As my last official blog post, I wanted to reflect on my week in Piedras Negras.
(1) Our intergenerational team from Westminster worked extremely hard, and grew together throughout the week. I strengthened the friendships I had with some of the group, and began friendships with others I didn’t really know. I certainly gained an immense respect for our young adults who remained motivated throughout the week, and worked when my ol’ bones required me to rest for a second.
(2) Does one house make a difference? I really don’t know. What I do know is that 18 people from Westminster made a connection with a family in Mexico. There were no boundaries on the worksite, except for a language barrier that we tried to overcome (with help). I also know that the house will be a tangible symbol that people can come together in the name of Christ to do great things.
It's all about family
(3) Its only 21 x 21 foot house, with three room, two doors and four windows. There’s no running water, although many families add that later. There’s no indoor plumbing, although we see many CPC houses where the homeowner adds a bathroom. There’s no air conditioning. Just a roof on walls atop a cement floor. However, as we drive through the neighborhoods of P/N, we see that CPC built houses are brightly painted, and almost always in good shape. Perhaps we’ve helped these families by giving them a sense of pride and sense of ownership. I hear stories from Greg and other people who continue to go back to visit families for whom they have built houses. The stories almost always demonstrate that the new house was the last piece of the puzzle for those families and help those families go on to productive lives in P/N. In our case, we know that Luis no longer has to share a house with his sister’s family. He will have his own home, with his daughter and new child. And, hopefully, a place that will allow them to move forward and be successful.
(4) I can’t explain how impressed I am with CPC. John Martin (construction) and Ashlee (Education and Medical) have assembled a staff of college-aged adults, all of whom are unbelievable in their dedication to the mission of CPC and to making better lives for people in this small part of Mexico. These young men and women, typically aged 18 to 21, are able to coordinate medical teams working in the CPC-built and CPC-run medical clinic; to operate a CPC-built pre-school and library; and to supervise work teams from across the United States, sometimes with work team members that have been building these houses for 16 years. The staff is enthusiastic, fun-loving and hard-working. How can I explain how proud I am of my son being a part of this organization, and how proud I am of the role he played over these many weeks. I cannot describe the feeling of watching him stand up in front of 5 work teams to explain what was to be done that day, or watching him interacting with the Mexican workers and staff or hearing him talk about the blessing of the home.
(5) How wonderful to work alongside Elena. Steve, our construction leader, made sure that we (as parents) allowed our children to be independent on this trip. Even though that was my goal going in, Steve’s preparation and plan ensured that I kept to my plan. Steve assigned different jobs to us, and we didn’t really work together until we poured the bond beam on Wednesday. While I hoped that Elena would appreciate the experience, I was so impressed with my daughter’s willingness to do anything and everything and to smile all of the time. And to realize that she did appreciate the experience, and enjoyed the relationships that she formed with all of our team, I’m so glad we took the time of our lives for this trip. And, her and Sarah Carter and Lindsay certainly stood out throughout our time in Mexico with their blonde hair!
(6) Westminster has three terrific construction coordinators. On this trip, Rick Ellis and Steve Earp provided a confidence and a calm that was just the right touch. They showed up at the work site every morning knowing who was working with whom, and what needed to be done each day. Shouts of “Rick” and “Steve” rose above the worksite from those of us that weren’t quite sure what to do or exactly how to do it. They both handled it with grace. And, even though it may not have been perfect, they both made all of us feel like we had built that absolute best corner, or had installed the best window, or put on stucco like a professional. I loved watching Elena interact with these, and other, adults and the family.
I’m impressed by CPC’s efforts to have a pre-school and library in P/N that will help children move forward. And I’m hopeful that their goal of beginning an elementary school may be realized sooner rather than later.
I know that our efforts this week have made a difference to the people who went and had this experience together. I’m not a Bible-thumper, and feel sometimes that my knowledge of the Bible or other Christian writings is not all that great. I have never liked talking about my faith, or the importance of faith in my life — even though I believe it to be of fundamental importance. I have always preferred to “do” things that demonstrated my faith. I love cooking at the homeless shelter. I enjoy participating in worship. I love the fellowship opportunities. This week gives me the time to reflect on my faith, and to realize that these faithful works are a necessary part of a faithful life. While I’m stacking blocks, or spreading stucco, I know that I’m doing what Christ has asked us to do. It brings joy to my heart and to my life. I may never see Luis and Veronica again. But I know that for a brief period, we were truly the hands and feet of Christ in their lives. I hope they will remember the big group of Americans, even if not each of us individually. And I will always remember this week for its impact on them and on me.
The title of my post is shouted by the team at the end of the dedication. It means “Onward for more houses in the name of Jesus Christ.” That’s my hope.
This picture taken with timers on our cameras. Note Elena trying to run back to beat the timer!
