By Karen O'Connor
The best model for an inter-cultural mission experience is when the folks being helped get in on the action. If it's a building project, they learn new skills in addition to hearing the gospel. And a sense of achievement replaces the lethargy that often accompanies that overwhelming feeling of hopelessness after a disaster. That's what happens when a mission team from Southern California helps a community on the Mexican border recover from their losses after the season's heavy rains.
People living in their hillside shacks made of paper, mud and cardboard have little defense against the mudslides arriving in spring. Their homes routinely wash away-their few belongings destroyed or strewn along the area valleys. They become desperate for decent housing and stability in their lives.
Folks in that situation are happy when anyone comes to help. But the people in this desolate community were especially glad to see a few of their fellow Hispanics working alongside their Anglo brethren. Now it's not just about one race helping those less fortunate-it's people helping people, not "us" and "them." And this opens the door even wider for the distraught people to hear the message of salvation that comes with the aid.
Dick Johnson, missions worker at a church near San Diego had heard of the overwhelming need in neighboring Baja, a town on the border of Southern California and Mexico. He was gripped by this community's dilemma and set about looking for a longer-term solution. These people needed sturdier homes.
Dick and his team decided on a project to provide one house to one family during their visits to the area every year in spring and fall. Dick, along with 25 Anglo and Hispanic volunteers, made their way to the Mexican border town where they saw for themselves the need Christ had called them to meet.
Some people were homeless because of rains. Other residences had been destroyed by fire. The community with its flimsy shacks was like a tender box.
"That first year the weather was rainy and cold," Dick recalls. "The Gonzalez family was destitute. They'd lost everything they owned. All they had when we arrived were the clothes on their backs."
As if to remind the mission team of the ongoing need, rains poured during the dedication ceremony for the Gonzalez family home at the end of the first trip.
Alison Slomka, a college student and volunteer, recalls seeing a teenage girl soaked in the T-shirt she was wearing. Alison removed her sweat shirt and handed it to the shivering girl. It was her final expression of Christ's love during that first trip, and the gesture seemed to symbolize what God had called Alison to do: sacrifice her own comfort for the comfort of those in need.
That weekend was the start of a ministry that has continued for six years. Dick Johnson has taken teams to Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico, in May and in October each year. They've built half a dozen houses. Volunteers on each trip have the opportunity to do cross-cultural ministry in a practical way through hands-on work in construction, clean up and other tasks involved in building a house in so short a time. And the team has partnered with residents in the areas they minister to, establishing long-term personal relationships to come back to nourish year after year.
Whether or not they can speak the same language doesn't matter. They have one thing in common-building a home for a family in need. But the gospel is always presented in the native tongue of the listener.
It's a group effort, which opens hearts as well as ears, and people from neighboring villages often join the work.
Everyone over eight years of age is welcome to jump in and help. Some people build while others interact with the families. The purpose is twofold: to build homes and to share Christ. The latest trip included opportunities to visit orphanages and migrant worker camps to distribute clothes, toys and wheelchairs.
Alison has been so touched by this ministry that she's gone on seven trips. She's also discovered her life's purpose: to serve the underprivileged as a nurse. Her understanding of God's call came out of being part of the house-building team.
"I've learned that the poor are not only those without money or homes," she says. "They are people without options. Only a relationship with God can transform their lives. I can be a tool God uses to show them His love and compassion."
Alison spent most of her time with the boys and girls. "I can speak Spanish pretty well," she admits. "But I get nervous in front of adults." The kids didn't seem to mind if she made a mistake. "It was great just to chat with the kids while they helped us paint." She struck up a conversation by asking their names, their favorite colors, what sports they liked and where they went to school. During the breaks she and the other young people played soccer with them.
An earlier trip focused on building a house for a single mother with two small children. "The woman's mother had split her small lot in half, so we could build a home for her daughter and her grandchildren," Dick recalls.
"The mother's best friend worked as hard as the mother did. She was there the entire weekend, pounding nails, painting, doing whatever was necessary. At first we weren't sure whose house we were building!"
During another weekend, the team built a house on a corner lot that was exposed to the street. "The grandmother of the family was sick with a fever during most of the weekend," says Dick. "We found out the last day the likely cause. She'd been sleeping outside at night on a cement slab to protect the building materials while the home was being built."
"At the end of the weekend," Dick adds, "we dedicate the homes, pray for the families and give them and their neighbors an opportunity to accept the Lord or to reaffirm their faith."
This is no happenstance event. Dick has encouraged team members to spend time getting to know individuals, to share their faith through conversation or street drama and to participate in question and answer sessions. In fact, Johnson takes extra team members with him whose purpose is to speak with the families, do crafts with the children and tell Bible stories while the homes are being built. An interpreter helps translate when necessary.
"Everyone is grateful for the gift of a new home," he says, "and they're open to our prayers and sharing, but not everyone accepts the Lord during the time we're there." For those who do, the pastor of a local church is available to welcome them into his fold.
"I don't know if everyone can understand the full extent of the message we bring," adds Alison, "but they listen. Others are already followers of Jesus Christ, and they know He's really the One who's providing their new home. Most are in tears during our final time of testimony and prayer before we hand over the keys."
"There's no doubt in my mind," says Dick, "that many families are added to the kingdom of God as they watch our workers-through the love of our Lord-build them a home they never could afford in any other way."
Mrs. Antonio Delgado Martinez, for example, tells of praying for a long time for a home for her family, knowing that "a home would not fall from heaven." When she heard about the opportunity available to families like hers, she submitted her name-not believing people would actually show up and build a house. When they did she knew God had made it possible.
"It's amazing," Dick says, "how a person's life can change in just three days, so close to home. And that's true for the people who go on the mission trips as well as the people we help while we're there. Only time will reveal the full impact on these families who now have sturdier homes. As for me, I'll never be the same. I'm so thankful to be able to share the love of our Lord in this tangible way."