JCEP Kids Update, Jan 2010

JCEP Construction Crew, LtoR, Edith, Juana, Esmerelda, Anahi, Blanca, Karla, Angel, David, Claudia, Moises, Samuel

On our recent trip to Juarez to build houses we spent considerable time with the JCEP kids. (Read Mission Trip Report) I am pleased to report that all 13 are doing well and studying hard. All thirteen assisted in house construction. Despite the violence that continues to rock downtown Juarez, things continue to improve in the Colonias outside Juarez where our kids live.

Following are updates starting with our three college students, Anahi, Blanca and Esmerelda. Anahi continues to do well in school studying law. She reports a broken computer, which we need to have replaced, but her grades are good. She appreciated the In-N-Out T-shirt that she got from her US hosts Donna and Craig. Blanca also got a shirt. She is taking a short break from Psychology and is helping Susy with the library. She will return to school in May. Esmerelda is doing very well studying to become a teacher at the local community college.

Our high school students continue to study hard and advance. Karla will graduate next June. Juana is now a Junior. Our biggest group, the sophomores, includes the Three Amigo: Samuel, David and Moises. They were great in helping with construction, hanging the soffit plywood. Edith, Margarita and Claudia are also all sophomores.

Rounding out the group are Angel and Perla Lupita, both in 8th grade.

We got good news on the trip. Stacy, our English teacher from the U.S. immersion trip, is hoping to take a month to run a vacation English school for the kids in July. We are hoping it will work out.

In addition, Susy, our librarian and the shepherd for our students, and her husband Leo, who now runs Mission Ministries operations in Mexico, are coming to the SF Bay Area in March. We hope that we can have a reception so our JCEP supporters can all meet these special people.

It was really nice spending so much time with the kids and see them doing so well. Pictures say it all better. See them Below.

SRK
Claudia, Margarita, Edith and Juana take a break.
Karla, Esmerelda, Blanca and Anahi get ready to hammer.
Moises puts a nail in the soffit.
Stacy, Anahi, Joni, Karla, Blanca and Susy enjoy the crafts and food.

Trip report Jan 17-20, 2010

33 team members made the trip to Juarez for our most recent mission trip. Considering all the bad press and the economic times, we were very impressed with the size of the team. The team built two houses, fed over 100 people and treated a standing room only crowd for two days at the Missions Ministries medical center. Above: Hanna and Sara prepare for contruction.

Once again it was another safe and successful trip. Recently, many churches have pulled back from sending teams due to excessive caution. I think this is unwarranted and results from lack of knowledge of the situation in the area where we work. The Missions Ministries folks have done much to make the trips work with minimal risk. Local police and military keep and eye out for their teams and even the gangs have said they will leave us alone because of the work we are doing. I am glad that this team did not take the overly cautious attitude or hundreds in Juarez would be a lot worse off. Jesus and his disciples never avoided going where they were needed despite great risks. I want to thank my team for following that example.

The construction teams were divided by age between the adults and the kids ranging in age from 13-18. The kids included all our JCEP kids, many of them building their 5th or 6th house. Joni and David Cropper went with the adult team. I went with the kids where I belong. Both houses were completed in the usual two days, but the kid’s house was done before noon the second day! My niece Hanna and daughter Sara headed up the kids house, they have each been to Juarez seven times now. The Cropper kids, Brian, Adam and Haley have been six times. Hanna never stopped pointing out the fact that she had been one more time.

In the afternoon the first day, we also took a team over to the local women’s shelter, there we fed the mothers and kids staying there and did crafts with them. The second day we did the same at a local church. We fed nearly one hundred people. The favorite food is always the ice cream., since most families do not have freezers. The double line was long and orderly, despite the anticipation.
Above: Roofing Team
The medical team consisted of many returning Juarez veterans and a few new folks. Dr. Hardwin Mead headed the medical team. Beth Seabolt ran an eye clinic with Radhika Kumar dispensing glasses and advice to lots of grateful people. We had Christl Kirchner an OB/Gyn nurse practitioner treating patients. Sally Marsh staffed the pharmacy with help of many folks on the team. With Nicolas Barcelo translating, and many others including the local team assisting, it was a very effective medical mission.Above: Hardwin treats a young patient.
The last night we attended worship services at the same church for which we had done the food outreach. We were all knocked out when the pastor spent much of the sermon expressing sympathy for Haiti and its people, despite all the challenges happening in Juarez. It was a fitting ending to a great trip. SRKAbove:Ice Cream line.