Evaristo, his wife Maria and their son Jose thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving them strength to cross the Arizona desert after they were abandoned in the middle of the desert by the guide who ran away from the danger of being caught by the immigration police. They thank for they arrived to USA.

1985

We moved to a new place. The land was barren and fruitless. There were no plants, no flowers which I loved so much. I tried to plant something but the soil was so dry nothing was growing. But one day wonderful peacocks came out of nowhere. They had colorful plumage, and some time later a grass and an apple tree grew up on the spot where they started to live. That’s how our petrified garden became a blooming paradise. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for this amazing miracle.

Pedro and his son Antonio give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because she gave them strength to cross the Arizona desert and to get to the USA and make some bucks to support their family in Mexico.

January 25, 1985

I went to the desert to eat some peyote. Suddenly I saw a monster approaching to me. I was scared to death, but then the monster started talking with me about the life, the love and the beauty. His words came out from his mouth as colorful flowers. I wasn’t thinking about him as a monster anymore, but as an enlightened being. I felt myself happy and calm, and this feeling didn’t leave for months after that. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for this amazing experience.

I lost in the desert and had an incredible experince. But you, Virgin, helped me out of this trouble.

Antonio Lopez and his son Pedro give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because she sent them strength to cross the Arizona desert and to fulfill their american dream—make some money to support their family in Mexico.

January 25, 1985

I went with some friends to the desert to eat peyote. I was far behind and got lost. I didn’t know how to come back home. But suddenly a deer appeared from nowhere. It shone with rainbow colors under the starry sky. It led me to the village and then disappeared. I thank the Virgin for this miracle.

Gregorio Aladero went to the desert to eat peyote. He thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because, although he had strange hallucinations, he wasn’t frightened and didn’t succumb to paranoia. No insect, no snake bit him. He had a lot of wonderful discoveries during his trip, so he feels happy.

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for the miracle that I didn’t die in the desert when the guide left me alone.

Lucio R., 1999

Cornelio Benitez got lost in the desert with his donkey. He was so desperate when he saw the vultures flying over him. He asked the Virgin of Guadalupe for guiding him in right direction. And so he and the donkey came out of the desert. He thanks for this miracle.

Señor Arturo and his son Antonio give infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because she gave them enough strength to cross Arizona desert and to fulfill their American dream of coming to USA.

Mexico City — January 11, 1985

Virgin of San Juan, thank you for giving us enough strength to cross the desert and arrive in the USA where my son Jesus had a surgery to remove a tumor in his head. We thank you because you protected us under your cloak and now we are all right.

Antonio and Rozaura Murillo
Guadalajara, Jalisco — May 1, 1995

The Feast of San Juan is celebrated on June 24. We pray for a good monsoon to bring us the necessary rains that help the plants and animals. When the rains start, the desert comes to life. The smell of the wet creosote in the cool breeze gives a welcome relief. Early the next morning worms of flying ants hover in the air. The creeks and washes flow into the Santa Cruz river and within days, everything is green.