it means to be Home

I guess that’s the miracle of giving after all

As much as I give, my portion never grows small

For when I commit a little time to so great a cause

I can’t help but take a step back and pause

I look at my life and wonder why it took me so long

To understand that in the service of others is where I belong