This 📸 captured the most fun I had since arriving – Friday Night Game Night right here in Brownsville Texas. No one knew I was sad that it was Friday night and I missed my Friday Night games crew. I could see their weekly chat as they were figuring out who was coming. I obviously couldn’t make it and no one here seemed to invite me in to do things like that, which also was a sad and lonely realization since we were the new ones here to this community as well. But let me share what happened on this my first Friday night and the lessons I learned are at the end. 

Putting myself out there

On my first Friday night here, right after the Friday night church worship service (we also attend all the church worship services led by Pastor Carlos Navarro) I risked rejection, put myself out there, and asked a person at church whom I met and served alongside here that I thought might be open to playing games, if they did things like that there. I explained about the church game night tradition on Friday nights and even said, “it’s my first Friday night away so I was wondering… if you wanted to play some games with me?” She seemed genuinely surprised as I clarified, I didn’t necessarily mean a youth church thing. But she went on to say that she was tired after a long week. So I kept going and said, “well, that’s kinda the point- we came together to hang out because it had been a long week.” But nope. It was awkward. Awkward for me and probably for her too, since it was a super last minute ask. It might have also been, “Say what? I don’t know you!”  But maybe not. 😩

Would I have been available to someone to hang out or come over who was new? I hope so! But truthfully, my schedule has been so jammed tight that I don’t think I’d have the space for it. In fact, I’m recalling asks from others in the past where I declined for various reasons. Wow.

In failure you can give up or try again

Anyway, dejectedly, but still filled with hope, later that night I typed this message out on Google Translate hoping that maybe someone from the new family who was migrating to the United States that had just arrived earlier that day might want to play games with me. It was a family of 5 from Haiti. I discovered that only the Dad spoke Spanish but the others didn’t- they spoke Haitian Creole and French. So I typed out my message and gave it a try since they were still up and wide awake. 

I showed the one that might play with me my phone when she walked by. She read it with help from her Dad who understandably always wanted to know what I was typing and showing his family members. Then she said, “yes” and promptly walked away.  

Confused but waiting with openness

So I just played it off, confused, and continued to sit at the table with my pack of playing cards and small box of dominoes. I thought she said yes but then she left? Maybe she meant to say no? I don’t know but after about 15 minutes (or what seemed like 15 minutes) she came out, smiled at me, and sat down. 

We ended up playing the game of “Speed.” I had to remind myself using @wikihow how to play because I forgot. Anyway, we played several games after she learned how to play and she actually beat me several times. She was really good and caught on quick.

We used Google Translate throughout to communicate the rules and even to talk smack. (Well that was all me with the smack talk… see pic) I won the final game though, so all is well here. (haha) She was a great competitor. I found out through light conversation while we were playing that she was 16 and so I shared with her that I had a daughter who was 15. 

I don’t know why they came but I had hopes for what they picked up from me

I didn’t want to ask her anything too personal because I was just grateful to play with someone.  Her smiles and the length of time she played with me showed me she was having a good time too. I hoped that our interactions then as well as throughout the rest of the few days she and her family were with us in the house helped to leave her and her family with a great first impression of Americans in America as well as the church. 

Lessons learned

For me, I realized that opening up my schedule and time for someone else might be important for them. I’m glad I was willing to risk rejection again even after experiencing rejection to ask others to play. I’m also glad that this person who was migrating elsewhere was open enough to learn a new game and play cards with a stranger.

Did anything stand out to you from reading my story? I’d love to know!

Stay tuned for more stories. Note that I post most often on Instagram (and Facebook) so find me there if you use those platforms.

#storiesfromtheborder #border #gamenight 

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Hi! I’m Sejana and I’m here at the border of Texas and Mexico as an intern for Fellowship Southwest for 5+ weeks learning about migrant care, immigration, and advocacy. You can learn more about the non-profit FSW here!