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"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." MATTHEW 25:40 Between Going and Returning OPENING CONFESSION This book is an invitation to look long enough for indifference to fail. The photographs are not illustrations of an idea. They are encounters with persons whose lives carry the image of God - lives marked by grief, resilience, humor, longing, illness, friendship, and holy worth. Move slowly. Read the witness. Receive the Scripture. Sit with the meditation. Pray the prayer aloud when you can. Then practice one act of attention, because Christian contemplation that never becomes love is only another way of looking away. All Scripture quotations in this edition are from the King James Version. A NOTE ON SCRIPTURE
To Those Who Stayed DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my father, Art Moreno, Sr., and to our dear friend Trini Garcia, whose nearly decade-long service in mental health facilities in Ciudad Juárez stands as a quiet yet powerful testament to compassion in action. Witnessing their unwavering commitment planted a calling in my own heart and inspired me to follow in their footsteps. It is also dedicated to every resident of Punto Zero - for welcoming me without reservation, for trusting me with your stories, and for showing me what true resilience looks like when the world has offered so little. You changed me. This book is further dedicated to Lupe, and to Laura and Héctor, a husband-and-wife team whose sacrificial love and lifelong devotion to caring for the souls of Punto Zero represent nothing short of holy work. Through their selfless hearts and tireless presence, countless lives have been protected, nurtured, and upheld in dignity. Without them, it is impossible to imagine where so many of these souls might be today. And finally, this book is dedicated to my Heavenly Father, who found me in my darkest hours and rescued me with a love beyond measure. (photo courtesy of Morgan Smith) ART MORENO, SR., A RESIDENT OF PUNTO ZERO, AND TRINI GARCIA
Attention Becomes Care ARTIST STATEMENT I did not arrive at Punto Zero intending to create a body of work. I came first as a photographer, trained to pursue light, composition, and the quiet order inside a frame. But in Ciudad Juárez, inside a refuge for men and women with intellectual and mental disabilities, the practice of making images began to ask more of me. If the images endure, it is because the residents and caregivers of Punto Zero allowed them to be taken. The authorship begins with them - with their resilience, their humanity, and their daily acts of survival. Returning month after month, I came to understand that this was no longer documentation. It was a responsibility. The discipline I bring to architecture and luxury environments - patience, precision, reverence for atmosphere - became something different here. The camera slowed me down. It required me to listen. Beauty revealed itself not in design, but in presence: in a glance returned, a hand held, the dignity of simply continuing on. The people in these photographs are not subjects. They are participants in a trust agreement. Permission is earned through time, through consistency, through the willingness to remain. I believe photography can elevate what the world has long overlooked. It can create a meeting between lives that might otherwise never touch. It can remind us that vulnerability is not the absence of strength, but evidence of it. This work is my effort to honor that truth with the highest level of craft I can offer My hope is simple: that visibility becomes protection, and that attention becomes care.
Punto Zero THE SANCTUARY In the heart of Ciudad Juárez, where hope often flickers like a candle in the wind, stands Punto Zero - a sanctuary for those whom society has turned away from. Behind these walls, a modest haven embraces approximately thirty-five individuals with intellectual disabilities who would otherwise face life's harsh realities without protection, understanding, or dignity. The name "Punto Zero" carries a profound truth. Founders Beto and Lupe Ayala conceived it after dedicating seventeen years to helping another local mental health facility find its footing. Beto, whose vision continues to guide this work even after COVID-19 claimed his life, believed in a simple yet powerful philosophy: we all exist just one point - "zero" distance - from mental vulnerability. This thin line between wellness and struggle connects us all in our shared humanity. Though Punto Zero operates without professional medical resources, what flows within its walls is immeasurable. Here, Lupe, her daughter Laura, son-in-law Hector, and son David continue Beto's legacy, surrendering personal comfort to ensure each resident receives life's most fundamental gifts - a safe bed to rest their heads, nourishing meals to sustain their bodies, and the peaceful dignity every human soul deserves. Punto Zero's mission transcends ordinary charity. Without fanfare or public recognition, this family has created something miraculous - a place where forgotten souls are remembered by name, where vulnerability transforms into shared strength, and where love proves more powerful than any limitation. Every day within these walls is a testament to how human compassion, in its purest form, can create a sanctuary in the most unlikely places.
