2002

Taking down the old wall at Isabel’s home

Lydia Patterson Institute

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The inaugural Suncreek UMC Adult Mission Trip was September 29 to October 4, 2002.  The trip was led by Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball, our Senior Pastor, and Rob Sears, member of the Missions Committee.  Fourteen adults participated in the trip to Juarez, Mexico to work with Proyecto Abrigo (Project Shelter).  Our host for the week was Rev. Jose Luis Portillo, Executive Director.  We arrived in Juarez on Sunday evening, unpacked, and talked about the week ahead.  On Monday, we began work on Isabel’s home.  Isabel is an ordained minister who has served a church of about 100 persons for over a decade.  Her husband died about 13 years ago.  Isabel shares her home with her extended family, including two daughters and their children.  She also often offers her home to impoverished families who have recently arrived in Juarez.  She has a generous and loving spirit. 

Part of Isabel’s home was built with wood pallets wrapped in cardboard.  This is a very common method of construction in the area.  The American factories in the city are an affordable source of cardboard and old wood pallets.  The cardboard endures remarkably well in the desert climate.  However, it serves as a poor insulator in the winter.  Several residents shared stories of infants dying in the winter due to the cold.   

After removing the old structure, we dug a trench around the perimeter of the new structure.  Then, we began the task of laying the cement block walls.  Our “maestro” (local construction expert) and his assistants modeled for us how to lay the block.  Each of us took a turn at different tasks.  Within a few days, the walls were complete and work began on constructing the roof.  The final step was to add concrete flooring in areas that extended beyond the original structure.  The typical understanding that Jose Luis has with home owners is that they will add the doors and windows, stucco the exterior and interior walls, and paint the walls.

Constructing the roof at Isabel’s home

 On Thursday afternoon, we held a service to bless Isabel’s home.  Isabel shared emotional words of gratitude and a prayer of thanksgiving.  Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball led a communion service.  Since Isabel had been quite sick throughout the week, Ruth, her 9-year-old granddaughter, was asked to assist with serving communion.  As a parting gift, our group decided to purchase a window and door for Isabel and her family.   

Digging a hole for the sewage pipe at Matilda and Julio’s

On Thursday, part of our team went to work on a new project.  The homeowners were Matilda and Julio, an older couple.  Seventy-year old Julio had been struck by a bus a couple of years ago and lost both of his legs.  Their home consisted of one door that led to two very small rooms and a larger room (approx. 14 feet by 12 feet).  They used a primitive community bathroom since they did not have a bathroom.  To move from the small rooms to the large room required stepping up a couple of steps.  This was an enormous obstacle for the couple.  Matilda did not have the strength to push Julio up and down these steps.  Taking Julio to the community bathroom was also exceedingly difficult for her.   

Our team worked to tear out the existing concrete floor in the large room.  This was very challenging because if required using sledgehammers to strike the floor with great force.  The room also quickly filled with thick dust.  Once the floor was removed, we removed some additional dirt.  Then, a new concrete floor was poured that was at the same level as the small rooms.  Plumbing for a bathroom was also installed in the large room.  This required digging a trench out to the neighborhood’s recently built sewer line.   

Melodie and Kathleen with the children at Isabel’s home

Our team did some great construction during the week, but we also built some very meaningful relationships with persons in the community.  Wherever we went, we always made new friends.  We took time to visit with people in the midst of our work.  Many of us were particularly enriched by the time we spent with the children of the community.   

One special time was when we attended worship at the church where Jose Luis serves as pastor.  Most of us were completely exhausted at that point in the day.  Yet, many felt some fresh spiritual energy when we were asked to lay hands on church members and pray for them and this was followed by them laying hands on us and praying for us.   

We also grew together as a team during our time together.  We bring a strengthened Christian Community back with us.   

We left feeling that we had made a difference.  We met some basic human needs through loving Christian service.  We experienced insights and reminders about what is really important in life.  We left feeling a close bond with our neighbors in Juarez, Mexico and with our fellow team members.