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