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 1 JOHN 3:18 Love With Work-Worn Hands THE CARETAKERS Héctor, Laura, and Lupe carry the daily life of Punto Zero. Their care is not abstract compassion. It is meals, medicine, cleaning, repairs, fundraising, grief, vigilance, and the decision to remain.
Learning to See PART I The first movement of compassion is not speaking. It is allowing another life to interrupt the way we have learned to look.
Between Going and Returning A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO Standing quietly off Highway #2 in Cd. Juárez, this humble chapel reminds me that faith doesn't need grand walls to be powerful. Capilla de la Virgen de Guadalupe rises from the desert like a whispered prayer - a place where hope has been planted in the dust, where travelers pause, hearts soften, and burdens are gently laid down. It sits along the road to and from Punto Zero, becoming more than a landmark - it is a threshold. On the way in, it sets the tone for the visit, inviting reverence, humility, and open hearts. On the way back, it receives what we carry out - the weight of stories, the ache of compassion, the quiet gratitude - offering a moment to breathe, reflect, and release. In the vastness of the landscape, this small sanctuary speaks loudly: you are not alone. May it remind us that even in the harshest terrain, love, devotion, and grace endure - steadfast, luminous, and deeply human. 01DIGNITY HAS A NAME The Witness
"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." PSALM 121:8 The chapel beside the road becomes a mercy at the threshold: a place to arrive emptied of certainty and to leave carrying names. God is present in the going, in the returning, and in the holy discomfort we refuse to abandon at the border. MEDITATION Lord of every road, make my coming humble and my leaving faithful. Do not let what I have seen become something I can forget. PRAYER Pause at an ordinary threshold today. Name one burden you will carry to God and one act of love you will carry back into the world. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
The Simple Power of Hot Dogs A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO It all began with my father's simple request several years ago: "Son, bring your camera." My dad, Art Moreno, Sr., has always possessed an extraordinary heart for those in need - the overlooked, the struggling, the vulnerable. His compassion isn't just a personal trait; it's contagious, flowing outward to everyone around him. For years now, my father and our family friend Trinidad ("Trini Garcia") have dedicated themselves to serving at two mental health facilities in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Their mission might sound modest: cooking hot dogs each month. Yet in this seemingly small act lies something profound - an affordable way to show people often forgotten by society that they matter and are loved. The beauty is in the simplicity. No elaborate plans. No complicated gestures. Just hot dogs, served with dignity and care. "I'm really looking forward to going to Punto Zero," my dad said at 91, his voice filled with the quiet anticipation that comes from knowing even the smallest acts of kindness can illuminate the darkest corners. Thank you, Dad and Trini, for illuminating me. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
"For who hath despised the day of small things?" ZECHARIAH 4:10 Love often enters the world without spectacle. It smells like food on a griddle, arrives on a paper plate, and says without ceremony: you matter enough for us to come. Heaven is not embarrassed by small offerings; heaven multiplies them. MEDITATION Jesus, free me from waiting for a grand assignment. Consecrate the simple thing already in my hands. PRAYER Offer one ordinary kindness today with unusual tenderness. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
When Concern Crosses Every Barrier A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO When Marilú, talkative and full of energy, spotted what she thought was colored nail polish and asked, "¿Por qué te pintaste la uña?" (Why did you paint your fingernail?). My world lit up with unexpected joy. As I revealed it was actually a colorful bandage, her concern immediately surfaced: "¿Por qué te cortaste?" (Why did you cut yourself?) I explained gently, "Estaba cortando una papa y me corté, así que mi esposa me puso una curita." (I was cutting a potato, and when I cut myself, my wife put a Band-Aid on it). The simple accident with the potato, my wife's caring gesture - all captured in our language exchange. Marilú's parting words touched me deeply - "No te cortes más" (don't cut yourself anymore) - her small voice carrying such genuine concern, as if she had personally appointed herself guardian of my wellbeing. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God." 1 JOHN 4:7 Marilu's concern crosses language, diagnosis, and circumstance. Compassion recognizes pain before it understands every detail. The kingdom of God is heard whenever one person says to another, in any language, 'Please do not be hurt again.' MEDITATION God of tender attention, make me quick to notice and gentle enough to ask. PRAYER Check on someone whose hurt might be easy to miss. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
