I want to share with you a little bit about a place in Chihuahua called “the brickyard.” It is a home and workplace for many impoverished families who seek to support themselves by making bricks. They live in small shacks with dirt floors (you can see the shacks on the horizon in the photo below) and have next to nothing. My first trip to the brickyard last year was incredibly eye opening. I had never before seen such poverty. The children wore filthy clothes, most of which did not fit or were extremely tattered, drank unsanitary water, and lived with all their siblings and parents in one-room homes the size of an average American living room.
Although we could not communicate with words, it took only a short time to become their friends. They were easily entertained by our games of hide-and-seek, frisbee, and wheelbarrow racing. To the children, a camera was a foreign novelty! They often asked us to take their pictures and loved seeing themselves on our small digital screens!
In addition to relational ministry last year, we were able to make screen doors and windows for some of the families. This year, we hope to expand our ministry to even greater lengths by building outhouses and providing eyeglasses and basic medical supplies to those who are in need. We will also be helping with a literacy and Bible club for the kids.
Another thing we are excited about this year is the opportunity to attend the local church at the brickyard! Allison, a missionary with New Tribes, has been ministering to the families at the brickyard for some time. She has seen several Mexicans come to Christ, and there is a small congregation - mostly consisting of women and children - that meets on Sunday mornings on site at the brickyard. We are all thrilled and privileged to be invited to worship with them!
Would you please pray for us, specifically concerning our ministry at the brickyard? Please pray that God would give us opportunities to tangibly show the love of Christ and that we would be obedient to extend that same love that has been so lavishly bestowed upon us.
Only three more days!
Signed,
Jessie
5 comments:
thanks for this post Jessie! I will be praying!
Man, I can't wait for you guys to get there. I can't wait to see how God works through each of you!
yay! :] I am glad you were able to post about the brick yard jessie!! I can't wait to go there again! and can't wait to drive on the little road back to the ranch!! hehe!
2 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes!! :] :] :] :] :] :]
I am so excited for you guys! I can't wait to hear what goes down over there :]
I am going to miss you all so much!
Only a few more hours!!!!! :]]
Love You!!
Kaley :]
Hi. My name's Andria and I just came across this website and thought it was really amazing. Our youth group went the the brickyard this past summer and we worked with the same kids. I think it's really great what you all are doing down there. Groups like yours and my youth group can truly make a difference in the lives of these kids and families.
God Bless!
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