Week One - October 9, 2008

My first week in Juarez was a bit uneventful. I was very sick with bronchitis when we arrived here so I spent the first few days resting. I was concerned about not doing anything useful, but Jose Luis told me there will be plenty of time for me to work and that I just need to get well. I spent a great deal of time reading and thinking. I attended the Tuesday evening service at the Nuevo Pacto church and received such a warm welcome from the congregation. Although I miss my friends and family at home, I am very happy to be here!

Late on Friday afternoon, Oct. 3rd, we found out that a team was arriving that night from Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch. On Saturday morning I worked with the team of four women and two men to begin building a home for a wonderful family (including grandparents, parents, and five children). We attended Sunday service at Nuevo Pacto church and after lunch headed back to the work site. With help from the maestros (and despite cool, rainy weather) we finished the walls and the floor this afternoon. We completed the roof on Monday morning and then had the dedication of the home where we shared communion with the family as the first meal in their new home.

On Tuesday morning, 10/7, Juana and Alfredo Flores and I attended the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Before and After school program in Loma Blanca. We are looking into the possibility of starting a similar program at the Nuevo Pacto church for children ages 4 to 12. Hours of operation will be 5:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The city will pay a nominal monthly fee for each child so that we are able to offer breakfast and lunch for them each day. This program will provide a safe place for children of working parents to come before and after school where they can study/do homework and most importantly keep them off of the streets. Our hope is to eventually have a building near the existing medical clinic in which we can expand this program.

The Mormon church here in Juarez has donated items for starting a Food Bank. We are using one of the dorms here at the Proyecto Abrigo compound to sort and store the food. Plans are to package the donations in bags to dispense to those in need.

A team from Flower Mound arrived tonight, Oct. 9th. The team includes adults and youth and I will work with them on the construction of two homes this weekend. I am really looking forward to working with the adult mission team from Suncreek UMC in a couple weeks too!

There are so many exciting projects underway and I am very grateful for the opportunity to help. It truly brings joy to my heart to be a part of the wonderful ministry of Proyecto Abrigo.

Dios te bendiga!

Rita