Small Acts, Extraordinary Joy A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO There's something genuinely magical about reaching out to those in distress. My heart fills with joy and anticipation as I know that a moment of happiness is about to unfold. What might seem ordinary to some - like preparing hot dogs - becomes extraordinary when it's a special treat for mentally challenged patients whose daily meals are severely limited. In these simple acts, love finds its purpose: it pursues the opportunity, captures the moment, and delivers genuine happiness. The experience of coming together to prepare these moments of joy for others isn't just work - it's a celebration bathed in pure delight. Thank you, Director Lupe (far right), Laura (Lupe's daughter, far left), Trini (center), and my dad, Art Sr., for sharing your celebration. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." ACTS 20:35 Service is not the transfer of help from the strong to the weak. It is a table where giver and receiver are both fed. Joy breaks open when we stop measuring the size of the task and begin honoring the person before us. MEDITATION Lord, cleanse my service of pride. Let joy be shared, never performed. PRAYER Do one helpful task anonymously, leaving dignity rather than debt behind. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
When Grace Speaks Through Unexpected Voices A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO When the hot dogs were ready, Lupe gathered everyone in a circle under the open sky. "Oremos por la comida," (let's pray for the food) she said softly, her invitation creating a moment of unexpected reverence amid the simple meal. She turned to one of the residents - a young man I'd met earlier named Ismael - and asked him to lead us in prayer. As heads bowed in silence, his voice rose, uncertain at first, then gaining strength with each word. The prayer that followed wasn't elaborate or practiced, but something about its raw honesty touched something deep within me. Each syllable seemed weighted with genuine gratitude, traveling a direct path to God's ear. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks before I even realized I was crying. Glancing sideways through blurred vision, I saw my dad wiping his eyes too, equally moved by this unexpected moment of grace. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
This same young man, wearing a yellow vest, had approached me earlier, hesitation in his voice as he asked, "¿Tienes una Biblia extra que puedas darme?" (Do you have an extra Bible I can have?) The memory of his request now carried new meaning as the echo of his prayer still hung in the air between us. "He'll have one the next time we go," I promised myself silently, knowing that no gift I could bring would equal what his simple prayer had just given to all of us. Thank you, Ismael, for the way you radiate love - both for God and for everyone around you. Though you're new to the Punto Zero community, your spirit has already woven itself into our shared tapestry. Your devotion shines through your actions, offering quiet testimony to what faith looks like when lived authentically. In a world that often feels fractured, your presence reminds us of the healing power of connection. The environment feels different since you arrived - somehow lighter, filled with possibilities that weren't visible before. May your journey here continue to unfold in beautiful ways, your gentle nature inspiring others as they witness how you move through this space. May your presence at Punto Zero continue to be a catalyst - igniting hope in unexpected corners and nurturing healing in places long thought barren. Thank you for bringing your whole self here, for sharing your love of God in ways that transcend words and touch hearts. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength." PSALM 8:2 Ismael's prayer does not need polish to reach God. The voice the world might overlook becomes the voice that leads everyone else into reverence. Grace has always chosen unlikely pulpits. MEDITATION Father, silence my assumptions so I can hear Your voice in those I am tempted to underestimate. PRAYER Let another person lead today. Listen without correcting, finishing, or improving their words. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
