Stories of Lives Changed
The Maria De Jesus Story
By: Maria De Jesus
I am originally from Tamazula, Jalisco Mexico. I come from a family of seven; three brothers, one sister and my parents. I come from a very poor family. When I was sixteen years of age, I had to take care of the family because my mother was ill. I had to take her places and be the mother of my siblings. I had to do all of the house chores and work alongside my father. When I was eighteen years of age I met the man that is now my husband. We married when I was twenty years of age. Because we were very poor we made the hard decision to leave our families behind and start our journey to the U.S.A..
We both left Tamazula, Jalisco towards the border town of Tijuana, Mexico. We didn’t pass through the desert as many other immigrants do. We tried to pass through the beaches of Tijuana through a very thin tunnel. We were in the tunnel half full of water for an hour until we were caught by immigration and sent back to Tijuana. We didn’t lose hope and we tried to cross the border again the next day. This time we jumped the fence and ran towards a nearby restaurant. Thanks to God we were blessed and succeeded in our attempt.
From Tijuana, we came to the state of Washing-ton arriving in this wonderful town of Vista Hermosa about thirty-five years ago. My husband found work immediately but I didn’t. The orchard was just beginning to be planted and there was not much work for me until about two years later; when I began to work in the tree nursery, apple thinning and picking. In 1986 my husband and I became legal, thanks to President Regan. In 1987 I began to work in the warehouse. I have worked in the warehouse for seven years, at New Horizon Preschool for five years, and in 2000 I became the Vista Elementary School cook, where I am currently working.
I was blessed to have four children (one who passed away when he was three days old). We lived in the Vista Hermosa community for twenty four years and then were blessed by God again to own a home. Now I happily live with my family and my two new grand-babies. God has really blessed me.
We both left Tamazula, Jalisco towards the border town of Tijuana, Mexico. We didn’t pass through the desert as many other immigrants do. We tried to pass through the beaches of Tijuana through a very thin tunnel. We were in the tunnel half full of water for an hour until we were caught by immigration and sent back to Tijuana. We didn’t lose hope and we tried to cross the border again the next day. This time we jumped the fence and ran towards a nearby restaurant. Thanks to God we were blessed and succeeded in our attempt.
From Tijuana, we came to the state of Washing-ton arriving in this wonderful town of Vista Hermosa about thirty-five years ago. My husband found work immediately but I didn’t. The orchard was just beginning to be planted and there was not much work for me until about two years later; when I began to work in the tree nursery, apple thinning and picking. In 1986 my husband and I became legal, thanks to President Regan. In 1987 I began to work in the warehouse. I have worked in the warehouse for seven years, at New Horizon Preschool for five years, and in 2000 I became the Vista Elementary School cook, where I am currently working.
I was blessed to have four children (one who passed away when he was three days old). We lived in the Vista Hermosa community for twenty four years and then were blessed by God again to own a home. Now I happily live with my family and my two new grand-babies. God has really blessed me.