The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 22, 1998 Page: 4 of 6
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1
I
I
on Faith
Wesley an group
builds houses
in Mexico for
the less fortunate
Matthew Smith
news editor
Most people spend spring break relax-
ing or having fun. Some go oul of town, a
few catch up on schoolwork and a lot simply
stay at home doing nothing. This year 12
members of the Wesleyan community
eschewed parties and rest, traveling instead
to Mexico to attempt to make a difference.
The group, led by Chaplain Jeff Miller
and Chaplain Intern Joe Lynch, included
students Victoria Johnson, Nelson Jones,
Elisha Stanton, Andrea Hardy, Lanny Hill
and Emi Fumoto, Also joining the group
were Wesleyan alumni James and Ardis
Freeman, Wesleyan staff member Brian
Prince and Abby Tincher, a high school stu-
dent from Oklahoma.
The group went to Nuevo Progreso,
Mexico, from March 14-21 to build houses
for families living in makeshift shelters of
cardboard boxes and wooden pallets.
Lynch said' each person paid approxi-
mately $200 to cover transportation, food
and lodging. While in Mexico, the group
stayed in a Mercedes. Mexico, Methodist
Church, Lynch said.
Lynch described Nuevo Progreso as mi
economically depressed area with "really
low employment" which depends on tourist
trade. Lynch said that one of the few mod-
ern buildings in the area was -the police
station. Lynch said some parts were "nice
by their standards but would be below aver-
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what we're used to."
This was Wesleyan's fifth spring break
trip, Lynch said. Earlie'r sites have included
Juarez, Mexico, Brownsville, Texas, and
Alaska. Lynch, comparing the trips to
Habitat for Humanity, said housing is built
on all trips.
Lynch said that the Methodist Student
Movement, a campus club, gathers informa-
tion on several possible sites and, after
weighing the time and cost factors, vote on
where to go.
Lynch said the Mexican Church and
Mexican Social Service work with
Operation Hands Together, an organization
based in Welasco, Texas, to choose families
eligible to receive a house.
Lynch said the site already had a floor
laid so the group built cider-block walls,
hung doors and windows and built the roof.
The receiving families were required to help
with finish and touch-up work. Lynch said.
According to Lynch, the original plan
was to build one house. However, by the ■
second day the group had completed two-
thirds of the house so the members decided
to build another. Both houses were built for
single mothers.
Lynch said, "They were very grateful.
You've got to understand. These are people
in an extremely poor situation but they went
out of their way to help us and fixed us a
meal when we were finished, even though
we told them that wasn't necessary."
Does building two houses where so .
many are homeless makes any real differ-
ence? Lynch said, "Yes, but you have to
experience it to understand." Lynch said
that once the houses were completed, the
group and families gathered in the houses to
pray.
Lynch repeated a story that Hill told
that night. In the story a man stands on a
beach covered by thousands of starfish,
picking them up and tossing
them into the ocean so
they won't drown.
Seeing this, a young
boy asks the man why
he bothers since there
are so many starfish and
the man can't possibly
save enough to make a
difference. The man
picks up a starfish, toss-
es it into the ocean, turns
to the boy and says; "It
sure made a difference
to him."
Miller said the
experience "forces you
to reassess your val-
ues." Miller said it
struck him as they were
beginning construction
on. the second home
that these houses are
no bigger than a typi-
cal storage shed in an
American backyard,
yet the families are
thrilled to get them.
Miller said they cost
around $1,000 and were
one-room houses with
ah outside bathroom.
Johnson, a freshman elementary
education major, said the trip was
"really fun and a good chance to
bond with others.
Sophomore mass communication
major Jones, who went last year as well,
called the trip "a learning experience and a
chance to grow mentally and spiritually as
Well as learn different aspects of each other's
lives and cultures."
James Freeman and his wife Ardis, said
they plan to go back this summer and help
some more. James Freeman said the trip
"makes you appreciate what you've got."
Hardy, a freshman music major, called
the trip "most memorable." Hardy said she
had been on similar trips in high school but
the difference here was that "we all worked
together well and got along great even after
w orking hard from ,7:30 to 5 every day."
According to the office of communica-
tion, Miller said, "These students could have
been doing a lot of other things over spring
break, but they chose this. They did such an
outstanding job. We were able to get two
houses built because We had such a great
group. Some were experienced at this and
others learned quickly."
Lynch said it is too early to make plans
for next year's trip. People interested may
phone the chaplain's office at 531-4461.
The group who went to Mexico are from left Wesleyan alunini James and Ardis Freeman; students
Lanny Hill, Nelson Jones and Andrea Hardy; Chaplain Jeff Miller; students Elisha Stanton, Victoria
Johnson and Emi Fumoto; staff member Brian Prince and Chaplain Intern Joe Lynch.
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Pfaffengut, James. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 22, 1998, newspaper, April 22, 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth287707/m1/4/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.