Mexico 2008

Dear Friends,
We had a blast in Mexico! It was a true blessing to be able to attend as a full family again. We've gone to Mexico now between 6-10 times...depending on the family member! We hadn't been together, all of us, for years, so it was really nice...especially since Lauren will soon be going away to college. We built 2 homes...one on Friday and one on Saturday. The first 12x12 home was for a man, his 8 month pregnant wife, and 2 year old son. The man and his father were delightful. It was their first home ...situated high high high on a hill. (Hills and views here in California are a good thing...there it's a sign of poverty.) The lot was level and they had poured a concrete slab. The day was smooth and the home went up easily. There were a few neighbor kids that came by to play, but being so high up on the hill only a few made the climb.

The second day we built a 12x12 home for a woman and her 8 children. It was quite different. It was down in the town near the dorm where we sleep. In fact, it was just a block or so from the ice cream shop we frequently patronize. When we arrived, the woman was inside and Laura from Caravan Ministries went to talk to her but stopped and said it sounded like she was having "kid problems." So we waited. Soon she came out weeping and crying while carrying a small child (one year old). Other adults joined her outside crying. The child wasn't moving. She headed for a car and got in and left. Lauren was the only one who knew some Spanish so she tried to translate. From what we gathered, the child blacked out and wouldn't waken and was extremely ill. Later that day she came home still crying. We thought perhaps the child died. She said she had to leave the baby at the hospital and was told by doctors that they could not do anything unless she came up with more money. The baby was very sick but the hospital wouldn't run tests without the money. Caravan Ministries said that there is a social work structure there that would help her with expenses but we worried that the child may not live. While we considered paying for her, we were told that help would be given by the system in place and Maggie from Caravan Ministries would follow up. We may never find out exactly the outcome. We built the home for her. Many of her own children helped with nailing. When they weren't, Pam, Lauren, Lee, and Jessica played with the kids...basketball, jump rope, etc. I think it was great to watch her own children get in there and help build. They were so proud of their casa (house).