Saturday, June 28, 2008

Building homes and friendships

Socorro church group constructs house for family in Juarez, Mexico

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Raise the roof!

A group of Socorroans recently built a house in five days, despite the lack of construction experience of many members, and left Juarez, Mexico, unscathed.

The week of June 16-21, 15 people from First Baptist Church-Socorro traveled to Juarez to build a house the size of a single-car garage for a family with Christian organization Casas por Cristo. Casas por Cristo, which stands for "Houses Because of Christ," has led the construction of more than 3,000 homes in Juarez in less than 14 years.

The house the Socorro group built had two rooms, two windows, electricity and a ceiling fan, but no running water.

First Baptist Church paid construction costs of $4,300. Team members paid out-of-pocket or raised money for other expenses, and Raks Building Supply donated tool belts and carpenters' pencils.

A family of four — father Franciso Gutierrez Flores, mother Margarita and adolescent daughters Camila and Nancy — received the home to replace the structure of cardboard and scrap material in which they had been living.

Nancy has cerebral palsy and two clubfeet, while Camila went to school and read her Bible every day, said group members.

Emily Brindle, who helped organize the trip, said the team drove to El Paso, Texas, where they met their Casas por Cristo leader Marshall Chappell, 20, of Georgia.

"So we crossed the border on Monday and went straight to work," said Brindle, 29.

From Monday to Friday, the team built, roofed and applied stucco to the house as well as installing electrical wiring, insulation and dry wall.

The Socorroans participated in a worship service Wednesday and had devotions during their long lunch breaks.

"Marshall had his first car wreck every on Tuesday morning," Brindle said.

No one was injured, but the group didn't want to deal with the Juarez police, and Chappell was at fault.

Brindle's husband, Raul Morales Juberias, persuaded the police to wait for Casas por Cristo representatives instead of taking Chappell into custody.

That situation was the only time group members were concerned about safety, Brindle said.

The group stayed in a Juarez church during their trip. They slept in the sanctuary and prepared their own meals except for two lunches the Flores family provided.

The most serious injury occurred when Chappell cut his thumb deeply. Team member Dr. Allen Bassler stitched up the wound on site.

Both the car wreck and the cut thumb occurred when the group didn't stop to pray in the morning.

In what he felt was a small miracle, Socorroan Ralph Schmidt said, he had an infection before he left and after he returned, but it didn't surface during the mission trip.

After finishing the home, the Socorroans held a house dedication, gave gifts to the Flores family and spent the night at an El Paso hotel.

Typically, Casas por Cristo groups shop at the Juarez market, but because of recent violence, Brindle said, the organization suspended those trips.

Saturday, the group had a debriefing session in which Brindle asked questions to help members mentally process what they had learned and seen.

"But I think we need to meet again because we have only begun to understand," she said.

Brindle said it struck her and many in the group that the Juarez church members had long services every night, unlike American churches.

"So they have an economical poverty and we have a spiritual poverty," she said.

Sam Boykin, 13, said he learned how good life is in America.

The teenager said the Socorroans suffered with heat and cockroaches for a week, but the Mexicans live in the situation all the time.

The discomfort paid off in seeing the Flores family's faces, and the difficulties were eye openers, he said.

"Just to give up a little of what we have so much of here is really an eye opener," Samuel Boykin said. "It kind of changes your thoughts about life here, how it isn't so great in other places."

Sam's brother, 17-year-old Daniel Boykin, said he learned things like air conditioning and beds make a big difference. The group had neither during the week.

Daniel Boykin said Americans are wasteful, pulling down a Masonite shed when some Mexicans live in cardboard houses.

Team member Jerry Langevin, 60, said it was surprising to throw together a group of people to do a job many weren't familiar with and have no arguments.

Tereasa Langevin, Jerry's wife, said she hoped getting the new house would inspire the Flores family to see how God provided for needs. She said it did her heart good to help the family.

Despite their impoverished surroundings, Jerry Langevin said, the Flores family seemed well adjusted, close knit and well groomed.

The Langevins feel close to the Flores family and recommended such trips for everyone.

"Step out of your comfort zone and venture into their world," Tereasa Langevin, 49, said.

aduncan@dchieftain.com

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