Day 4 of the build and our 6th day in La Gloria, Mexico south of Tijuana. Our building site is located in a small dusty colonial (town) called El Tapia which overlooks the beautiful Pacific coastline and is juxtaposed with resort villages and luxury homes seen in the distance overlooking the ocean. There is a stark contrast between these homes and those found in El Tapia which reflect a community with a much lower standard of living.
We are now more familiar with community members and Esperanza staff as evidenced by the warm interactions, laughter and good-natured joking while hard at work. I am amazed at how cohesive our group has become despite our significant age differences and backgrounds. Our college students give a whole new meaning to the term “powerful women” has they pass cement blocks, buckets of soil and sand and help dig trenches up to 60” in depth with pick axes and shovels all the while jamming to continuous tunes blasting through large speakers on the job site. It’s certainly broadening the genre of music I can appreciate!
As my friend John told me, “This experience will change your life.” - and it certainly has. I have found beauty here despite circumstances most would describe as impoverished. It is found in the lives of the people, in the eyes of the children and in the strength, determination, and resiliency found in the Esperanza community. These are people that come together to support each other and lend a hand despite having jobs and families of their own. They are determined to improve not only their own lives but the lives of others in their community.
Tomorrow is our last day on the job. It is bittersweet in that we are all looking forward to getting back to our loved ones but we are also saying goodbye to our newfound amigos here in Mexico. I will be forever grateful for this experience which has broadened my perspective on our neighbors to the south. It has also strengthened my resolve to continue to work for justice and resist the bigotry, prejudice and intolerance which has found a new voice in my own country. -Joel Chupp
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