The Gift of Being Truly Seen A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO On my first visit to Punto Zero, I captured a few photographs of the residents and had them carefully printed to bring back as gifts. Today, as I distributed these memories, I watched this particular soul's weathered hands searching the table before him, fingers hovering uncertainly over the scattered photo. Something in his hesitation caught my attention - the subtle tilt of his head, the way his fingers traced the edges of the table with practiced precision. Then Hector, Lupe's son- in-law, approached, his voice low: "Jaimito Él es ciego" (he is blind). The revelation washed over me as I gently lifted the photograph and placed it directly into his waiting hands. "Este eres tú. Es una fotografía tuya." (This is a photograph of you.) I explained softly, guiding his fingers along the edges of the paper that captured an image he couldn't see. Jaimito's face transformed with wonder as he held his own portrait for the first time. "Nadie me había hecho nunca una foto," (no one has ever taken my picture before) he whispered, voice trembling slightly. "Quizá pueda encontrarle un marco" (maybe I can find a frame for it). The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
I reached for Jaimito's arm, needing him to feel the connection I couldn't convey through the photograph he would never see. As I told him how handsome he looked, a smile bloomed across his face - not the shy, dismissive smile of someone brushing off a compliment, but the radiant expression of a man who, perhaps for the first time, felt truly seen. My heart swelled to its limits, aching with a compassion so profound it threatened to shatter me completely. Any more tenderness for this beautiful soul would surely cause it to burst. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." ISAIAH 43:1 Jaimito cannot see the portrait, yet he can receive what it declares: I was here. I am worth remembering. God does not merely look in our direction; He calls us by name. To help another person know that truth is sacred work. MEDITATION God who sees in the dark, teach me to make Your recognition tangible. PRAYER Speak a specific, truthful word of honor to someone who is rarely affirmed. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
A Stillness That Speaks A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO This is Theresa. Wrapped in a blanket against the cold, standing quietly beneath the open sky, she is a reminder of how fragile - and how sacred - a life can be. Theresa is an American from Ohio. Lupe, the director of Punto Zero, shared that she has been living in Juárez for seven years. She originally came as a missionary - driven by faith, purpose, and a desire to serve. But somewhere along the way, something happened to her mind... and her journey took a heartbreaking turn. Before coming to Punto Zero, she spent years in another facility. When I met her, she didn't speak a word. She stood gently, respectfully, carrying a weight in her posture that said more than her voice could. A quiet heaviness. A battle within. A mind and heart navigating storms most of us will never understand. And yet - here she is. Covered, sheltered, and held in this place of refuge. May we see her. May we pray for her. May we remember that every person here carries a story that could have been any one of ours. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
"And after the fire a still small voice." 1 KINGS 19:12 Theresa's silence is not emptiness. A life may hold storms language cannot carry, and still remain sacred. Christ does not demand an explanation before drawing near. He stays beside the wordless ache. MEDITATION Merciful Christ, meet every mind in its hidden weather. Teach me to remain when words cannot repair. PRAYER Spend five quiet minutes praying for someone whose inner struggle you cannot understand. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
The Profound Gift of Selfless Service A WITNESS FROM PUNTO ZERO I cannot fathom what it means to surrender your entire life to serve others. But Héctor and Laura live this reality every day. As husband and wife, with Laura being the director's daughter, they devote themselves entirely to nurturing and protecting 35 precious souls. My reverence for your sacrifice, Héctor and Laura, runs so deep that words falter and fail. "Thank you" seems hollow - a pale shadow of the recognition your selfless dedication truly deserves. Your daily choice to put others before yourself stands as a monument to what humanity can be at its finest. The WitnessDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." GALATIANS 6:9 Héctor and Laura reveal the long obedience behind every sanctuary. Love is not only the dramatic rescue; it is the repair, the meal, the medicine, the return tomorrow. Holiness often wears work clothes. MEDITATION God of endurance, sustain those whose compassion has become a daily vocation. PRAYER Thank a caregiver with something practical: a meal, an errand, a gift, or protected rest. PRACTICEDIGNITY HAS A NAME 01