Hey,
Each year we go to Mexico we spend 4-6 days at an area called "The Brickyard" This area is where very low income families setup shacks and make bricks to earn some money. Some of the families stay for a long time, some only till they get the money they need. The living conditions of this several square mile area with over 250 people living there are devastating. Lack of electricity, education, accessible health care, and clean water concern us every year.
Fortunately, a local Mexican church and some missionaries with NTM have made connections and established a ministry there in the area. They provide bible teaching and evangelism as well as tangible ways to meet the physical needs. We have enjoyed partnering with them the past few years in a projects such as; building and installing screen doors and windows to several homes to keep bugs out, building community outhouses, and providing basic medical supplies. We will be taking medical supplies again this year to donate, but we'll tell you more about that in another post. :)
After our experience last year several of us on the team became considered about the very unsanitary water conditions. After much discussion and prayer we decided to follow God's leading on installing water filtration systems. We want to install several systems this year while we are there but we also want to train the local church and the people of the brickyard how to make them. It's like teaching them how to fish instead of just giving them fish. After research we settled on partnering with an organization called Aqua Clara. They have developed a way to use local supplies to build an effective W.H.O. approved water filtration system. Before we go, we'll send someone from our team to be trained by this organization on how to make them. Then, when we get to Chihuahua we will purchase the local supplies needed and begin making and training for these systems.
We are very excited about this tangible way to spread the love of Christ and the compassion of the gospel. We long to see the overall health of the children rise so that they will live long enough to hear the gospel, believe, and live for him!
To see more of how the water filtration systems work visit Aqua Clara's website.
If you would like to help fund or promote this project please contact us.
We encourage you to also check out our Facebook Cause page for our work in Mexico.
Sincerely,
Josh Harris for the team
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Exciting new developments!
Hello,
Sorry it has been awhile since our last trip update. Much has happened since!
First off, we had a Benefit Auction Fundraiser two weeks ago and it went really well! We had lots of items to sell and yummy lunch for everyone. We were able to raise right at $2000.00! God is amazing and so are the people who pitched in to make this Fundraiser a success.
Second, our team has changed once again, but for the last time. :) The people going are as follows: Myself and Dawn Rigel are the adults, Josh Bastian and Hannah Rigel are our college leaders and then the H.S. Students are: Jacob Baker, Daniel McCutchen, Zach Rigel, Stephen Gable, David Cammacho, Matt Langford, Caleb George, Ann Rivera, Kaley Yates, Kelly Welsh, Aleah Schweizer, and Cari Ware. We'll try and get a group pic this Sunday to post for you.
Third, we have raised enough money so far to purchase airline tickets. I just bought them this week! God was good as I was able to get us all on the same plane, sitting next to each other, and with good dates too, all for around $550 a person. We will be flying straight into Chihuahua City and avoiding the border this year. So that price was great! To get those cheap flights we did shift our days one day forward. So, mark your calendars our trip dates are now July 18-August 2.
I'm so excited about how God has provided and led the way for us to return to the ministry we started years ago in Mexico. We only need about $4000.00 more to reach our comfortable financial goal. Please be praying for us to reach this goal so we can eat while we are there. haha :)
Pray for:
- Health of all the team members.
- Passports and finances to come in.
- Unity amongst the team.
- That God would be glorified and we would honor him no matter what happens!
For the team:
Josh Harris
Sorry it has been awhile since our last trip update. Much has happened since!
First off, we had a Benefit Auction Fundraiser two weeks ago and it went really well! We had lots of items to sell and yummy lunch for everyone. We were able to raise right at $2000.00! God is amazing and so are the people who pitched in to make this Fundraiser a success.
Second, our team has changed once again, but for the last time. :) The people going are as follows: Myself and Dawn Rigel are the adults, Josh Bastian and Hannah Rigel are our college leaders and then the H.S. Students are: Jacob Baker, Daniel McCutchen, Zach Rigel, Stephen Gable, David Cammacho, Matt Langford, Caleb George, Ann Rivera, Kaley Yates, Kelly Welsh, Aleah Schweizer, and Cari Ware. We'll try and get a group pic this Sunday to post for you.
Third, we have raised enough money so far to purchase airline tickets. I just bought them this week! God was good as I was able to get us all on the same plane, sitting next to each other, and with good dates too, all for around $550 a person. We will be flying straight into Chihuahua City and avoiding the border this year. So that price was great! To get those cheap flights we did shift our days one day forward. So, mark your calendars our trip dates are now July 18-August 2.
I'm so excited about how God has provided and led the way for us to return to the ministry we started years ago in Mexico. We only need about $4000.00 more to reach our comfortable financial goal. Please be praying for us to reach this goal so we can eat while we are there. haha :)
Pray for:
- Health of all the team members.
- Passports and finances to come in.
- Unity amongst the team.
- That God would be glorified and we would honor him no matter what happens!
For the team:
Josh Harris
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