I went with ninety seven other people to La Morita Mexico. You won't find it on any maps although about a million people live there. We built one house, repaired another making it safe while adding on two rooms, and we painted a convent.While we were in Mexico we went to see a place on the border where they record names of those who died trying to cross the border. Most of them die in the desert.
Most Americans have no idea what it must be like when the possibility of dying in the desert is worth the chance. As for me, I don't know what it must be like, but I do know how much I cried thinking about it at the fence that day. I know we MUST SECURE OUR BORDER, but will our government ever make the green card system more user friendly? Don't let them stay illegally. Send them back. Don't give them any benefits or privileges for entering illegally. Rather make a system where they can enter the U.S. with relative ease. If they have ever been caught stealing, killing, smuggling, or a short litany of other offences we should tell them no when they apply. Otherwise lets let them in--------Who would our grandfathers have fought for during WWII if the U.S. had not let their parents in?
This house was built with block and never grouted. That's right, no bond beams, no space grout, nothing to make it safe. It was just block mortared together, and falling apart. The roof was old American garage doors and scrap plywood. It leaked like a six month size diaper on a three year old. It now has spaced grout every 32 inches and a solid concrete beam around the top. We then built a second floor on half of the house, and a simple roof with rolled roofing.
What a great group of kids we had with us on the trip. They were eager to be given something to do. Once given a task they performed to the best of their ability. That's what my Dad always asked of me, and I can't see it being any better.
I went down to La Morita about a month before the trip and saw the house which this one replaced. It was four old 16 foot wooden garage doors with a hole cut in one and a sheet for a front door. In this picture I am shaking the owner's hand just after giving/getting a long hug to/from his wife. I had to walk away right after this picture because I was too choked up to talk. My heart seems to bleed for these people who are trod on by their government and American businesses.The group photo includes most of the people on the trip. My seventeen year old daughter Jessica, my sixteen year old son A.J., and my seventeen year old niece Sara are three of the people in our group. This group was a conduit which allowed God to bring mercy and social justice to some fine people in Mexico. My hope for the young people in our group is that the images of this place soften their hearts as adults, making them more conscious while making decisions with money and other resources.
What an awesome group of people. I just wish about five more people were at the site when this picture was taken.
