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Inside the walls of What moves us to leave the country we call home, and relocate to a new country to build a new home? Working at Catholic Charities San Antonio as an immigration consultant, has given me the opportunity to hear the stories of all types of people who have traveled North, South, East or West to make their way to America, to make their way to a new home.

One day, I had clients from China, Germany, Peru, Mexico, and Zimbabwe. It is not often that we get clients from so many different countries; however it gave me the opportunity to hear the inspiring and daring stories people tell me about how and why they came to America. Some came legally, others not. Regardless, I listened to their story.

As I sat with them, I wondered, if I had not had the opportunity to meet them in person, would their stories move me in the same way? Not only was I able to put a face to a story, but also feelings. Each client explained their reasons for coming to America, the why, but not what moved them to come.

The whys are sometimes simple statements: there is no money back in my country, our government is corrupt, my family all lives here in America, and so on. However what intrigues me is what moves them inside to make that move, to take that risk, to move forward in life. For some it is the opportunity to work, for others they have found their soul mate here. Whatever moves them, I get a glimpse to see what is it is to be moved and that inspires me to move as well.