Tecate Outreach Update by Susie Allen

NOVEMBER 13th and 14th, 2010

Our most recent Outreach ministry trip to Tecate was not only memorable but also a huge success! A crew of 26 people left Costa Mesa around 8:00 am to head south of the border on Saturday, November 13th to the small impoverished community of Girasoles.

The Medina-Velasquez family of 5 was thrilled when we arrived to build a latrine as well as paint their home. Brenda, 15, the oldest of the three children couldn’t wait to get started and hugged us from the moment we got there until the time we left. The youngest two children ,Edgar, 4, and 8 year old Maireni, busied themselves making crafts, getting their faces painted, playing with members of our church and enjoying delicious BBQ’d burgers.

By the end of the day the painting team had brightly colored the community with numerous freshly painted houses. The 5 member latrine team had not only constructed the latrine from the ground up but finished it off with striking red accents. The children’s craft team helped construct and paint more than 85 wooden toys and keepsake boxes, played soccer and tag as well as made beaded necklaces and bracelets. The BBQ team had cooked and served some 150 hamburgers complete with waters, apples and chips. One little boy was so hungry that he alone ate 3 hamburgers!

After everything was completed our group prayed with the family. Edgar Sr. held tightly to the hand of his wife, Rocio, as tears welled in her eyes. She gave one final hug and thanked us earnestly from bottom of her heart.

On Sunday, following a thought-provoking devotional by Scott Wheeler, the teams headed back to work but this time at Rancho La Paloma, the outfit which houses our group when we go to Tecate. In just two hours we were able to frame the roof of a chicken coop, shingle the roof on a water reserve and move uncountable wheel barrels full of dirt in order to make an outdoor brick fire place useable for future visits by not only our church but other church organizations as well.

Many thanks to all those that made this outreach trip happen!