This is the trip journal from the spring break (march 19-26) 2005 Christ on Campus work trip to Amor Ministries in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico to build a house for a needy family.
The "quote journal" is at the bottom of this page. Some pictures from the trip are here. Pictures from other years' trips are here.
here's a scan of each page (I numbered the pages starting at 72 because we actually just continued in
the 2004 journal, since it didn't get filled up last year.):
page 72
page 73
page 74
page 75
page 76
page 77
page 78
page 79
page 80
page 81
page 82
page 82b
page 83
page 83b
page 84
page 85
Mexico 2005
Let's go let's go let's g... We just got on 540, 7:36am not bad. Ooh, green camaro, but it's not Jeff (note: Jeff actually drives a firebird, whatever), who's one of several who are missing. Mainly I don't know how we're going to finish the concrete w/o Kendra.
Anyway, it's Saturday, March 19 and we're once again headed to Juárez to build a house with Amor. Eric and I are in the roomy back seat of Dan's F-350, Marshall (a first-timer) riding shotgun. They're talking about bicycles, not surprisingly, and Eric is listening to music and reading _at the same time_.
Big Red is leading the way. I'm glad I'm not driving (as was the plan until a couple days ago) -- now I can nap (and write this). Getting bumpier -- I think the trailer magnifies it.
We'll be picking up Joey & Jordan in Ft. Smith. In Big Red already are Jake Travis Anthony Freddie Jess Gilia (first-timer) Sophia Jen Val. I should note I'm using a Pilot Precise V5 (in case you couldn't tell) -->
which is not a weapon, though it probably could be used as one (beyond the figurative "mightier than" sense).
Ima call Laura now... -- T-rev
6:42 CST 3/20/2005
Well, I'm writing out of order to conserve space. And I just wanted to say that we killed a brand new hacky sack in 1 hour.
Travel yesterday was fairly uneventful except for being in a traffic jam in Fort Worth. We went a couple miles in a couple hours. So that set us back a bit and we got to Odessa around 11pm. Good ole Antioch Christian Church.
I hope we do better at writing in the trip journal, and my conserving space is a demonstration of my faith that we can do so.....
On a heavier note, I hope Marshall doesn't have to go straight back. The brother of one of the men of New Springs (Marshall's, Jake's, and my church, and Jessica's) died yesterday--young--and it's uncertain whether Marshall would be wanted for the funeral. He's been on the phone a lot. -- T-rev
3-19-x04x 05--Joey's living in the past! 2:08 PM - dentonish
ahh, the stresses of navigation :) seriously, we aren't lost yet... impressive, I think.
Don't know how I got front passenger seat, but it's nice.
unfortunately, it's really windy, so my frisbee throws to eric were pretty poor, oh well -- on to Odessa! -- Joey
11:15 ODESSA
I am traveling with PGCC. Today we have lost one van (blew a radiator hose) and 3 tires on the large trailer. It is over full so the back tires keep popping. But, on the bright side, the guy are getting "pit crew" fasts at changing tires. It was really cool to arrive and see wonderful ConCers. I'm too tired to think of anything else to say.
Christy
12:00 AM Odessa
I am so tired and yet I do not want to go to sleep. My head kind of feels like it is going to explode but I probably still won't go to bed soon. I guess that's what happens after you're in a car for 13 hours with 5 hours of sleep. I'm really excited about getting to Juarez yet at the same time I still don't really believe we're going. It just seems like Spring Break happened too quickly and this isn't real. Yea for Mexico though, let's get to building.
Valerie
note: T-rev's above out-of-order entry falls here chronologically
3-20-05 - Odessa, 7:54 AM -Joey
My pillow has been absconded!! Ok, well, maybe I just misplaced it, but I hope it turns up.
3.20.05 Odessa TX 7:57 AM - Jess Egolf
Dearest trip journal-
good morning! i'm gonna be real honest. i wasn't excited about this trip until last night. my heart's been heavy and I really had to ask God to help me through it. God is faithful, as always. I'm feeling better about everything this morning. We had a pretty smooth ride down, lots of fun of course, and people even played the expert game with me :) I'm a lucky girl, hehe. anyways time for church now. Yay for mexico! (oh, I forgot my work shoes, my hat, and didn't get to washing my hair before we left like I had planned on. So Sofia and I washed our hair in sinks last night. it was refreshing.)
but things are fixed. clean hair to start off with, new shoes for $12 from walmart, and a visor from a gas station.
<3 - Jess
3/20/05 8:05 AM ODESSA, TX
So I was given the trip journal and told to record some thoughts. First let me apologize for the poor hand writing. I can't handle right-handed ledgers... but I'll survive.
I'm hanging out in the kitchen of the Antioch church while we wait for church to begin. I look forward to the service. I've always enjoyed visiting other churches and experiencing their takes on the liturgy. Being Lutheran I'm all about liturgy. We are basically demi-Catholics without all the kneeling and genuflecting. But enough of that.
Bis nächste zeit!
Eric
6:30 MST 3/21/2005
Overal the border crossing and setting up camp went pretty smoothly. There was a minor dust storm for a short while, but it didn't slow things down much. The lamp posts work well, we just need a couple bright lanterns to hang on 'em. Food was great. -- T-rev
8:08 leaving the concentration camp for the 1st work day. Apparently space at our site will be a bit tight--cramped working quarters.
Note: sadly the blue precise V5 didn't last long: it disappeared ayer. Maybe it will be found.
