Roof Tops and Breezes

It has been a very different trip for us.  Very often we are in the desert, with little shade and hot sun.  This year we have been working in the area of "Cumbres," which is just off the Pacific Ocean.  We are up on a hill and have a wonderful vista of the ocean.   All day there are welcomed breezes.   This is very helpful as that since Monday we have been working on the roof, getting it ready for the pouring of the cement layer.

The process is that of preparing cement forms so the cement doesn't run down the walls of the house, then laying a lattice of re-enforcement bar (re-bar) on the roof.  Once this is done, at each cross of the re-bar, the meeting point has to be wired together.  This is a slow process.   We haven't counted the number of cross-overs but it is in the hundreds but seems like thousands.


It can be a hot job, but with that welcome breeze from the ocean, and the ability to look out a beautiful scene makes it doable.   All while working a large speaker is pumping out music of the great Vicente Fernandez, or just the well known Mariachi music.  Of course, there is a healthy mix of current American hits.  All this makes the tedious job of wiring this rebar together more bearable.

Each day we are treated to great food by the women of the area, who are helping as part of their commitment to getting one of the next houses.  We have had a chicken mole, the most wonderfully spiced chicken BBQ, and a chicken caesar salad.   Usually, each main course has rice, beans, and tortillas with it.   The juice is real fruit juice made with melons, cucumbers or other fruits.  A welcome refreshment after the work on the roof. 

When we finished our work we headed out to the 'border' to experience the border and the wall as Mexican's experience it.  It always strikes me as strange, because the Mexican side is full of life, music, laughter, and all the joy of any beach town.  The US side is just empty, silent and desert life.
The Mexican side of the wall is painted with pictures of hope and happiness.  The US side is just rusted. 

Last night a large group of participants headed out for a professional soccer game and others went to the orphanage to play with the children.  On a sad note, the orphanage run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart has closed.   There were some financial problems we have been told.  We pray the girls are in a good spot.

The other group we have been with has been doing similar work at another site, (with the breeze).  Today all 40 of us head off to there to begin the roof pour.  We will pour that roof today.  Tomorrow we will head back to Cumbres and pour that roof.   With that our week will close.

If the internet is good I'll post how today went.   Thanks for your prayers and support.

It begins!

The internet has been a bit sketchy here so this is the first day I have been able to post.  All arrived on Saturday with few flight problems.    We picked everyone up and headed toward the Mexican border which only is about a half hour from the airport.  This year we had no inspections at the Mexican customs and sped right down to the Posada. 

The Posada is a large volunteer center built by Esperanza which can hold up to 80 Volunteers.   We knew we were joining about 10 Volunteers from Seattle who come from Trinity Lutheran Church, but we were also met by 20 High School students from Davis, CA.   They were scheduled to go to Honduras, but because of the violence there, their trip was canceled.  It is a group of young people who have been in a Spanish immersion program since kindergarten.  This trip was another step in that education process.   Nice young people and hard workers.  Another surprise was that (Dr) Marcel Tam met us.  He was a college student 17 years ago when I first took a group from LIU to build houses here. 

We settled in on Saturday and got to know the larger team a bit.  On Sunday we headed to a small church just down the street.    After Mass, we loaded up the van and headed to Puerto Nuevo which is a little fishing village about half hour away.   Some of the group went shopping and another group headed to a restaurant looking out onto the ocean for fish tacos.   It was a wise choice.  Our final day of relaxing ended.

Yesterday, Monday, began with a large meeting of the whole group with the director of volunteers who spoke to us of our work, safety and many things we needed to know.  We loaded up the Vans and headed out to our work areas.   The "Shrine" portion of the group headed south to a very remote piece of land on a mountain that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.  I will get pictures today!   Being close to the ocean provided us with a beautiful view and wonderful breeze.  It was hot and so we appreciated the breeze.

We were met by "Louis" who owned the land and currently lives in his broken down trailer.  He complains that it is very hot in his little mobile home. Louis had been a truck driver in the US and knew of the Providence-Boston area.  The walls of the building already up and our work was to prepare the roof for a 'pour.' The roofs are cement also but before the cement can be poured (buckets of cement lifted to the roof one by one) forms have to be made to hold the cement in.  That is our work for the next few days.   Our work is more exacting than hard.   We value Andrew Sanchez, part of our group who comes with amazing carpentry skills.

