Every Christmas season brings reminders of generosity, moments that rekindle our sense of compassion and connection. As this year draws to a close, one story stands out, stretching from the sandy shores of the Mediterranean Sea of Italy to the rugged expanse of the Sonoran Desert along the United States-Mexico border. It is a story that focuses on kindness and the idea that one well-placed gift can multiply a hundred-fold.
Last year, the Waldensian Church of Italy, through its Otto per Mille (Eight per Thousand) charitable fund, awarded the American Waldensian Society a grant to purchase and equip a Toyota 4Runner for the Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans, enabling them to provide more reliable and effective humanitarian aid along the U.S.–Mexico border.
The Samaritans – an all-volunteer organization founded 20 years ago – has as its mission: saving lives and relieving suffering in the Arizona borderlands. The gift of the Toyota 4Runner was nothing short of transformational as it allowed the Samaritans to assist thousands of migrants. The Sonoran Desert is breathtaking in its beauty but unforgiving in its dangers. Migrants crossing this terrain face blistering heat, freezing nights, treacherous trails, and forsaken terrain that can turn even minor injuries into life-threatening emergencies. Each year, far too many migrants do not survive the journey.
Over the past year, the Toyota 4Runner has become an essential lifeline for this work. Day after day, its rugged frame and dependability have carried hundreds of gallons of water, along with food, blankets, and first-aid supplies, into remote desert drop sites that were once difficult or too risky to reach with older vehicles. The 4Runner has enabled faster responses to migrants in distress and transported volunteers safely across miles of rugged, rocky terrain, carrying teams deep into the backcountry where encountering a migrant can mean the difference between life and death. Week after week, mile after mile, the 4Runner has quietly served as the backbone of these humanitarian efforts.
In May of this year, it was appropriate for the American Waldensian Society board of directors to hold their Spring meeting in Arizona. During the meeting, a day was dedicated to going out in the desert, along the borderlands, so that everyone could experience first-hand the steady work of the Samaritans and the Toyota 4Runner that they helped acquire. All were thoroughly impressed.
And so, what began as a generous gift has become a testament to the power of compassion across borders. The 4Runner is more than a vehicle; it is a living reminder that kindness does not fade after a single holiday season. It continues, strengthens, and multiplies.
As we bask in the warmth of Christmastide, we prepare to embark on another year of humanitarian work in the desert. We do so with deep gratitude for a partnership that transcends distance. The support of the American Waldensian Society and the gift of the Waldensian Church have truly been a gift that keeps on giving—saving lives, sustaining hope, and carrying forward the spirit of Christmas long after the wrapping paper is recycled and the lights are put away.
The number of migrants coming to the US-Mexico border is significantly less than a year ago. Even so, everything there are still significant numbers of migrants who attempt to cross the desert to get to the United States.
The author of this report, the Rev. Dr. Randy Mayer, pictured below, is the lead pastor of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Sahuarita, Arizona. He and his congregation have been involved in humanitarian work along the US/Mexico border for more than 20 years. Randy is a member of the board of directors of the American Waldensian Society.
To learn more about the border ministry, see https://thegoodshepherducc.org/events/common-ground-on-the-border/
