The people in the colonias need our help, even if we are cannot go to them in person. As churches and groups with a long history of bringing help directly to the poor in Acuna stop their trips because of potential danger, they should not simply abandon these people and go to places where they feel there is more safety. Many have established friendships and relationships with the poor. We cannot abandon them in this distressing time.
The economy, news stories about border violence, the end of tourism, and the curtailment of mission trips clearly increased the need for help. Please support any reputable organization, like Paper Houses, that is operating in Acuna.
We will be walking these streets and delivering food, clothing, building material and remain present with these people. We continue to pay for shelters, medical care, school meals and a host of other things.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Violence Causes More Mission Trip Concerns
Stories of interest on line today:
• Cartel Gangs form Alliance against Zeta
• Kidnapped Mexican journalist found with throat slit
• Mexicans plan smaller meetings for climate summit
• U.S. consulate hit by blast in Nuevo Laredo
MEXICO CITY — Three Mexican drug cartels have joined forces to destroy a ruthless gang of hit men that has grown into a feared trafficking outfit with reach into Central America, Mexican and U.S. officials said Monday.
The shift in allegiances is fueling bloody battles along the Texas border.
Intelligence reports indicate the Gulf cartel has recruited its former rival, La Familia, to crush the Zetas gang in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, said Ramon Pequeno, the head of the anti-narcotics division of Mexico's federal police.
An official with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organization, has also joined the alliance against the Zetas, whose rise to power has come to threaten all three of the cartels.
How do we react?
Obviously, there are many people with second thoughts about mission trips on the Mexican Border. At this time, we have no public trips scheduled, but hope to add trips soon. These type of stories always translate into more need for the poor. Fewer church groups and charities will visit the colonias and this is completely understandable. However, the need is still there and charities must find ways to still help the hungry.
We continue to be in Acuña, almost every day. Two of our board members live in Del Rio, Texas and work in Acuña. Both have many family members living in Acuña and they have a good feel for what is happening. I will continue to visit every two or three weeks. The trouble is that nobody is sure what will happen. So far there has been no violence in Acuña, but the Zeta cartel is clearly the only cartel in Acuña.
I read these stories this morning and made a quick trip to Nuevo Laredo. Things are eerily quiet. Nobody will even talk about the explosion at the U.S. Consulate and family members are leaving the consulate and returning to the United States.
There was no difficulty in crossing into Nuevo Laredo. I seemed to be the only tourist in town and was certainly the only American shopping at the grocery store. I filled my SUV with everything I could think of for the shelters and people I would visit. Although most of the poor are living in concrete block houses, they are still in great need and the houses are small and in need of repair. Because of our inability to establish a regular presence in this city, our help is limited to simply giving people food, over the counter medicine, clothing and the knowledge that the charities in America are not abandoning them.
My drive was a little unnerving when I came upon a new check-point. I honestly do not know if these were soldiers or cartel. However, I've had experiences with both groups and simply explained that I had dispensa for a casa hogar. There was no problem.. Although I have magnetic signs on the SUV (Paper Houses Across the Border), later I was stopped by several police vehicles, but they were simply doing their job. I am in a black SUV, which is typical of the type of vehicle used by the drug gangs. They searched my SUV and then waived me on. (We must remember that most of the guns in this country originate from illegal shipments from the U.S., so searching my vehicle is reasonable).
I stopped at some homes and at two shelters. There were no problems. Everyone was both surprised and glad to see an American delivering some needed food.
Tomorrow I will go to another border town and make sure the people know they are not forgotten.
Some New Approaches to Charity in the Colonia would be a Good Thing!
Although we know that the greatest benefit of mission in the colonias is what it does for the Americans participating in the journey, perhaps some church groups and charities can temporarily shift their purpose to doing the most they can for the poor in the colonias.
I recently read about a church group that build three houses for poor people living in cardboard shacks in Acuña. Naturally, I am happy for the people that received the houses and it was a true blessing. I am certain it was a huge blessing for the youth and youth leaders that sacrificed their time and money to raise the money, travel to Acuña, and build the houses. This group was not from a border state, so airfare or a long drive was certainly involved.
The group's web-posting stated that the total cost of the trip that resulted in the students evangelizing, sharing time with the poor, and demonstrating their love by building the three houses was $45,000. The trip was a wonderful experience for the youth and a very positive experience for the poor of the colonias.
However, if church groups cease making these trips temporarily, they should still hold their year round fund-raisers and send $45,000 to a trusted church group in Acuña. There is one group that builds homes for the poor at a cost of $5,000 per home. That group could build nine homes, instead of three and would use local volunteers and labor.
The H.E.B. Acuña Food Bank is another charity that can use support. Think of the families that can be helped with $45,000 worth of food.
Please no not misinterpret what I am suggesting. The value of people actually walking the streets and working with the people in the colonias is beyond measure. However, if you are part of a group that no longer can travel on a mission trip to the colonias, consider the impact of simply having your trip elsewhere. If you have a history of helping in the colonias, don't break faith with the people you've helped. Today, and in the days to come they are going to need your help more than ever before.
