Louis Goldman

It’s been a month since our trip to Mexico and, during that time, not a moment has gone by that I haven’t thought about our experience. We were asked to write a reflection on our trip; although I’ve started this many times in my head, this is the first time that I am actually writing it down. My kids and I are in Virginia Beach for Spring Break waiting to meet up with my beautiful wife, Sandy, later today. She had classes to attend this week and didn’t want to miss the entire week, so she’ll play hooky for only two classes instead. While preparing for this trip, my son said that this trip reminded him of when Sandy and I left for our Habitat Trip to Mexico. With that trip my children remained home, with this trip my wife remained home, both trips having restrictions on the family. My daughter, Katie, mentioned that this was our year for firsts. The Mexico trip was the first time since the children were born that they were left in the care of someone other than either of us for an extended period of time. Although we knew in our hearts that they were left in very good hands, Sandy’s mother, it was still a first and an extremely difficult thing to deal with.

This trip reminds me a lot of that of Mexico, in that, I hear God loud here. The entire time in Mexico, God’s voice was very loud and clear, 24/7. We both noticed when we returned to Virginia how much noise there was all around us. Not literal noise but the stress of everyday life makes conversations with God an effort. Being away from my children was extremely difficult however my experience in Mexico was ever so fulfilling.

Prior to our trip, one of my son’s teachers got on her soap box and explained to her class how wrong she thought it was that folks would set off to travel to Mexico to help them when we had poverty and starving people here in America. Hearing this made me extremely upset that she would use her position of authority to voice her opinion to the children. After experiencing this trip to Mexico, I ask her, “What have you done to help your neighbor?” The bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. Folks from Mexico are our neighbors, brothers, and sisters, too. They are beings that need help, just like everyone around us. We as Americans should not look down our noses at others, who are not the same race, color, or don’t speak our language. Mexicans leave their wives and children to come here to make money doing jobs that Americans don’t want to do or refuse to do for such little pay. They live in groups to save money so they can send most of it back to support their families. I know how difficult it was to leave my kids for a week; I can’t imagine leaving them for years in order to support them from another country. This experience has given me new eyes in which to look at the Mexicans around me, a new understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices they make. We need to stop judging them and accept them and help them. Has anyone ever thought that if their (Mexicans) lives were better they would not be risking them to cross the border illegally in order to send money back to support their families?

While in Santiago de Anaya, my family’s mason’s helper did not show up to work one morning. Victor, our mason, explained that Jose had told him that if he did not come to work, that he had left for the United States (illegally). All of us were concerned and bothered by this, not because of what he did but the reasons behind his actions. Jose has a beautiful wife and child that he left behind. On Friday, when we returned for our roof pour, we found Jose there. We all hugged him and thanked God that he didn’t leave. We asked him why he didn’t just get the proper papers and cross the border legally. Jose explained that his government will not even allow someone to start the paperwork until they had 50,000 pesos (5,000 dollars) in the bank. That amount, in the eyes of many Mexican citizens is a dream. The crazy thing is that it’s not the Americans that snub illegal Mexicans as much as the Mexicans that have crossed legally and have established themselves in America. These Mexicans, referred to as “Chicanos” by those we met in Mexico, are the ones that give Mexicans the hardest time. They said that they would think that these “Chicanos” would understand and help others to cross over legally, however they don’t.

On Friday night, Gary Glouster and Rich Fife held a Eucharist for us to close out our week. We were asked to bring an item to the altar, a symbol and to explain what it meant to us. I don’t know how many, if any, knew what I presented because I was SO FULL I could not speak without becoming a babbling fool. I presented my “Cross and hammer” that I wore daily. This represented my gift that God gave me, the opportunity to go and help those in need. In the beginning, Sandy and I did not know how we were going to be able to pull this trip off. We did something that is very hard to do… we put it in God’s hands.

This trip was amazingly emotional for me and I think several others or, at least, Sandy. I felt daily that my cup was full from morning to night. The people that we met and interacted with were incredibly nice. The experience I felt in Mexico was the same as that which I experienced in Germany, you were never judged by those around you. You were accepted, one hundred percent no questions asked. Americans tend to always question, evaluate or judge who you are or what your motives are. Why is that? Why can’t we accept each other without question?I thank God for having given me the opportunity to have experienced this trip as He did.

