Larry Cargnoni 2016

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Hello everyone, My name is Larry Cargnoni.

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I traveled to Tijuana for the ministry’s second week. This was my 6th trip to Tijuana. I was one of 72 travelers. About 40% of us were teens. I served on what’s called the site team.  We are the team that serves the construction crews, the teens and the other travelers.  The team that helps the bigger team go. Our small team members were generally the first ones up in the morning and generally the last ones to hit the showers at night. We cooked breakfast and dinners, washed many pots and pans, made hundreds of sandwiches, shopped for ice, water, and food, made gallons of Gatorade and lemonade, shuttled kids and workers between work sites, and spent a few afternoons painting house walls and roof structures.

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I got to interact with many of the Mexican children and mothers that came to site for the teen and mothers programs.  Though I don’t speak Spanish, by using hand signs, pointing, smiles, and cell phone cameras as well as serving water and “lemonada” I able to communicate.  I also get to drive around the neighborhoods of Tijuana and get a close view of the community.

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During my week, 3 houses were constructed, by the end of the week well over 250 children and teens participated in the programs, and over 25 moms joined in the Mothers Program.  The Tijuana youth group and our teens worked together and had many wonderful social interactions.
 

We stay and serve in the hills east of down town Tijuana.  We travel about 21 kilometers from the border.  There’s a distinct change from “developed’ portions of Tijuana to the hard scrabble neighborhoods where we serve..  These neighborhoods may or may not have paved roads. Homes may be shacks, or rectangle boxes made of plywood, cinder block, or other material. Roofs might be plywood, tarps, and tarpaper, whatever they the occupant can find.  Sometimes, however, homes may look like a smaller version of a house here off of Cottle Road. Most buildings look like unfinished construction projects with rebar sticking out of cement walls and ceilings. You see the smoke and smell the smoke of people burning their garbage or of a small brush fire or a sometimes a home.

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We serve in a neighborhood called La Morieta. Search for it on the web.  Use the satellite feature and you’ll get a good idea of the environment There are corner markets, auto repair shops, schools, diners and pizza shops. It’s a high-density mix of single story homes, shacks, and 2-story buildings. There are paved and dirt road. Gray water often flows into the streets. As one travels into La Morita, you can see the community. People are getting on with their lives. Kids playing on the street. Teens hanging round the corner market. Women and men going to and fro, to work, to the market.  Teams play soccer on dirt pitches – no grass to be seen.

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The people of Tijuana want what you and I want and often what we take for granted: dignity, a safe place to raise kids, a secure, safe place to life, access to health care, a clean environment, the ability to educate our kids, an income, the ability to pay bills, food,  and water. They want a future for their kids.

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Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many. Some kids can’t go to school because their parents can’t afford the uniforms.  Often teen agers drop out of school, especially girls to take care of the household while the parents work. We talked 1-2 moms who have type II diabetes and hadn’t seen a doctor in months. One family was $600 US dollars in arrears on their water payment. One family had no food and the husband couldn’t work.  We met a family that has eleven children, I believe seven were at home.  It’s tough to feed one. How do they feed seven?  Young, pregnant girls were a common sighting. I saddens me to see many young girls pregnant or carrying around their young children. We met another young girl, she was about 14. We asked her what her dreams were.  She said she had none. I was particularly struck because her younger siblings all had some dream. And her mom too. How many other young people don’t have dreams or can’t have dreams because they don’t have resources or have no idea how to remove themselves from their situation.  Many still throw out and burn their garbage because either they can’t afford pick up or there is no service.

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For some us, our biggest problem is our cell phone battery drains too fast or we can’t find parking at the mall.  For some of these families, their biggest concern is how to feed the kids dinner and where to get water.

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I learned many years ago that the families and children we serve don’t want our pity. The families want help.  They want to know that we are in solidarity with them. These are proud, dignified people. They are very appreciative of the help they receive.   

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If the environment is so bad why do I go?

I go because I can help make difference for a few families and kids. We all know a story when someone’s life changed because of the intervention and influence of a teacher, a counselor, or a friend. I know this ministry changes and influences lives. I know that the lives of three families changed because they received new homes. I know that Moms who were strangers on a Monday, were friends by the end of the week because of the Mother’s Program. And I know that for 250+ kids, for at least a week they got to make arts and crafts and play games, breaking up their normal routine, laughing, playing, and singing.  I go because a house blessing and the moment we give the keys to a family is a joyous, rewarding, and often an emotional event. Imagine giving house keys to a mom or dad for the first time in their lives? Imagine the excitement in the children’s eyes!

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I go because I see hope and resolve in the peoples’ eyes. I go because kids are kids everywhere and I love watching them run around and play like all kids do.

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I go because it puts a face on the immigration and undocumented discussion.   It allows me to share stories with friends and co-workers so they too may be inspired to serve others. I go and serve because selfishly, I need to remind myself that by the grace of God I have my life. It’s more than humbling.
 

Make no mistake. The life changing differences that we made during these two were due to the support of St Julie. Your prayers, financial support, and words of encouragement make this ministry work. Several families and kids of Tijuana are better off today because of your support and help.

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I thank you for listening.

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What I saw:

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• Shacks and broken down building for homes.

• Homes sided with wooden garage doors, cinder block, plywood.

• Roofs made from plywood, tarps, tar paper.

• People in the street: clean clothes.

• People generally smiling.

• Old cars.

• Dirt, dust, fires.

• People still burn garbage because either the services can’t get to the location or people can’t afford it.

• Teen agers hanging around the corner market.

• Teams of kids and young adults playing soccer.

• Many young girls with children/babies.

• Stories of families with 4-5 and even 11 children.

• Stories of women with type II diabetes and they’ve not been to a doctor in months.