In November 2013, the Creston Baptist Church sent a team of 22 people to Ensenada, Mexico, for 10 days. The purpose of the trip was to build two houses for homeless families and to serve meals to needy people. The houses they built were 22 by 11 feet and were built on a concrete slab that was poured by the teams themselves. They also took many toys, blankets and items knitted by the Knit Wits, a group of Creston ladies who meet at Redeemer Lutheran Church to knit for the less privileged of our community and abroad.
One of the groups that received a meal were the residents of Espigas Nuevas. This is a rehabilitation facility that houses and provides programs for men with alcohol and drug addictions. It currently houses between 25 and 28 men in conditions Canadians would consider uninhabitable. The facility has no running water and about half the building has a dirt floor with no roof. The need there is great and they have a vision to expand the facility to house 100 men.
The Creston Baptist Church is sending another team to Ensenada in November. The goal is to start Phase 1 of the renovations and additions to the Espigas Nuevas building. In addition, some of the women on the team will serve in a women’s rehabilitation facility, an orphanage and a school for underprivileged children. There will also be continuing development of garden plantings done under the guidance of Lloyd Morris from Morris Flowers.
Fundraising for the project is now underway and all money raised will be used for the project. Bottle drives, soup lunches at the church and garage sales will be held over the summer and fall to raise the funds needed. Beads, wire, embroidery floss and other jewelry-making materials are some of the items required to help the people there learn to provide for themselves.
For more information or to donate, contact the Creston Baptist Church at 250-428-7547.
—CRESTON BAPTIST CHURCH