Youth Mission Update Sunday night

I just spoke with Jerry B. (far right) and they have arrived at their campsite, are settling in after hot dogs for dinner and the kids were playing football. It was 9:20 CST when we talked (they are on Mountain time) and it was about 98° -- cooler than the 106° when they arrived.

"Everything went really well," Jerry said. "I can't say enough about this group of kids. They're all best friends. I'm going to be the one to benefit the most by being with these guys."

Jerry said they had no problems crossing the border, although his trailer got checked over. When they got to camp, about five miles across the border from El Paso, Dave B. (far left) built a shade canopy out of tarps and 2x4s. Jerry described the campground as a 150 x 300 feet gravel parking lot. There's no grass, no trees, just rocks and sand.

The rest of the evening Sunday will be everyone taking their showers. Everyone gets one five-gallon bucket of water per day for their shower.

Jerry said the area they'll be working in is different than in past years, it's in the way south area of Juarez and it'll take them an hour to drive there in the morning during rush hour. The extra two hours of travel time is going to make for some really long days. They'll start out at about 7:30 a.m. They don't know anything yet about the family they'll be helping.

There are five groups at the campground this week, all there to build houses. Jerry said they've met two groups so far, one if from Grand Junction, Colorado, the other from Kansas. They'll try to do some socializing tomorrow night and take more pictures after the cameras get time to recharge.

They are looking forward to a really hot night and temps over 100° tomorrow.

More tomorrow night,
LMF