"The trip to Mexico was a wonderful experience. Tijuana is certainly a whole different culture than we live in. Very poor and very dirty We wonder how people can live under those conditions and yet they do. That is just their way of life. Building those simple "little" buildings doesn't seem like much to us but to those receiving them it was a tremendous blessing. It was very rewarding to see a project from beginning to end including seeing the joy in the people for whom the house was built.

The buildings were 12 X 12, a little smaller than my bedroom. On the second day we were building the house for a women and her family with 2 small children. The house was built right in front of her mother's house. The 4 walls were put together on the ground, one right on top of the other. When they were finished we would raise them 1 at a time until all 4 walls were standing, then nailed them together. As the walls went together the young woman said to my daughter, Leanne, "Mucho Grande!" To her it was so big and so wonderful. She was excited to think she could put 2 beds in there!

There were 4 teams in our group and each team built a house a day totaling 8 houses in the two days. Our trip and efforts in Tijuana didn't change the poverty of the whole place but it sure made a difference in the lives of 8 families. As soon as we got to the site where we were to build the house, we made a circle and prayed for the Lord to bless and guide our  day. When the house was complete we made a circle, including the  family and prayed a blessing on the family and their new home. It was  so wonderful to have my daughter praying in their language so they  could understand. It was wonderful hearing her communicate with the family all day. Gave all of us a much better understanding of what the people were thinking and more about their situation.

The children were wonderful and so excited to have us there. Some of the little older children helped hammer nails and screw, screws. Even the women wanted to help. Each day the families prepared a meal for us. The food was very good and they were so anxious to serve us.

The mission is staffed by young adults, 18 - 29 yr. olds that are serving in this ministry for at least a year. Two of them have put college scholarships on hold for a year, one put law school on hold and is not sure she will ever go back to it. She already a degree in Business Administration. Said she may just use her knowledge to help administrate in another mission project down there. The living conditions are very humble at the mission. Not a problem for 3 nights, but a year or two would be a very different story.

It was wonderful to share this experience with my daughter and also for some of my church family to get to know her. She was such an asset to the team. Had a lot of fun and laughs with people in our van as well as with the whole group when we were all together.

Each team got sent with 1 staff person, all different areas. One day it took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the building site. You just couldn't believe the road/ruts and living condition of most of the people. No indoor plumbing. They have outhouses. Water is brought to them by a truck so they have to use it very sparingly. The houses have no floors. The mother's house, up behind the one we were building didn't have floor either. Leanne my daughter asked what they did when it rained. They said the water just runs right through. It sounds so terrible to us, but that is their life and they just deal with it.

I am home now with many thoughts of how God will use this experience in my life. I am praying for Him to show me how I might reach out to needs in our own community. Needs are different here but I am sure there are plenty.

(And God is in the business of using us all to be ministers for his service to those around us. That in itself is seeing his grace at work in our lives.)

Copyright: 2003

(The above letter is an excerpt of the experiences that took place
while our sister Suzanne visited Mexico and was involved with helping
the people. When God's Grace is at work, he oftentimes uses people as
the tools to accomplish the tasks that result in great blessings to a
people)