I will be in Acuña within the next few days and continue to make my journeys. I am too selfish to stop going. This next trip will be especially rewarding because I am going to spend two day meeting children with medical needs.
• Cartel Gangs form Alliance against Zeta
• Kidnapped Mexican journalist found with throat slit
• Mexicans plan smaller meetings for climate summit
• U.S. consulate hit by blast in Nuevo Laredo
MEXICO CITY — Three Mexican drug cartels have joined forces to destroy a ruthless gang of hit men that has grown into a feared trafficking outfit with reach into Central America, Mexican and U.S. officials said Monday.
The shift in allegiances is fueling bloody battles along the Texas border.
Intelligence reports indicate the Gulf cartel has recruited its former rival, La Familia, to crush the Zetas gang in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, said Ramon Pequeno, the head of the anti-narcotics division of Mexico's federal police.
An official with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organization, has also joined the alliance against the Zetas, whose rise to power has come to threaten all three of the cartels.
How do we react?
Obviously, there are many people with second thoughts about mission trips on the Mexican Border. At this time, we have no public trips scheduled, but hope to add trips soon. These type of stories always translate into more need for the poor. Fewer church groups and charities will visit the colonias and this is completely understandable. However, the need is still there and charities must find ways to still help the hungry.
We continue to be in Acuña, almost every day. Two of our board members live in Del Rio, Texas and work in Acuña. Both have many family members living in Acuña and they have a good feel for what is happening. I will continue to visit every two or three weeks. The trouble is that nobody is sure what will happen. So far there has been no violence in Acuña, but the Zeta cartel is clearly the only cartel in Acuña.
I read these stories this morning and made a quick trip to Nuevo Laredo. Things are eerily quiet. Nobody will even talk about the explosion at the U.S. Consulate and family members are leaving the consulate and returning to the United States.
There was no difficulty in crossing into Nuevo Laredo. I seemed to be the only tourist in town and was certainly the only American shopping at the grocery store. I filled my SUV with everything I could think of for the shelters and people I would visit. Although most of the poor are living in concrete block houses, they are still in great need and the houses are small and in need of repair. Because of our inability to establish a regular presence in this city, our help is limited to simply giving people food, over the counter medicine, clothing and the knowledge that the charities in America are not abandoning them.
My drive was a little unnerving when I came upon a new check-point. I honestly do not know if these were soldiers or cartel. However, I've had experiences with both groups and simply explained that I had dispensa for a casa hogar. There was no problem.. Although I have magnetic signs on the SUV (Paper Houses Across the Border), later I was stopped by several police vehicles, but they were simply doing their job. I am in a black SUV, which is typical of the type of vehicle used by the drug gangs. They searched my SUV and then waived me on. (We must remember that most of the guns in this country originate from illegal shipments from the U.S., so searching my vehicle is reasonable).
I stopped at some homes and at two shelters. There were no problems. Everyone was both surprised and glad to see an American delivering some needed food.
Tomorrow I will go to another border town and make sure the people know they are not forgotten.
Some New Approaches to Charity in the Colonia would be a Good Thing!
Although we know that the greatest benefit of mission in the colonias is what it does for the Americans participating in the journey, perhaps some church groups and charities can temporarily shift their purpose to doing the most they can for the poor in the colonias.
I recently read about a church group that build three houses for poor people living in cardboard shacks in Acuña. Naturally, I am happy for the people that received the houses and it was a true blessing. I am certain it was a huge blessing for the youth and youth leaders that sacrificed their time and money to raise the money, travel to Acuña, and build the houses. This group was not from a border state, so airfare or a long drive was certainly involved.
The group's web-posting stated that the total cost of the trip that resulted in the students evangelizing, sharing time with the poor, and demonstrating their love by building the three houses was $45,000. The trip was a wonderful experience for the youth and a very positive experience for the poor of the colonias.
However, if church groups cease making these trips temporarily, they should still hold their year round fund-raisers and send $45,000 to a trusted church group in Acuña. There is one group that builds homes for the poor at a cost of $5,000 per home. That group could build nine homes, instead of three and would use local volunteers and labor.
The H.E.B. Acuña Food Bank is another charity that can use support. Think of the families that can be helped with $45,000 worth of food.
Please no not misinterpret what I am suggesting. The value of people actually walking the streets and working with the people in the colonias is beyond measure. However, if you are part of a group that no longer can travel on a mission trip to the colonias, consider the impact of simply having your trip elsewhere. If you have a history of helping in the colonias, don't break faith with the people you've helped. Today, and in the days to come they are going to need your help more than ever before.
I will be in Acuña within the next few days and continue to make my journeys. I am too selfish to stop going. This next trip will be especially rewarding because I am going to spend two day meeting children with medical needs.
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