Building a Better Mexico
by Stephanie Tang, June 16, 2003
10 hours to San Diego, 2 hours to Mexico, and then all the way back. I went on the Mexico trip not knowing what to expect; I didn't know anyone, and I had never been on the trip before. In a group of about 87 people, we camped at nearby site that hosted 5 other groups as well. Since I've never built something quite like a house before, I was really excited and scared of how much I would be put to the test.
When we first arrived, we all pitched in to set up tents and then had a FABULOUS dinner; all of the food was so delicious. Then we had time just hang out and have a campfire and songs. Lights out time was 10, but since most of our group was made up of kids and teens, that rule didn't apply... Everyone was welcoming me as a friend and not as a newcomer, so I wasn't left alone with no one to talk to.
Each work site had about 17 people to work on an 11' by 22' home. The work wasn't so bad because everyone worked as a team really well. Our team leaders taught us how to do the things that we didn't already know how to do, which was very convenient. By the first day, we had built the frames of all four walls, a dirt foundation, and some cement slab. Even though, it was only raining a little at first, the rain and wind together soon became a violent storm flowing through the streets. A thick mud rose higher, and we were told to leave the sites immediately, but as we were leaving; we got news that another team had gotten their van stuck in the mud! At camp most of the tents had blown over, and a few were on the ground like Leslie's tent.
We were being hosted by AMOR Ministries, and they strongly suggested that we cross the border once again and stay in San Diego for the night. The next morning, Pat Stout, our main leader of the team, gave us the terrible news that we would be heading back the next morning. Tears streamed down my face as I thought about the family that was counting on us and looked the faces of the people surrounding me. This trip of 2003 was one of the last for many, and a bad first for most. Katie Stout, Pat's daughter, will be going away to college next year, so this would've been her last trip for several years. It was also the last trip that this one boy could spend with his mother.
Jenny Hansen, 9, and AJ Hansen, 6, had a lot of fun playing with the neighborhood kids. AJ spent the whole day with the little girl from our family, which was exactly what our whole trip was about, making community. We had so much fun playing with bubbles, soccer, coloring, and catch. To every person we saw, Jenny and I yelled Hola! and everyone responded with a friendly Hola! as well. It was really hilarious when some of the people came up to us and started talking to us, even though we had no idea what was going on. We just nodded our heads until they finished and then politely said.... No español
I learned an important lesson that plumbing is the best thing you could ever have and that things we take for granted are very important to others. The house next door to ours, had a wall made out of different parts of garage doors and I thought it was really cool that they can use a door to make part of a home. I strongly encourage that you go next year, or whichever year you have time because it is a really enriching experience, and I guarantee that it will be better than you think, if it doesn't rain, that is.
