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Orthodox Christian Fellowship RealBreak

Project Mexico Journal

Nicole Constantina Paxton

March 2006

18 March 2006

Today we finally arrived in Mexico .  I am so nervous about the trip because I really have no idea what to expect and have so many questions – what does poverty mean, what will the people be like?  I want to break through the American stereotypes of Mexico and find out about the real Mexico .

When first nearing the U.S.-Mexico border from San Diego , the four other girls on the trip and I joked that we couldn’t tell where one country ended and the other began.  Even on the American side, billboards were written in Spanish and taco stands were abound.  However, when we did enter Mexico , the difference between what I was seeing and the American landscape I was used to was much more than I expected and greatly saddening.  Less than just a mile from the border, I began to realize the extreme poverty that faces Mexico .  The houses, pieced together from found materials, seemed to be piled on top of one another, competing for the best space on the hills.  Trash was scattered everywhere – a consequence, I was told later, of expensive and unreliable sanitary services.

We followed the roads until the pavement ended and the bumpy dirt roads (muddy as well – it is the rainy season) began.  Tonight we were able to have dinner with the boys, who range from about five years old to my age.  There are twenty-three boys at the orphanage.  Saint Innocent’s Orphanage - or “the Ranch” as it is called, as it is easier on the boys ears – offers such an amazing environment for these boys who otherwise would most probably end up in gangs, as coyotes (people who run people across the border), or even in male prostitution. 

I was greatly touched by Saint Innocent’s efforts to educate these young gentlemen – I say gentlemen because they are such well mannered young men.  As we toured the small library and study room, I learned that even public school in Mexico must be paid for – books and uniforms – resulting in many children dropping out at a young age for lack of funds.  In order to stay at Saint Innocent’s the boys must stay in school.  The orphanage has had two high school graduates so far, an amazing accomplishment. 

19 March 2006

This morning we celebrated the Divine Liturgy with all of the boys at the orphanage.  It was so special to hear the liturgy in Spanish, especially because the boys loved to sing the hymns.  A few of the boys were even serving as chanters.  The boys sang with all their hearts, embracing the words and truly proud to be Orthodox Christians.  The youngest boys were eager to serve in the altar, even though the robes, too big for them, dragged on the floor.  All the boys are given the choice whether to be baptized into the church.  Last month the five youngest boys were baptized and for that reason today’s liturgy was the first time serving in the altar for a few of them.  They seemed a bit nervous – one of the smaller boys had trouble getting on his robe, but it was so wonderful to see the older boys step in and help him out, serving as examples.

The orphanage seems more like a family than anything else.  The children treat each other like brothers and sisters (although the orphanage is only for boys, there is currently one girl at St. Innocent’s; she and her brother, who was brought here, were very close and it took a toll on both of them when she was moved to an orphanage two hours away).  We got to sit and watch some TV with the boys before dinner.  They were arguing, laughing, and behaving as healthy, happy boys should!

I found out this evening, however, that there were not always smiles on these boys’ faces.  The RealBreakers were told a little bit about these boys’ pasts, which are far from happy.  One boy had seen his father kill his mother and another boy had been chained to a dog house by his grandmother after having been abandoned by his mother.  After seeing the boys now, it is amazing what a loving environment can do for a child.  These boys seem to have a real positive outlook on life and are encouraged to have goals.

All of the boys were eager to play with us and especially to laugh at our attempts to speak Spanish!  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet these boys and possibly to make a small difference in their lives.

20 March 2006

Today we actually started our work at Saint Innocent’s.  Our RealBreak group, consisting of five girls from around the country, was assigned to prime and paint the outer wall of the ranch.  Today we were able to finish most of the priming, which also involved digging up the ground around the wall and cleaning the wall of any excess dirt.  The work was really physically demanding and unlike anything I had ever done before!  I have never been challenged in this way before. 

Painting the wall was not only physically challenging, but also mentally challenging because at first I couldn’t see how I was making a big difference in the lives of the boys.  I wanted to do more for them.  However, when the boys came outside to examine our handiwork, we could see how grateful they were for the work we had put in.  I realized that maybe I haven’t made a huge difference in their lives, but we did make a small difference and a small deed, sometimes, can go a long way.  Going to bed, my arms, hands, and back are sore, but a wonderful reminder of the work our group has accomplished together.

