A Land of Beauty and Poverty

It is home to the majestic Sierra Madres mountain ranges -- a phenomenal landscape on Mexico's southern tip.It has coastal resorts, booming tourism, lush valleys blooming with medicinal herbs, and arid mountain villages that people are abandoning in record numbers.

It is a state that has everything or nothing, depending on where you're standing - its beauty matched only by its devastating poverty. "It's hard to describe the state," said Miguel Angel Vasquez de la Rosa of EDUCA, a research and education organization in Oaxaca de Juárez. "It is a series of contrasts and contradictions, an unsolvable puzzle."

The economy of the state is driven by tourism, coffee production and money sent from abroad, but figures are hard to come by because public- records laws have yet to be established. More than 75 percent of people in Oaxaca live in "extreme poverty" which, as defined by the United Nations, means that what they earn today is needed to live another day, Vasquez said.

This year, the United Nations ranked Oaxaca as Mexico's second-poorest state, behind Chiapas, and likened its pueblos to rural African villages, Vasquez said. One-quarter of the 3.4 million people cannot read or write, and schooling is only available up to sixth grade in most villages. People in the state speak 16 languages and 154 dialects.

Electricity, running water and paved roads don't exist in most communities. The minimum wage is 44 pesos ($4.40) a day, and for those 14 and older, the unemployment rate is 1.8 percent, according to data from the Oaxaca Secretary of Economy.

That figure is low because it includes the "informal economy" -- children playing the accordion for tips from tourists or washing windows for pocket change. Less than 30 percent of Oaxaqueños have access to health care -- a crisis that is visible on the front steps of the state's seven hospitals. Outside of the hospitals, cardboard boxes draped with trash bags or sheets house family members who are either awaiting care or the discharge of a loved one.

Mules, ox-drawn carts and buses can take a full day to get someone from a remote village to the valley of the state. "A sick person never travels alone," said Araceli García Casas, executive director of Clínica del Pueblo, in the capital city.

Lack of government support is only part of the problem. Internal strife also takes a toll, Vasquez said. Land conflicts are common as people fight over parcels to plant food. Of the 653 currently registered "agricultural conflicts," 53 were "focos rojos" (red light) meaning the dispute likely would be settled by death, he said.

And each year, hundreds of thousands of people leave to seek work in the United States.

Vasquez said the families of migrants left behind struggle to survive.

"It's a historic and moral crisis."

As reported by Salem Statesman Journal.

OAXACA FACTS

In the southern state of Oaxaca that category of extreme poverty encompasses 75 percent of its 3.4 million residents, according to EDUCA, an education and development organization. That makes Oaxaca the second-poorest state in Mexico, after Chiapas.

3 F´s: Family, Friends and Food - Winnie Callough

One major thing I´ve learned here in Mexico has been the importance of family. Coming from a Chinese family, I´ve been taught that family is always first. After this week, I´ve been reminded that not only is family important, but friends are treated like family too. We have been blessed with amazing Mexican families that have taken us in as their own. I´m touched by the generosity and selflessness of the people we have meet. I can´t say that I could prepare a meal for over 20 people at once, but maybe I´m up to the challenge when I get home.

For the last 3 days that we have been doing pisos, a local family cooks for the whole crew and their own family. It´s been a lot of fun to be immersed into the culture through family, friends and food.

Tomorrow I´m heading home...it will be bittersweet. Posted by Winnie Callough at Winnie Loves Color on Friday, August 15, 2008

Machismo -- Posted by Winnie Callough

Today was day 2 of piso building. I think I´m getting to be a pro at this. Yesterday we built 2 pisos: one kitchen and one outdoor space. Today we built 2 pisos for one family. The difference between today and yesterday was that yesterday´s team consisted of mostly women and Pastor Beny. It was highly efficient and we had a lot of fun. Today´s team was a few more men from the household that we were building the pisos. It was a more interesting dynamic because the men (who were all shorter than me) didn´t let me do any heavy lifting. It was hilarious trying to pick up a bucket of sand or rock and having someone steal it out of my hands the moment I even lifted it. Can´t wait to post some pictures. Read more by Winnie at Winnie Loves Color, Thursday, August 14, 2008

June Team Gears Up

Two exciting events unfold in the next few weeks of which I'm excited to invite your prayers. The work of a handful of volunteers continues to bless both the community members of Vicente Guerrero and those signing up to go.  Monte Baker and I recently visited Oaxaca to make preparations for two upcoming work teams, and conversations have started with a group from Illinois who have expressed interest in our work.

On Wednesday, June 11, the first part of a team of 13 men from Oregon based Household of Faith will travel ahead of the remainder of the team, departing on Friday, Oaxaca bound.  This team will be pouring floors for a modest church in a colony called Zapoteca, minutes from Oaxaca City.  In addition, the team will be constructing a "bano," a bathroom in the community to begin our effort in integrating this solution into our work.  Strategically located at the church, the pastors will have increased opportunity to develop relationships by serving the needs of the community. If resources allow, the team will return to the Women's Shelter, now lacking a room, to assess the opportunity of finishing the first floor.  