Here are a few pictures of our first days. 

2018 Pilgrims of Hope Project about to begin

Ten hearty east coast builders will be arriving tomorrow at San Diego airport and then the drive to Tijuana.   Everyone is excited.   We will join about 10 others from the West Coast.   We expect another great week.  Please pray for us!

Follow us here.!

Clean, My Own Bed and the Aftermath

Most of us are back, with most of the cement washed off and have had a good night sleep in our own beds.   Friday and Saturday were eventful days in very different ways.

Friday morning, before we left for the work site, Eduardo, the head of volunteers rounded us up for a debriefing regarding our total experience but most especially our experience at the border.  He wanted to know what we thought of the wall (it has been up for years in Tijuana) and did we think Mexican people were dangerous.   Both Mexicans and US citizens all agreed good border security is a good thing.   The Mexican people don't want our drug dealers, our violent criminals or problematic people any more than we want theirs.  Everyone agreed border security is important, yet standing on the Mexican side made many of us wonder about the level of fear in the US at this time.   We all wondered how to fix our broken immigration system rather than build more walls.

After this very deep conversation, we headed to our final work site in the Puerto Nuevo area.  We set up the cement mixer, put about 8 people on the roof while the rest of us lined up to shovel sand or gravel.  Others formed the famous bucket line to pass cement from the ground to the roof.  Others formed a line to catch the empty buckets coming from the roof and prepare them to be refilled with cement.   For the next 4 hours, with water breaks, we made cement and passed bucket after bucket to the roof.  In total, we passed 50 tons of cement.   The final putt-putt of the cement mixer as it was shut off signaled our week of work was over.

All during this work, we could smell the great food being prepared by the family who is receiving the home.  We could smell steak, tortillas, and beans being cooked.  If we walked by the kitchen we could see juices being prepared which would quench our dry mouths after the work.   The cement mixer stopped and were invited to the feast.  There we laughed and joked with our hosts as we enjoyed the goodness of being together.  We communicated with smiles and nods.   When finished we gathered with the family.   The family, again and again, expressed their thanks through floods of tears.  The familiar "Mi Casa su Casa" (My house is your house) was heard again and again.   Our group expressed words of thanks and what an honor it was to work on their house.  Inside jokes were exchanged and then hug after hug.   We loaded up the vans and the week had ended.

We arrived back at the Posada and was treated to breakfast for dinner.  We cleaned the Posada and prepared ourselves for an early morning departure.

Saturday morning:  5 AM came quickly.  We scurried around and packed last minute items, re-checked our passports.  The vans were loaded and we headed back.   There was little traffic on the road and within an hour we were all back in the USA.  We drove another 10 minutes and stopped at Auntie Emma's pancake house and had a great final meal together.  With time to kill before people flew home, we stopped at Coronado Island. Some went swimming, others toured and still others just sat with coffee and watched the ocean, with plenty of memories to sort through.

The 2017 Pilgrimage of Hope to Mexico was completed.

We thank everyone who supported us.

Fish Tacos, More Cement and Orphans

Lunch in Puerto Nuevo  (photo Samantha Delabruere)

Roof Preparation (Photo by Christie Cardinale)

Another bright and beautiful day greeted us yesterday.  After breakfast, we packed up the vans and headed to our work sites.   Again a large group went to Puerto Nuevo and another more inland.   Both groups picked up from where they left off.   Puerto Nuevo continued putting up a foundation and cementing it in, and the in-land group continued roof preparations.


Today we all go inland to pour the roof.  I was lucky enough to be at the Puerto Nuevo site which had wonderful sea breezes all day. The whole local community gathered to help, and by 3 PM we were finished and headed back to the Posada.   Everyone was tired but happy.

We arrived back to the Posada showered up and could either go to the orphanage or hang out.  There were only 11 girls at the Orphanage this week because many are at camp before school starts next week.   Christie Cardinale brought pictures from six years ago.   Sadly she met a girl she met six years ago who has not been adopted but the little girl was excited to think someone remembered six years later.

