On June 5th, the Mission Oaxaca team, comprised of four fathers and six young people from Household of Faith Community Church, returned after spending nearly eleven days working, fellowshipping and learning. Prior to the team's arrival, Pastor Benny had made arrangements for our team to build a school room, complete with a concrete floor, pour seven pesos, and help an older couple in the community figure out a better arrangement for their bañó needs. The young ladies that were with the team, ranging in ages from eleven to fourteen, were also scheduled to help Benny's sister with Bible Clubs.

The first two days of work went extremely well with the father's and two sons working along side a number of young men from Vicente Gurerro on the school building. During that time the structure and the concrete floor were completed, which added more space adjacent to the schoolroom the previous Mission Oaxaca team completed in March. The work went smoothly and all enjoyed getting to know our brothers in Christ from a different part of the world, despite our difficulties understanding each other.

One Bucket at a Time

In the following days, the team poured seven pisos, two of which posed some challenges due to the fact they were located on steep slopes, making access difficult. Despite those challenges, working along side the group of local young men assembled by Pastor Benny was very enjoyable, which helped the work go quickly. In at least three of the homes we worked in the families invited the entire team to join them for a meal, which made the work we were doing even more memorable as a result of the time we were able to share and pray with them.

The last of the homes we worked on was that of an older Zapotec couple who live in a very small dwelling with no running water, electricity, or any kind of bathroom facility. The couple, however, was kind, joyful and gracious. They were an encouragement and an inspiration to both the adults and youth on our team.

The Olders

At the "olders" home, as they were referred to in English by our Spanish speaking brothers, we were able to complete a piso in their main living area, a newly framed kitchen area with a concrete floor, and a concrete bathroom. Throughout our time, that particular home and the team members worked with energy, but also with a sense of reverence, as the two living there seemed deserving of so much more given their gentle spirits and gracious demeanor. At the end of the day on June 4th, the projects at their home were completed and the work for the May/June team had come to an end.

The work that had been completed included the pisos, a school room, bathroom and kitchen, complete with an eight foot countertop so the elderly woman could finally prepare her meals off of the ground. The girls also had a great time making bracelets and other small crafts with the younger kids in the village while participating in Bible Clubs.

Kelsie with Group of Kids

Aside from the work, the most encouraging aspect of our time in Oaxaca was getting to know Pastor Benny a bit more. He is a young man who has a vision for ministry in the village of Vicente Guerrero, where he seeks to address the whole person, rather than just pouring concrete for a nameless few. He is not only bringing teams from America to help resolve the physical hardships he encounters on a daily basis, but he is also striving to understand and address the spiritual and emotional needs that are only compounded by the poverty that overwhelms the people of this community.

Benny and his family are clear in their calling to minister to the poor, and they do so with an attitude of grace, fueled by their desire to glorify God through their service. Benny was, and will continue to be, a source of encouragement and inspiration for our families. His joy in serving the poor is an example to us all, as is the joy of those we attempted to serve in the community. As a result of their joy, we all went away feeling that it was we who had been served, not in body, but in spirit.

Sincerely,
Bryan Ferguson
Household of Faith, Oregon City, Oregon

Upcoming news: August and November '07 teams taking form

Your financial support allows ongoing work and future team project support. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Mission Oaxaca:

Mission Oaxaca c/o Center for Sharing
723 W. Clark Street
Pasco, Washington 99301