This is a special team.  I told my wife, Elisabeth, it is our "dream team" with men working to be examples to their sons, sons seeking direction and purpose, and a group wanting to bring the return of glory back to our Lord. The collective understanding that forming relationships is the cornerstone of an effective outreach was obviously the spirit of this team.  Please join me in daily prayer for this team.  

The other "happening" in June is Elisabeth's Marathon!  I'm excited to share that she has put our business on the hook for more than $1000 as she fundraises! It's hard to feel too bad about that as we have been so blessed by the chance to participate in so many people's ministry.  God has continually provided for the needs of this small outreach and we're very grateful.  Please stay in prayer for her on the 22nd of this month when she'll be running the 26 miles, now dedicated to this work in Oaxaca.

Other exciting news includes Mikaela's team of young adults which is slated for August.  She's continued to motivate her peers toward the project and we're very proud of her focus on serving the poorest of the poor in Mexico.

Last night, I shared the following two statistics with the Household of Faith (dubbed “Pisos for Tamales”) about Oaxaca that you might find interesting as you consider your call and how we can help you get there:

Oaxaca contains the largest concentration of people groups in all of the Americas… … Half of Mexico's indigenous people groups are located in Oaxaca, speaking over 155 different dialects. Mexican income is falling faster than that of any other Latin American country.  According to the International Labor Organization, in the southern state of Oaxaca, that category of extreme poverty encompasses 75 percent of its 3.4 million residents, according to EDUCA, an education and development organization.

As we consider our future, we know without a doubt that we’re not the only ones called to serve Oaxaca and there are some of you waiting for the right timing, the right financial situation, and more. We’re patient but invite you to enjoy our tremendous blessing.   

In spite of the grip of poverty, Mexicans demonstrate such kindness when we visit and work beside them.  The richness of their spirit and willingness to make the most of what we consider dire circumstances leaves me questioning whether it is actually we who live in poverty.   God is so good.

Kind Regards,
Chris Anderson

June Team Returns Blessed

June 13^th marked the second trip for Household of Faith members to travel to Vicente Guerrero through Mission Oaxaca.  The team consisted of a three father and son(s) combinations, three men without their children, and three young men without their father’s, for a total of 14 team members.  We also had the privilege of having Chris and Liz’s son, Elias, who fit right in with the group from day one.

Once we all got our bearings in Oaxaca, Pastor Beny took us to Vicente Guerrero in order to start planning for the workweek.  We were able to meet some of the people we would be working beside, which was, as always, a blessing.  The following day, a Sunday, we were able to worship at the church in Vicente Guerrero that is developing into a family counseling and resource center under the direction of Beny’s p

arents, Felix and Gloria.  

Worshiping along side the people of Vicente Guerrero was a blessing for each one of us as we were able to witness the joy they experience within the context of their dependence upon God for their daily provision.  The love they demonstrated toward us and toward each other was humbling and inspiring at the same time.  The young people on our team were able to experience a joy expressed through people that is not determined by what earthly possessions one has or does not have.

Prior to the trip there had been discussion regarding pouring the second floor of the Women’s Shelter that is being built on the church property.  We did not think there would be enough funding for the materials as the dimensions of the concrete slab were approximately 15’ x 60’, and we did not know where the wooden forms for the floor would come from as it was going to require a significant amount of lumber.  F

ollowing the church service that Sunday, three of our team members who are well versed in construction began figuring the materials needed along with the associated costs.  We figured out that with the material that was already at the church and the funds that had not yet been designated, we would have close to enough.  Beny also found a source in the community for the forming material.  As a result, the decision was made to include the second story floor in the planning for the week. 

The following day, the team split up into three separate work groups.  One team worked on pouring floors in another church building and two nearby homes in the Village of Zapoteca, the second team worked on pouring a kitchen floor along with starting an above ground bathroom project on that same property.  The third team started work on the forms at the women’s shelter in order for the concrete to be poured by the end of the week.  Work at all three of the sites progress well throughout the week with each project being completed as planned, 

even though it took a number of late evenings to get it all in.  

The following Saturday, the day before most of us were flying out, the floor of the women’s shelter was completed, just in time for t

he torrential downpours began.  Fortunately, the concrete had set up enough that the rain did not wash it all away.  

In general, the young people on the team did a tremendous job working hard throughout the week without complaint.  In addition, they (we) were prayed over and blessed by gracious, humble, loving people who seek to honor God through their giving spirits.  We were all were tremendously blessed and are the better for it.  We are also grateful for Pastor Beny and his parents as they set Godly examples through their sacrifice and service to the people of Vicente Guerrero.