Today we bring to a close our week here in Tijuana.  Our memories will be as bright and warm as the sun that blazed above us.   Here are some pictures taken by Dick Crawford from Montana, part of the "East-West"  team.  We thank Dick for letting us use his picture.

Cement, Cement and Ocean Views

Yesterday we  split into two groups once again.  Most of the group went to a house down near Puerto Nuevo, where we could see the ocean and benefit from the ocean breezes.  It was beautiful.  The family cried as nearly 30 of us emerged from vans.   (Remember we are with other groups, nearly 60 in all.)    We did the final work for the foundation.  The far corner of the foundation is about 7 feet deep.  We passed concrete blocks for the foundation for about an hour or so, prepared the re-bar supports and did some final sand work.  The morning was full.
The breeze made the work comfortable and the beauty of the place and the goodness of the people made it even easier.

Picture from Paul McGininity

The family was busy setting up about 10 small tables with umbrellas for us.  We broke for lunch and sat for a wonderful meal looking out at the Pacific ocean.  The laughter was rich and English, Spanish and Spanglish wafted over the table.  We all agreed we had just experienced a bit of heaven.  With all the hatred in the world currently, it seemed that this was a sign of the kingdom of God breaking in.  I think we all left knowing what Jesus meant when he said "The Kingdom of God is in your midst."

An ice cream wagon came by and to end our little break from the work,  many of us enjoyed cool, refreshing popsicles or ice cream sandwiches.   We all looked like little children enjoying the surprise visit of the ice cream truck.


The after brought us a the loud putt,putt, putt of cement mixer.   For the next 2 hours 20 bags of cement was mixed, scooped into buckets, passed from hand to hand and finally poured into the foundation blocks.   It was hard work but the hard work of so many made it go easily.  Of course when we got a break many would break out into a little dance with music from huge speaker Eduardo brought.

We finished our work and then headed to Casa del Migrante, which is a center run by the Scallibrini Fathers which cares for the migrants of the world.  Most of the people in the Center have been deported from the US.   We were given an orientation and then ate with the residents of center.  There were currently about 100 people living in the center, all planning their next steps.  They talked wistfully of their wives and children back in the states.  Others resigned to the fact that getting back is going to be hard and will do their best to make a living here in Mexico.  Most of our participants agreed it was the most significant part of the trip.  (later today I'll get some pictures up of our visit.)

We head out soon to our work site, so I need to get going!

Walls up: Roof Preparation

Yesterday, we once again split into two groups and both groups did prep work for walls and roofs.  The day was cooler than Monday which was a blessing.  I'm not sure how hot it was yesterday, but in my memory, it was one of the hottest days we ever worked here.  We appreciated cloud cover yesterday.  As beautiful as it all is with bright blue skies, bright blue skies say HOT.

Part of the group did more excavating and getting the foundation for the house set.  That will mean cement today.  The group will be larger there because of all the demands of mixing cement, carrying it and finally pouring it.  The extra help will be welcomed.

The other group prepared a roof. When we arrived four walls were up.  We moved lumber in and put down plywood and underpinning, which will hold the cement roof until it cures.  Today that group will make beams and 're-bar' supports.  We will pour that roof on Friday.  That can demand up to 120 tons of cement moved one-half bucket at a time.  The prep work is crucial so that it goes smoothly.

After the day's work, we headed to the 'border' where the now famous wall has been in place for years.Actually, it's two or three walls depending on where you stand.  It is about 15 feet high, and the second wall a mostly strong chain link fence perhaps another 100 feet in.    The people have painted the wall on the Mexican side with messages about how it feels to be behind such a wall.   The Mexican side of the wall hosts a large beach village.  Much like any beach town, there is much activity.  Kids swimming, families walking the board walk, eateries, and places for kids to play games.  The US side there is 'nothing.'   The beach is empty, there are just dirt roads, some grass and the border patrol going up and down.   It is sad.

We returned to the vans, and for a while it's quiet as our workers let the experience sink in.  Some people slept on the way back, but slowly the energy returns and we had a pizza party.  People relaxed and then headed to bed.   The crowd is gathering now for breakfast and soon we'll head out for day three.

