January 2013 - Playground

We recently were able to purchase the area of land surrounding our center at Loma Blanca, a very poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Juarez, Mexico. Many of the homes do not have electricity and the city is just now in the process of bringing water out to this area. We told you about the soccer teams that we have organized with the youth who attend our catechism classes, and now we hope to make a small field and playground which the kids can use.

In the providence of God, someone just donated a large wooden swing and slide set. Some of the men went to pick it up this week, took apart all the pieces and loaded it on the truck. They took pictures and numbered the various sections with chalk so they can remember how to reassemble it when they get it over to Loma Blanca.

  

The kids are so excited about having a place of their own to play. Even though it will be a rough dirt field, to them it is a dream come true.

We pray that you have a very happy and healthy New Year!

December 2012 - Jail Ministry

It was always Father Thomas’s hope that we would be involved in all of the ministries Jesus mentions in Matthew 25:35-36, “...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” And for many years we have been able to help our brothers and sisters in all of those ways, thanks be to God and to all of you.

However, when the violence due to the drug wars erupted in the border towns of Mexico a few years ago, and Juarez become known as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, the administrators of the jails that we visited each week asked us to stop coming, both for our safety and for theirs. Sadly, we had to discontinue what we had done for over 30 years —  bringing the Gospel message to the prisoners of 3 jails in Juarez and also bringing them something to eat and drink since many times they go hungry. It was a sad day when we could no longer do that.

But we are happy to report that as of last month we are able once again to go into the jails. Since things in the city have calmed down quite a bit, we phoned the people in charge and asked them if we could return. They were very glad we called and warmly invited us back. “When can you start?” they inquired.

So every Wednesday, as we had done for many years, our volunteers make dozens of sandwiches, prepare a drink, and our evangelists and prayer warriors load into the vans to go visit the Lord in prison. We are very glad to be able to bring some love and cheer to our brothers and sisters behind bars.

Thank you so much for making it possible for us to do this and all the other outreaches we are involved in. We pray that you and your loved ones be blessed this Christmas time with the joy and peace that Jesus came to bring.

November 2012 - soccer team

One of the places where we minister is in a very poor section of Juarez called Loma Blanca. Besides giving groceries to families in need, we also teach catechism to the children of the area every Saturday. After the kids have received their First Communion, however, it is very hard to keep them interested in coming to the center. We wanted to be able to continue teaching them about their faith and also provide a wholesome environment where they could hang out. So one of our volunteer teachers, Mando, came up with the idea to start a soccer team. It met with instant success and has changed the situation completely.

Starting with the older boys, Mando began coaching them, teaching them how to play together as a team. He even got some uniforms donated so they could feel like they truly were a team. One of the boys is named Alonso. He is 14 years old and has been coming to the center for 4 years, brought there by his mother each week. Sad and withdrawn, Alonso wouldn’t talk to anybody. If asked a question directly, he would only nod or shake his head. He used to stay in the back, hovering in the doorway. “I was having so much trouble with him,” his mother confided. “He was starting to get involved with the gangs.” But ever since he was invited to join the new soccer team, he is a different person. He talks all the time now and wants to help out. “He used to be in his own world, but now he feels he belongs. I’m so happy with the changes in him.”

Now the youth are excited about coming each week. Some even come without their mothers bringing them.  They attend Mass and their classes in the morning, and then after lunch head outside to play soccer. They are very well-behaved and attentive because they know that if they act up in class, they won’t be able to play. That’s the rule, and they are eager to comply. The younger kids are now asking for their own team. “Hey, what about us?” they clamor. Our goal is to eventually form enough teams so that we can have our own league.

We quickly saw that we needed to provide more food and Gatorade for the children since they stay all day long now. They don’t leave until it’s time for us to close up for the day. But we’re so happy to have them around, knowing they are in a safe place and that they have a healthy outlet for their pent-up energy.

October 2012 - Helping the blind

Some months ago a van pulled up to the Lord’s Food Bank in Juarez, Mexico, and out piled a group of people. We had never seen these people before, not have we ever had a group like this one — all of them were blind except the driver.  They had come looking for help and told us their story.

When the violence associated with the drug wars in Mexico erupted in Juarez, many companies and businesses either moved out of town or had to close down due to the severe economic crises that this chaos brought. One of the small factories that was forced out of business was the one that employed these blind people. “All of us lost our jobs when the factory shut down,” one woman said. “It’s hard enough for an able-bodied person to try and find work in this economy, but for us who can’t see?! It is impossible.” One of the men shared, “I want to work and provide for my family, but no one wants to hire a blind man.”

As we spoke with them some more, it turned out that they all lived in very different parts of town. Juarez is a huge, sprawling city, and some of these people lived very far from the Food Bank. We try to focus on the needs of the people who live in the general area of the Food Bank location, but we could see that this was a very pressing case. These poor folks had gone all over looking for help, but had been repeatedly turned away.

As we discussed the problem, Juan, the friend who had driven the group in his van, offered, “Why don’t you deliver the groceries each week to my house, and then they can come and pick them up. That way, you don’t have to drive all over town.” Everyone agreed to this solution.

So that is what we do. Every Friday we take bags of food to Juan’s house and one way or another, the blind people get there to pick them up.

“We can’t thank you or God enough for helping us in this way,” Maria expressed recently. “May God bless you for coming to our aid!”

September 2012 - school supplies

Last month we told you about Aracely and the children we help with tuition so they can attend school. There are no free schools in Juarez — even the government-run schools charge fees, and the family has to buy uniforms and school supplies. This can be a huge burden on these very poor families that struggle to put food on the table, let alone purchase paper and pencils.

Even in the lower grades the schools are asking each child to bring 5 notebooks. While many people think that everything is cheaper in Mexico, a thin notebook costs $2.50 in Juarez while that same notebook can be purchased at Walmart in the U.S. for .17 cents. So every August we start asking people for school supplies. We tell them, “When you go with your children to purchase the supplies their schools are requiring, buy a few extra items to donate for the poor.” We then take what we have collected, and with the help of our willing volunteers, assemble bags with pens, pencils, notebooks, colored markers, glue, folders, and whatever else has been donated.

All the children that we are helping with tuition receive one of these bags. The kids are thrilled as they open them up and see the brand new items. Right away they start writing or drawing with their new pens and pencils.

We want to extend a huge thank you to all of you who sent in money to help us in this very important ministry of making sure children receive an education. Thanks to some generous donors, we were able to send even more children to school this year than usual — and all of them went equipped with their required notebooks!