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From a Bus to a Home: Our Mission Trip to Mexico
For our eager group of missionaries from Christ Church Episcopal in
Norcross, the early morning began on a good note as we arrived at Hartsfield
on June 22 for our mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. One of our checked
bags weighed over 80 pounds, but upon seeing the Casas Por Cristo (Houses
For Christ) shirts on our backs, the kind attendant at the America West
ticket counter waived the additional handling fees. After a brief stop
in Phoenix, we landed in El Paso and proceeded to investigate the local
culture, primarily a stop at Wal-Mart and Chili’s. After a restful
night’s sleep in the sanctuary of a generous local church, we
made the short drive over the border to Juarez. At New Jerusalem Church,
our home for the week, we met the group of Mexicans from Estancia that
would be assisting us with the house. We also met our contractor, Jessie,
the only member of our group with any real confidence in our ability
to build a house in four days.
Build it though we did. Along the way we learned more than basic construction
skills and the Spanish word for most everything you can find in a hardware
store. We learned that just because you don’t speak the same language
as a teammate doesn’t mean you can’t make a great team.
We learned that with plenty of teamwork and a lot of faith in God, 10
people with absolutely no construction experience can build an impressive
little house. We learned that one can find exceptional cuisine at burrito
stands attached to convenience stores. Most of all, we gained an intense
appreciation of the blessings that we have received from God, and the
desperate need for those blessings to be shared.
Our house was to be built for a Señor Rodriguez, an elderly gentleman
of about 70; who until recently had lived on a half-acre lot with his
wife, son, daughter-in-law, and their 8 grandchildren in a school bus.
The engine and tires of the bus had long since been sold, but in an
effort to spruce up the house for our arrival the younger Rodriguez
had built a porch on the back of the bus and constructed a small awning
to offer some and pigs roamed the property. There was enough room in
front of the bus for us to build the 250 square foot house for the elder
Rodriguez’s. At the close of the week we held a dedication ceremony
to present Sr. Rodriguez with his new home. His wife unfortunately could
not attend as she was undergoing surgery all week. As tears streamed
down his face, Señor Rodriguez thanked us profusely and we all
knew that the days of heat, sunburn, and hard labor had all been worth
it.
Greg Pugh
Mission Trip members: Terry Franzén, Daphne Gary, Tiffany Gary,
Sarah Franzén, Greg Pugh and Jim Strong For more information
on Casas Por Cristo, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping
the homeless in Juarez, visit www.casasporcristo.org.
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