Christians Ending Poverty
Field Trip to Mexico
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Report by Marlys Hickcox

Slaughterhouse Canyon was the first stop the group of thirteen made after the Mexican Border was crossed. Here we witnessed the middle income citizens of Mexico. Herman Vanden Bosch (our guide for the day) informed us that the typical wage for a day is $4.-$10 dollars. I realized how important the corner market was. In the outlying areas of the city, these markets are very prevalent because most of the Mexican population does not have refrigeration or running water, so the children (or parents) get only enough milk (and frozen products) for one meal. Often many trips per day are made to this market.

The next stop was at a tortilleria where men and women were making tortillas. We all sampled a “fresh, hot-off- the-auger” tortilla. I was amazed at how hot it was inside. The temperature outside was about 70, but inside it was at least 90…and my first thought was, “how do they handle the heat in the summertime?” There was no air conditioning and no air circulating with fans. I was also amazed at how fast the man could count and wrap a set of 24 tortillas!!!

On to the landfill for a most amazing site of homes that were actually built on the dump. And an even more amazing site was that of entire communities built on top of closed landfills. Many of the homes are no longer level due to the settling of the trash upon which the homes (shacks) are built. Many of the residents have electricity and phone but very few having running water and there is no sewer system. The priavate elementary school nearby is very simple. The building and the education is paid by the residents themselves. The government does not provide schooling to this area of TJ. The S. D. Diocese of the Catholic church built a very nice building where daycare is provided for those who can afford $2.35 per day per child). The building also houses a beauty salon and bakery to teach locals a trade. As we headed on to our next site to visit we glimpsed the country’s national pastime being played by boys and girls of all ages in brightly colored uniforms on dirt soccer fields all over the city.

The Farmer’s Market provided us with a view of the smells, colors, and tastes of the food provided by Mexico’s land. Freshly cut mangos, sugar cane, and pineapple, along with beans of every shape, size and color neatly arranged in crates, barrels and terra cotta bowls made our senses aware of God’s creation. I also saw the largest piñatas I have ever seen!!! I was ready for a birthday party somewhere!!!

With our mouths watering after our trip to the market, we were now ready to not just see food, but to eat it, too…and the outdoor tortilla restaurant was just the right location. We enjoyed 4” diameter tortillas filled with carne asada, guacamole, onions (and whatever else goes into a great-tasting Mexican tortilla).

On to the Casa de Migrante where migrants are allowed to stay for fifteen days. Many of these men have come from southern Mexico, while others have been caught at the United States border and have been deported back to Mexico. This refuge holds 180 men, and on this Saturday, there were 90 occupying the rooms. We had an informational tour and I was amazed at how clean the four story complex was. I was also amazed to see the line-up at the door of men who were waiting patiently to enter this fine refuge. An Italian order of the Catholic church is the moving force behind this mission. The leader, Hector, then led us to the border where we saw 4, 045 crosses on an eight foot wall (several miles long) which was formerly used in the Desert Storm Operation. Each cross depicts a migrant who has lost his/her life in an effort to gain entrance into the United States. This was a solemn moment for all of us and a yearning for greater equity between the countries.

We then traveled east along Rte. 2 until we reached Tecate and a visit to Rancho San Juan Bosco. The orphanage houses 27 boys. The youngest is 5 and in kindergarten and the oldest are high school students. All the boys must attend school, and they all have jobs around the orphanage. We were amazed at their clean bedrooms and every boy had his bunk bed made. At present, Calvary Chapel (Escondido and Anaheim) is helping them build a new dormitory and this orphanage hopes to be able to house 50 more boys. There is a great deal of hope for the future of these boys. They are learning the Bible, but they are also learning cooperation, discipline, hard work, organizational skills and confidence.

Not to be outdone by Tijuana, we needed to try the tortillas in Tecate for dinner. This time it was a gigante (12” diameter) quesadilla, carne asada tortilla. This satisfied us as we patiently waited at the border for 45 minutes to access Highway 94 and head on home.

In summary, our group learned how our counterparts directly across the border live, work and play. We experienced walking through neighborhoods constructed of everything imaginable. People surviving and even thriving in crowded huts with no water to drink except what the truck brought by or they bought at the local corner store. We saw waste water and sewage running down the dirt streets with mangy dogs everywhere. We talked to people who have hope for a better future. We saw happy children but many sullen adults not knowing when their next payday would come. We looked into peoples eyes who must have been wondering why these rich gringos were walking and talking through their neighborhood. Were they here to help or judge? The nationals running the locations we visited were friendly, inviting and caring people. They genuinely seem to love what they do and where they do it. They ask for help but don’t beg. They know that God will help them and they are often rewarded with their patience by evidence of the many volunteers and new construction at their facilities. The Mexican side of the border has many challenges but the lifestyle and life expectancy is rising from what it was only a few years ago. There is room for more assistance by us and from the other concerned groups of Christians and Christian churches from all over world that see the Tijuana area as “ a field white with the harvest”.