Digging, Blocks and Baseball

After a morning orientation with our Esperanza representative, Eduardo,  we were split into two groups and headed to our work sites.   I will have to get a report from the other group but I do know that both groups did digging and setting of blocks for the foundation.  Yesterday was particularly hot. Much warmer than usual, but with plenty of water breaks we all survived.  We were greeted by the family receiving the house.  Presently they are living in something most of us would not store our lawn more in, but for them, it protected them wind, heat, cold and rain.   In about one month they will have a much larger brick home.   The family of a little boy and mom and dad will now be safe from the elements.

It was a long day.   We rushed home because we were had a chance to go the baseball playoffs, we cleaned up and headed to Toros Stadium to watch them win 6 to 3.  Mexican baseball is a very different experience where these as much entertainment going on in the stands as there is on the field.
Although tired, everyone had a great time.     We are finishing breakfast and heading off to more work today.   Thankfully it is cloudy and a bit misty today which should make work easier.

Here are some highlights'

Yesterday we spent the day soaking in a bit of Mexican culture.  We started with Mass at the little chapel run by Esperanza's good friend Fr. Jaime.   He welcomed us warmly and gave a one minute synopsis of his homily in English.  He talked about how Christ extended the hand of tenderness to Peter caught in a stormy sea and saved him.   He said, we here at Esperanza, do the same things.  We extend the hand of mercy and save many from the storms of a live in poverty.

We returned to the Posada, relaxed,  Many of us are still catching up on our sleep from the time change, and then headed to Puerto Nuevo, for a bit of shopping and exploring this little fishing village.  We were delayed because of the annual bike rally, which attracts thousands, yes thousands of motorcyclists, but once in the village, we enjoyed fish tacos and other goodies.   Some of the group headed to the cultural center and others back to the Posada. 

We had a great dinner of chicken, potatoes, and salad, with a cake to celebrate Fr. Ted's 40th Anniversary of 1st Vows.  It was a grand celebration.

We now wait for "Eduardo" the head technician to join us for an orientation and then off to the work site.  It is now 6:45 AM here and people are beginning to move.

Morning prayer today says:  Happy are those who dwell in the house of the Lord...as they pass through the Bitter Valley, they will make it a place of springs." (Ps 84)  We hope that our presence will make some the burden of life a bit lighter.   Off to the work site!

Everyone arrives today and we'll join folks from the West Coast.  The group is called "The East-West Group."   Please pray for us.  We'll do our best to blog here and keep you up to date on what is happening.    Here is the list of those going so you can pray for us by name.  (Sorry last name first)

Van Orsouw	Ashley
DeLaBruere	Stephanie
Delabruere	Samantha
Maureen	Isbister
Cardinale	Christie
Bugaj	Janine
Briana	Bowdish
Curran	Brittany
Rufo	John
Rufo	Gina
Mazo	Catalina
Cuellar	Alex
Edmund	Stanley

Brown        Fr. Ted

Keep Checking!

2017 Trip is doing it's prep work!

The second group sponsored by the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette is in the final month of preparation to head to La Gloria, BC, Mexico to build houses for those in need of human, dignified housing.

From August 12-19, fifteen people will be digging, mixing cement, and laying brick under the bright Mexican sun.  We go to bring the Good News of Christ, which is that in God's eyes everyone is valued and has dignity.

Although its not our group, this is what a typical week looks like!

You can also follow us at www.facebook.com/pilgrimsofhope

Pilgrims of Hope

We arrived safely on Saturday, and as we got to the Posada, the skies cleared.  The place where we stay (The Posada) is beautiful.  It is a very comfortable volunteer center.  We met the rest of the members of what is called the "East-West" team.  There are 18 people in total.  Seven are with us, and 8 from the Seattle area and 3 from Montana.  The group is warm, friendly and full of fun.  Although not explicitly Catholic, all members have come before with other Catholic groups.  We have gelled quickly.  

Sunday we went to Mass at the local parish (in Spanish of course) but Father Jaime welcomed us graciously.  We wanted around the flea market, grabbed  bite to eat and then headed out to Puerto Nuevo which is a beautiful little fishing village.  We did some shopping and managed to get out before 2000 (yes 2000) motor cycles arrived.   We came back had a great pasta dinner, cooked by our own Grant Haley.    Evening went and morning came, the first day.  We hit the beds and were ready for our first day of work.  More to come on that.