I can’t wait to work on the house for the family on Wednesday.  During the spring months Project Mexico builds houses over a few weeks because it is the rainy season and that makes it difficult to build in a short amount of time.  During the summer, houses are built by groups in four days each.  Even though the houses that Project Mexico builds are small, they are water-tight, concrete floored shelters with locking doors, and make a big difference in the families’ lives.  I am so happy and humbled to be a part of building a house for a family.

Today, the boys did not have school, but rather than taking their day off to sleep in, they went to visit a local retirement home and visit with the residents.  Tomorrow, we will finish the wall and perhaps some of the older boys will help us out – hopefully without spilling the paint!

21 March 2006

Today was very physically demanding on the entire group.  We finished up priming the wall around the ranch.  When we were almost done, but very tired, some of the older boys came down to help us with the priming.  With their help we were done in no time and the wall was ready for the first coat of paint.  After lunch we worked on finishing up the concrete stairs that another group had poured the week before.  Although it had been cold that morning, it was warmer in the afternoon.

After working on the stairs, we were confronted with the biggest challenge yet – learning to stucco the inside of the wall!  After lunch, everyone’s arms were tired, but it was time to mix the concrete for the stucco.  When we were shown how to put on the stucco, it seemed easy enough, but when we tried it ourselves, we realized how much strength, practice, and patience the task ahead of us would take.  After much fallen stucco and frustration, we all became much more comfortable with stuccoing and even started to be good at it! 

We are all very nervous because tomorrow we will be putting on the first coat of stucco for the Sanchez family’s new home.  I am scared that my arms won’t be strong enough and that the stucco won’t come out smoothly.  Even though I am nervous, I can’t wait to see the family’s reaction to their house!

22 March 2006

Today’s experiences really made me face the reality of poverty head on.  After morning chapel and a very hearty breakfast of burritos, we were ready to load the pick-up truck with the supplies we would be using to stucco the house.  We drove to a nearby suburb across the highway from Saint Innocent’s to finish the Project Mexico house.  Groups that had come before us had set up the frame and roof of the house and it was our job to add the first coat of stucco to the house, making it ready for the family to live in.  The drive to the house was very interesting.  Gated villas were located right next to shacks made of different odds and ends.  The house we were building was rather small, but the family owns both the house and the land it is on, moving them up in the social class system immensely.  Unlike the United States , the majority of Mexico can be considered below the poverty line.  There is also a great disparity between the rich and the poor – there isn’t a true middle class.

The family we are building for was comprised of a young mother and father (barely older than me) and their three children: Marly (8), Jason (4), and Daniel (about a year old).  The father took off from work and the children took off from school to help us stucco the house.  Although the father was quiet as he diligently worked stuccoing the house, he seemed so proud to be working on his own home.  Jason, the little boy, was an absolute firecracker, running everywhere and eager to stucco, mimicking his father. 

The most special part of the day was when we ate a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the family before the blessing of the house.  Seeing the blessing of the new house was so wonderful.  I was given the opportunity to hand Mara, the mother, the gift of an icon of the Virgin and Child.  As she received the icon along with a new Bible and the keys to her home, she seemed so happy.  Finally, the Sanchez family would have a place to eat, sleep, and dream of a better life.  Finally, they would have a home with a real floor and an enclosed area that wouldn’t be cold and exposed to the elements – a huge help for their youngest son, who has asthma.  I felt so honored to play a small part in building a home for this family.

When we returned to the ranch, we found the boys on the blacktop.  They quickly invited us to play a game of futbol.  Even though our soccer skills weren’t quite up to par, the boys were happy to play with us and laugh at our kicks that never quite went in the right direction.

23 March 2006

Today was our last day at Saint Innocent’s.  We woke up early again to apply the first coat of white paint on the walls of the ranch.  The work was much easier now that we had so much practice!  The whole task would have been impossible without teamwork and patience.

We are all so sad to leave the ranch for San Diego tomorrow.  The boys have taken up a special place in all of our hearts and they will always be in our prayers.  Tonight at evening vespers many of the boys came to say goodbye.  I feel so blessed to have taken part in this trip.  I hope that in some way I have been able to make a difference in these boys’ lives because I know that they have made a great difference in mine.