In the NewsDallas Morning News, "Neighbors" Richardson - 10/27/06 Church volunteers build homes in Juarez
TIERRA NUEVA, Mexico | For the past five years, more than 275 members of Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen have journeyed south to Tierra Nueva, a suburb of Juarez, Mexico. There, they diligently build cinder-block homes to replace the flimsy cardboard shelters families use for housing through Proyecto Abrigo, a project founded in 1996 by Jose Luis Portillo. Each year, Suncreek sends its senior high youth, families, adults and college students to Mexico on mission trips. To-date, they have built 30 homes. “Suncreek is a very missions-oriented church,” Janet Hunt, Suncreek director of missions said. “In addition to several local and regional projects of all types and sizes — like building ramps for the elderly and providing hurricane relief in Louisiana — we travel to Mexico five times a year to help build homes for families outside of Juarez.” Recently, Suncreek families embarked on their first trip south. Included in the excursion were single mothers and their teenage sons, along with married couples and their children. “The youngest in our group was my 10-year old son Parker,” Hunt said. Joining Janet and Parker were veteran homebuilders Rita Thomas and her two young adult children. Thomas says that this trip was especially meaningful for her. “Although I've been to Juarez many times now, this trip was extremely special to me,” Thomas said. “To have both of my children working by my side to build a home for a wonderful family is something I won't ever forget. I am so proud of them. We worked hard, we played hard and we made a difference in lives of the Rivera Montes family.” Sharing Thomas’ sentiments is Suncreek member Robin Knuuttila. She said that going to Juarez was one of her family’s most memorable trips. “The four of us worked hard together, played together, laughed together, and when we realized that we’d helped build a home for a dear family in need, we cried together. We have a deeper appreciation for all the blessings in our lives and a new appreciation for the beautiful people of Juarez.” Suncreek has two adult mission trips to Mexico scheduled for Thursday through Monday, Oct. 19-23, and Feb. 8-12. Their senior high youth will also journey south in early June, although dates for their trip and the other 2007 missions have not yet been established. But when they are, expect to see Tom, Eric and Greg Watson to be there. After sharing the family mission trip experience with his two sons, Tom said that the trip is something that his family will do again. “As soon as I heard Suncreek was offering a family mission trip I knew it was an experience I wanted to share with my two young sons, Eric and Greg. I had never taken the initiative to do this, although I've thought about it many times,” Watson said. “I saw it as an opportunity to share the blessings we have with others and give my boys a glimpse into what so many less fortunate than we have to deal with every day.” Watson says it was a life-changing experience for them. “I cannot begin to convey the sense of love, accomplishment, fellowship and Christian sharing we experienced on this adventure. It gave me and my boys a chance to grow as individuals, as well as a family, and to spread the love of Christ to a family so deserving of a better way of life. It is a memory that I know we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. I would encourage anyone thinking, ‘Should I? to simply say ‘Let’s do it.’ Experience it for yourself — you will be so glad you did.” Ginger Ebinger is a member of Suncreek United Methodist Church. To view this article in its original form visit the Dallas Morning News "Neighbors" Allen Edition online, page 31. |