Change of team Change of Name

Although Father Ted has been transferred to Attleboro, "Team Esperanza" still continues.
Since we are from La Salette Shrine we are now Pilgrims of Hope.
A small 'founding team' has been formed and will be heading to Mexico on Saturday for a week of house building.  You can learn about what we are doing here:

 It is an intergenerational team: different ages with different experiences.
Those going are:
    -Grant Haley
    -Mary Petersen
    -John Rufo
    -Gina Rufo
    -Stephanie  DeLaBruere
    -Samantha DeLaBruere
    -Fr. Ted Brown, ms

You can also follow us at:  https://www.facebook.com/pilgrimsofhope/
You can see pictures and reflections there.
   

"Off The Border" by Kim Corona and Sharon Sextus

The 2015 Builders of Hope have safely arrived to Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday the 31st.  Everyone arrived  separately at the airport.  We quickly greeted each other and made our way to the border. We took a bus to the Santa Fe Trolley Station and caught the trolley to border.  In comparison to NY, San Diego is diverse.  As we got closer to the border there was a significant change in the surroundings.  The closer we got, the conditions were worse.

 Once we arrived at the border we went through Mexican Customs, which was an intriguing experience.  As we went through the gate, we were told to push a button.  If the light was green we could pass through with no inspection, if it was red we would be searched.  The light was green for each of us and we passed through without even having to show identification.

We are staying at The Posada, in La Gloria, just south of Tijuana.   The grounds and campus are beautiful with many forms of native plants growing as well as a flowing fountain in the center of the campus.

Monday was our first  day of work.  We arrived to a beautiful landscape with a view of the Pacific Ocean in the distance.  It provided a bit of a breeze, as there were no trees.  The current house of Paola (and her three children) is located at a higher elevation.  We are to build an addition to their small home giving them "dignified human housing."  Our first task was to take up the old floor which was approximately 10 x 12 ft.   We were able to finish by lunch time (sooner than the Esperanza staff expected).  This would allow us to begin to dig the foundation trenches after lunch.

Paola and her friends prepared a delicious lunch for us.  We had pasta salad, frijoles (beans), flavored rice milk and tamales. Muy deliciouso!

After lunch we began to dig the trenches  to create the foundation of the home.  This is back breaking work and was very tiring under the bright blue Mexican sky, with the hot sun beating down on us.  This is only day one, but seeing Paola's family's reactions to our hard work and dedication  motivates us to keep going for the rest of the week to come.

Safe Arrival

By 12 noon today all "Builders of Hope" arrived.  We left the airport around 1pm, took the 922 bus, and then the Trolley and by 1:50 we were at the border.  We walked across and found our way through customs.  No one was stopped!  Yay.  By 2:30 the Esperanza bus met us and we arrived at the Posada.  Dinner, Mass and relaxation.  Work begins at 8 am.  Most have headed to bed.   Watch for our postings!

photo by Sharon Sextus.

Builders of Hope 2015 Ready to Take Off

In just a few days another group from LIU Post Newman Community will be heading off to make a difference in a Tijuana neighborhood.  Fourteen members and friends will be lifting cement buckets, shoveling gravel, digging foundations and playing with the kids.   This is trip number 15!  Over these years we have worked on 32 homes, 1 school and 1 community center.  We've delighted the children at a local orphanage, given encouragement to a few elderly couples and hope to a family who had resigned themselves to living in a nailed together home of old doors and few boards.

Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, where we prayed "Come Holy Spirit, Renew the face of the earth."  How does it get renewed?  When people let the Spirit in and then do what they can.  We like to say Newman is renewing the face of the earth 250 square feet at a time.  We work with God to make the world a better place.

We hope to have a blog up every day beginning June 1.  Sometimes the internet is sketchy or our days are long.  Watch for us though.  Something will be up almost every day!

Also you can catch your pictures and videos at: https://www.facebook.com/2015buildersofhope

Watch us work, pray for us and pray for the people we are serving!  Newman for Good!

Want to email us words of encouragement?  Leave a note here or on the FB page and we'll read them at dinner each night!

Thanks for all the support!