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November 8, 1995
5
Mission to Mexico becomes a helping habit
Brenda Burke T A staff
EXETER - Imagine taking a shower, brushing your teeth and
getting medical care and clothing supplies from a bus in the
middle of a dry, desert -like country where countless people in
need hold out their hands to receive whatever is given.
Those are the services 23 local church members, including
five children, provided the Mexican poor on a 10 -day
missions trip coordinated by a faith ministry,
Buses International. The special buses, which take
three months and $6,000 apiece to build, are
equipped with medical and dental facilities in the
front and a 400 gallon water tank, pump and
batteries in the rear to supply a portable shower.
The missionary group members, which
included 22 participants from Exeter Pentecostal
Tabernacle and one volunteer from the
Christian Reformed Church in London,
each raised $650 for their trip from
Oct. 20 to Oct. 30. They organized
donations in a U -Haul van
including 1.5 tonnes of clothes,
225 pounds of white beans,
$5,000 worth of antibiotics,
$1,316 worth of hair
products, 330 toothbrushes,
100 washcloths, 30
tubes of toothpaste,
pens, toys, dinky cars
and combs.
After driving eight
hours on a school bus
to join 38 fellow
missionaries from
Ohio and
Pennsylvania, the
group arrived in
Neuvo Laredo,
Mexico, 50 hours
later, then split up
into. buses to help
people living in
colonials.
"(In) the
colonials were
very, very poor
people," said
participant Jerry
Keyes. "One
family (used)
cardboard boxes
for shelter. Another family had green garbage bags draped over
a tree."
Keyes wasn't sure if the particular colonial he was working
with was even supplied with running water.
The estimated one million Neuvo Laredo population has
organized itself in a "squatters' rights system," explained Pastor
Vernon Dean, of Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle, explaining the
government simply gave away land at election time and people
built shelter where they could. The situation, he added, resulted
in the construction of communities with "no rhyme or reason."
To help themselves with the Spanish language, some
missionaries were equipped with interpreters as well as an
electronic translator.
"Even language wasn't that much of a
barrier," said Dean, adding some
Mexicans could speak a little English.
With the aid of Spanish tapes, the
group also communicated through daily
puppet and clown shows.
"That was very novel for some of
the Mexican people," said Dean.
The missionaries also helped in the
building of a church, a project that
began last year and is continuing with the
help of various groups.
"Build a building in the middle of a
thousand people that are dirt poor and
you offer them some hope," said Dean.
Although the'people they were
helping appeared to be fed, mission
• participants agreed diets were very
▪ poor, with some mothers unable to
nurse their infants.
"They have no other means of
help," said participant Tina Visscher.
Despite the Mexicans' bleak
conditions, the group admitted they
noticed improvements since they
made their first trip to the same area
last fall with 13 local volunteers and,20
people from Ohio.
Keyes said 70 to 75 per cent of the men
had found work and new homes were being
built. He also noted roads were graded, people
had higher self-esteem and there were hints of
hydro and even a few electronic items such as
portable stereos.
"You get the feeling," said Visscher, "that they're
generally happy people despite not having material
possessions. "Some of these people have a lot of pride in
their own home."
The missionary group, which plans to hold a public
session to inform the public about its work, may take the
trip to Mexico on its own next fall, without being
accompanied by other groups.
Keyes is especially interested in taking part in another
Buses International trip in December to help build a fence to
enclose a Mexican orphanage that had its director shot and
killed while trying to protect young girls from being raped.
"Whether it's in Mexico or Staton Island, it really doesn't
matter," said Dean concerning future missions projects. "It's
just reaching out and mobilizing the church into action."
A Mexican youngster poses for the camera
after being bathed, dressed and receiving a
haircut and teddy bear from mission helpers.
Barb Keyes, of Huron
Park, helps conceal
food for a Mexican
woman and her child.
At right, Ethel
Cushman, of Exeter,
helps pack supplies for
the 10 -day missions
trip.
Below, Debbie
Gardiner, of Exeter,
takes part in the clown
ministry.
Sponsors
The Huron Business •
Development Centre
The Town of Exeter
SUBRINIKS
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L IIN
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Wed., November 22 7 - 9 pm.
Olde Town Hall, (corner of Main and Sanders St., Exeter)
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Association For further information call -
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Development Commktee
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