On a happier note, while we don't have Peach Nehi, we do have 20 oz. bottles of Peach Slice.
17:48 on the way back from the first work day -- very productive -- no problems. The trip journal was out but we didn't take any breaks except just long enough to cram lunch in our stomachs. -->
(cont'd) The most notable thing different from past times is there were Amor groups all around us working right next to us. Four groups withing sight and a few more around corners out of sight. I mean, we aren't just on the same block, we're right next to each other.
Dan has good music. We're listening to Moody Blues that I've never heard B4.
Jordan, Gilia and Sophia (esp. her) did a great job finishing the concrete.
- finished day one,,, wow, we're way ahead of schedule - very nice. now we're waiting on spaggetti dinner. man I'm tired, but it feels good. weather couldn't be better - thanks God! -Joey, 6:40PM, 3-21,04
--Why hasn't anyone written in me? Well it's the last night in Mexico (barrying horrible things happening) and we're sitting in front of the fire and I can't really see the journal. It's been an awesome trip, house went well and I think they were really touched. We got to have a campfire every night!! and that's it. I turned 21 today and the experience was awesome. I wouldn't have spent it with anyone else if I could. (Does that make sense?) I have only had to utilize the facilities for important business once, so I'm a little worried about the trip home. But I'm sure Jake will understand!! Okay, gbfn.
-Anthony 3/24, 10? pm
I don't know what to write so I'll ramble a bit til I figure it out. Coming to Mexico I expected an Ideal situation & a disastrous situation at the same time--based on accounts of others who had gone. I didn't realize what would actually happen would be so much better than I could have expected. Barring illnesses, minor wounds & construction mishaps, and one "interesting" afternoon at the Prairie Grove site (that I was lucky enough to escape), this week has been incredible. I did not expect the surge of synergy we experienced or how incredibly skilled and/or willing everyone was. I also didn't expect to feel so at home and truly happy I would feel camping here with everyone -- even despite the bathroom conditions and xshortx not short! sandstorms. I guess this is the first place in a while where I have been able to really relax and be happy. And although I know it was a pretty specific set of conditions that created it, I hope I will remember it. One thing that is both sad and exciting is to think of how no two mexico trips will ever be the same - mostly because the mixture of people changes every year. Well, this is the last night of my happy bubble - back to the rest of it soon.
Some happy memories:
Discovering my happy song - i.e. "Those Who Trust"
Watching Jess & Sophia play duck duck goose w/ the kids--a couple of whom liked to mix up the chasing direction.
That moment when God decided to make me well enough to work! (that first morning
Seeing the family's stuff moved into their new house when we went back for dinner
Sitting around the campfire w/ everyone
Learning my first two chords on the guitar - C & G
When all the walls & roof were up and had their first layer - tar paper etc and we had a house!
Spending time getting to know great people I might never have gotten to know otherwise.
Seeing God work through us.
Gilia ~11pm 3/24/05
Querida journal - 3.25.05
Well, we are just about to cross the border back into the states. We have kind of neglected this journal, but with good reason, we have been busy working and enjoying our time. I am so glad that I came to Mexico this year. I can't understand now how I wasn't excited on the way here. it has been an incredible week and I don't want to leave. Reading Gilia's last entry made me smile too. She's right about no 2 mexico trips ever being the same, and that being exciting and also sad. this year was such a blessing, I think, in all of our lives. I am so proud of my ConC family. Everyone is so hardworking, willing to help and fun. it's easy to get used to this and always hard to readjust to life at home. Last night we took dinner to the family's house. it was so great, seeing the family beginning to make a home out of this house that God enabled us to build. They thanked us for everything. Said we could come visit and stay any time. Genesis, the little girl, had alot of energy and played with Joey. The family bought us a cake which was a sweet gesture. We need to remember to pray for our family. Last night when I was sitting there I realized that building a house is a great way to show the love of God in a practical way. I knew this, but last night it was just so beautifully evident. everyone we interacted with was so great.
Some things to remember:
- the new stucco song we wrote (Tony, Val and I)
- playing "pato pato ganso" duck duck goose with the little kids
- Ana, a little girl, teaching me a Spanish hand clapping game.
- drinking beers with everyone in the outdoor cafe at the mercado
- Jake and trevor singing (ALL the words) "Alice's restaurant"
- visiting the family from last year and seeing their house lived in.
- Tony's fun birthday, all the "man" jokes and his cake around the fire.
- the full moon on the last night and the beautiful stars all week
- all the time spent getting to know our family.
well, I have more to say, but I need to take a break now. <3 - Jess Egolf
T-rev 12:37 central 3/26
Ooo, this pen still retracts. Can't say the same for the one I used at the work site
Our family was friendly and gracious and communicated well generally. Jose was impossible to understand but would answer yes/no questions patiently. Cati (Catalina) and Genesis.. Cati was nice and a good mother. Genesis was cute & very hyper Thursday night.
The door was hung well but after stucco it no longer worked, the house had settled maybe. Maybe a good idea to secure the frame w/ screws rather than nails.
Jess E. 4:21 pm March 26 2005
Well, less than 3 hours till we will be home. I'm going to miss spending so much time with this group of people! going home is always kinda sad. it's raining which is nice and refreshing. I have missed rain. back to school, back to life at home.
I don't have much to say other than that I'm so happy to have been able to make this trip, and I wanna do it all over again right now.
Cuidense.
key: <3 heart, :) smiley
quote journal:
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6
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