My favorite project so far is this one!
I was approached by one of our Mexican missionaries who told me he knows of a family where 5 people are living in two tiny rooms. The kids of this family go to his youth group. He also told me that the family had reverted back to the Catholic faith about a year ago...really good people just in need of some help. And they weren't asking, to his credit, our Mexican missionary Juan was just looking for someone to help if he could.
When I visited the house I saw how cramped living was. They were using her sister's kitchen in the house next door. The 3 children were sleeping in one room that was about 10' x 12' and the parents had another room about the same size. There was a bathroom attached, but that was it.
I am a little upset because I cannot show you all the pictures. Our computer got a virus and infected the memory card and I lost many pictures. I am able to show you these though....
We laid the block walls in the back and started building the roof.
There was another space to the side where I decided to build the second room. It was narrow and long, but still really usable. They have set up their kitchen in this room now.
When the roof was completed we started putting stucco on the walls to finish them.
The weekend we finished this project, all three of the children received their first communion! We were invited over to celebrate with them. They had a meal and it was cooked in their new kitchen.
As we were talking to them, they told us other stories that really moved us and confirmed the work we are doing here. Her grandmother lives next door to this house. She told us that a few years ago she petitioned the government for help with building a room. They agreed to build a room, but asked if she wanted it for her or her grandma. She told them, "my grandma first." So while they continued to pay rent, the government build a room for her grandma. After this room was completed they saved money and built another room of adobe attached to this so her grandma could have two rooms. After all this they bought a baby pig, grew him, and sold him to pay for the two rooms they were living in. The government helped them with the roof on these rooms. She then said that she walked out back where she desired to have more space and started praying to God to help her. This was about 4 months ago. She started to buy a few materials, cement, block, adobe... Little by little she was going to save for another room. This is when we showed up and finished the job. We bought what materials were lacking and now the family has a decent amount of space.
I was informed, that here in Mexico there is a problem. When families live really tight like this family was, the children start to look for ways out; at a very young age. I was told of an example of one family whose 14 year old daughter moved in with her boyfriend so she could have more space. Now, more and more I realize how many people get married here very young, (younger than permitted by the Church, and thus they just don't get married in the Church) and am starting to understand better why they get married this young. This is just one reason, but one that can be relieved with some help!
Please pray about supporting our work here. There are many more projects to go, and we are very short on funds!
Thank You Lord for allowing me to play such a part in you plan for this place!
God Bless you all!
P.S. I want to post a picture of the family in their new house when I get my camera and computer back to normal!
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