Mexico Testimony - Nov 08

First of all, I would like thank our friends Dawn and Eric, and the folks from POH, for providing us the opportunity to participate in last Sunday’s mission. It was truly an honor and a privilege to be part of such important event.

Participating in the assistance of this disenfranchised family in Maneadero, Mexico was one of the most heartfelt and eye opening experiences of my life, as well as for my wife, and twin, twelve year-old daughters. Although we have visited Mexico many times in the past, and witnessed many panhandling children on the streets, we never imagined visiting a poor village, where the living conditions seemed to be below poverty level. What we witnessed that day was nothing like we’ve ever seen before. Standing inside one of these dilapidated dirt floor homes, held up by stilts, plywood walls, and tarp roofs, was extremely overwhelming, not to mention the cardboard boxes this family was using for beds. However, seeing the little children’s faces covered with filth, with no shoes on their feet was conceivably the most heart wrenching moment of this experience.

While on this mission, my family and I had a chance to help clean up this family’s home along with many of our friends, giving it a complete makeover, and making it a much more livable environment for their children. We then had a chance to give away some wonderful donations from the ministry, such as clothes, shoes, toys, and food to the rest of the villagers and their children, and greet many families whom I learned to admire for their humbleness, and their amazing strengths to survive under these conditions.

There was one particular young man who I had the opportunity to speak to. His name was Paulino, and a relative of the family that we were helping. He told me that he came from Oaxaca, a southern province in Mexico, and migrated to Ensenada with his family 8 years ago. He works in an agricultural plant where they pack small vegetables, which ironically are exported to the U.S. He told me that he makes 700 pesos a week, which is approximately $54.00 with the current exchange rate, only averaging to about $1.35 per hour. Nonetheless, he was happy he had a job, and able to contribute to the family household.

Upon our return, we had a chance to share many of our stories with our friends and families, and talked about how fortunate we are to live in a nation where the basic living necessities are sometimes taken for granted. I have to say this mission was definitely an opportunity of a lifetime, and one that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. That day, we gave back to the people who truly needed our help, and brought back with us those special moments that filled our hearts and spirits with compassion. For my family, it was a day we will always remember, and one we will always reflect back upon, especially the memorable images of the little children’s faces whose lives we touched.

Orlando

Mexico - Nov 11th 08

From Eric:

Yesterday a small group of us went back to Maneadero Mexico specifically to help a family of children we met during the house build for the Juarez family. There was a 9 year old girl that cared for the baby, a 3 year old and we discovered there is another girl also about 7. This family lives down the road from the Juarez family (aka the Microsoft House).

When we arrived, again the parents were not home they were off working for a couple days. The first thing I noticed was one of the many puppies from before was laying next to the door of the house..dead. There were only about 2 other puppies remaining. They have Mange so bad we don't expect them to live.

What is cool this about this trip is my 11 year old daughter and 13 year old son went. We also brought our friends Samantha and her husband Orlando and their twin 12 year old daughters who have never seen anything like this. The first thing we did was make food for the kids. Our kids sat down with them and ate. See picture attached.

If you recall from other pics, the inside of the house was basically empty except the cardboard on a corner of the floor. Also, they all shared 1 blanket. I did a terrible job of taking pictures and will email my friend shortly for some but can you say "Home Make over"?

So the home makeover began yesterday.

We put 2 twin beds with mattresses, and a mini bed with a crib mattress in there. Also installed some shelves, a clothes hanger and laid down a rubber floor. We gave them stacks of cloths, towels, and blankets. Also some toys, 5 gallon jugs of water, piles of food, shoes, hygiene stuff, etc. Our wives washed the children who were filthy head to toe. We left them with vitamins, brushed out their hair (as much as possible anyway) and tended to some wounds. We brought a 50lbs of dog food as well. The roof leaks and the walls have some holes so we brought tarps and redid the roof for them. By the way, as we pulled out, it started to rain.

I cannot tell you how much of a difference this made in their life. These are small things but for the first time in the life of these 4 kids they will sleep on a bed and have MORE cloths, blankets, etc than they probably even need. The mother figure who is 9 years old…had the hugest smile on her face! We truly wish we could have seen the face of the parents when they get home today or tomorrow.

Couple more things, POH followed their "qualification" process for providing homes (leveraging a relationship with the local pastor). And after interviewing the family over the last month it was determined these kids WILL be getting a house! There are 3 families ahead of this one. So in March POH has to build 4 houses in 1 trip for this family to get house number 4. POH and Lambs Murrieta will do one each and I think Gracepoint is going to do one. These kids get house number 4 which we might be sponsored again by some Microsoft people or otherwise this family will be the first to get it in July. Either way, it is FREAKING GREAT.

Yesterday was an amzing day. I will send more pics when I get some.

-e