I'm sitting in the departure lounge at Heathrow airport soon to board a flight to Atlanta and from there to Guadalajara in Mexico, where I will be for just over a week
I'm going there to visit a couple of new projects that are potentials for becoming new partners with CRED, and could also be a new location for taking teams. The projects are Tepehua Barrio CBO which is a community-based project running a number of programmes by and for the residents of the Tepehua Barrio, and also the Villa Enfantil which is an orphanage for some of the poorest and most vulnerable children in the region.
At the moment I only know a bit about each project, through conversations with a lovely lady Francine who lives out there but also has links with a couple of the CRED Trustees through previous aspects of her work. Francine will be my host whilst I am there, has put together my itinerary for the trip, and we've had some lovely Skype chats so it will be good to meet her at last.
As the week progresses, and I meet various people from the projects, hear their stories, dip into their lives, and get a feel for their hopes and dreams as well as realities of life, I'll be able to update you more on the two projects. I know that Tepehua is incredibly poor, and there are some massive issues that the residents face on a daily basis, not least due to the presence of drugs-related crime in some areas. But I also am told that the area generally is stunningly beautiful, and that whilst the people are poor materially they are rich in other ways.
So it will looks to be a week of many contrasts, a time that is very thought-provoking and challenging, but that is also an opportunity to rejoice in yet more evidence of the creative marvels of God, and His love for the poor and broken through the way He reaches out via the hands and feet of His workers.
I'm looking forward to sharing some of those thoughts and reflections with you. but for now I'd better go and catch the plane!
Adios:-)
I'm going there to visit a couple of new projects that are potentials for becoming new partners with CRED, and could also be a new location for taking teams. The projects are Tepehua Barrio CBO which is a community-based project running a number of programmes by and for the residents of the Tepehua Barrio, and also the Villa Enfantil which is an orphanage for some of the poorest and most vulnerable children in the region.
At the moment I only know a bit about each project, through conversations with a lovely lady Francine who lives out there but also has links with a couple of the CRED Trustees through previous aspects of her work. Francine will be my host whilst I am there, has put together my itinerary for the trip, and we've had some lovely Skype chats so it will be good to meet her at last.
As the week progresses, and I meet various people from the projects, hear their stories, dip into their lives, and get a feel for their hopes and dreams as well as realities of life, I'll be able to update you more on the two projects. I know that Tepehua is incredibly poor, and there are some massive issues that the residents face on a daily basis, not least due to the presence of drugs-related crime in some areas. But I also am told that the area generally is stunningly beautiful, and that whilst the people are poor materially they are rich in other ways.
So it will looks to be a week of many contrasts, a time that is very thought-provoking and challenging, but that is also an opportunity to rejoice in yet more evidence of the creative marvels of God, and His love for the poor and broken through the way He reaches out via the hands and feet of His workers.
I'm looking forward to sharing some of those thoughts and reflections with you. but for now I'd better go and catch the plane!
Adios:-)
Hello Helen. While in Mexico, I will aid in your communication with villagers and Spanish-speaking community. This is an honor. Reading your post on Guadalajara, I connected with you on your next to last paragraph. Let the light shine! We await your visit with joy in our hearts! Karuna
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