I thank God for touching my life with those that went on this life-changing experience with me. I know that He puts us in contact with those that He feels we should experience and that only He knows why. I am grateful for everyone’s support, friendship and love. I worked with folks that I can only hope and pray I will grow to be like them some day. You are an inspiration and you know why, I love you and I thank you. I pray that God will allow me to do this again and again, next time with a child or two or three. I’ve taught my kids to build things and try new things even if they have not done it before. I know they, too, can be a great asset on a trip like this. My family has lots to offer and I pray we will be given the chance to give again to others as we have been blessed by others as well. I thank the Diocese for allowing our team to go on this trip. God formed this team; hand picked us, ten people, some strangers, for a purpose. What a great job He did. I hold a special place for each of you in my heart and will treasure my memories forever. Thanks again, I love you all.

Happy Easter!

The Lord is risen! Today our friends in Santiago de Anaya are celebrating their new homes and their lives with Christ. Hard work over the past 40 days has brought many small miracles to a small village. Those of us in Virginia and North Carolina send warm thoughts of love and best wishes across the miles. Your hopes became our hopes, your dreams ours.

Our short stay changed many of our lives in ways we still aren't sure about. We have so much and really gave so little but the love we have received in return means so much to us all. Our Lord gave his life for us and asked that we dedicate ours - A very tough task. God, look over our dear friends from Santiago de Anaya. Send Marilyn home safely and let us all never forget the lessons of this memorable lenten season!

#15 - Sandy Goldman

As I sit and reflect on our time in Mexico and the beautiful people we met- I am struck by three themes that continue to come up:Simplicity, Resourcefulness, and Gratitude. The Mexican people lives, when compared to ours, is so much simpler--they cook meals from scratch, they wash their clothes by hand, they walk to the store (sometimes daily), they pour concrete by hand. One would think that their lives are infinitely more difficult than our own, and indeed in some ways it is. But their lives are also enriched by these simple tasks, they break for lunch for as long as two hours amid laughter and friendship, they bask in the shade of a mesquite tree enjoying the breeze on their faces, they go to sleep tired and achy knowing that they have worked hard for their dream and it is good.

Knowing that they can rely on little help from their government--Mexicans have learned to become very resourceful. Having no Lowe's to pop into, they make most of their tools by hand or recycled things. A block of wood or leftover windshield wiper becomes a scraper for mortar. A length of rope becomes a door handle and Maguey (a local cactus) becomes EVERYTHING! From alcohol from the juice to supper from the leaves, from clothing and household goods from the fibers to siding for their lean-to style homes from the skins. Nothing is ever wasted and usually can exist for two maybe three different purposes.

But the humbling difference that strikes us the most is the gratitude we see in these people. They are grateful for our presence and help, yes, but they are also grateful for their lives. They are grateful for the few meager days of rain received each year, the visit from a friend, a simple smile. They give God the glory for everything! Thanking them for a meal they prepared, the response is "Thanks be to God!" Their children are grateful for a simple game of soccer. Former Habitat home recipients come and help to make their neighbor's dream a reality and thank God that he has brought us across the border to them, making them feel favored by Him.

When Jesus told us to love our God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves-the Mexican people took Him literally. Each and every day, fraught with difficulties and hardships, these people live the Gospel. And so with sore limbs and over-flowing hearts we returned to reflect on our own lives with humbleness and a deeper understanding of God's love. We joined together for a cause, thinking to help those in need. In trying to be the blessing, we have been blessed.

#14 - Joan Freeland

My trip to Mexico was a unique and rewarding experience for me.

Unique, in that Mexico is such a diverse country. We were in the northern part of Mexico which is desert like with many types of cactus and very dry and dusty. Some of the land was completely immersed in water and when in receded deep valleys were formed, surrounded by mountains. A truly beautiful landscape. Mexico City was unique. Buildings were beautifully appointed, churches were awe inspiring with paintings, statues, bell towers that chimed so wonderfully, and gold gilt.

Rewarding in that the families for whom we were building the houses were friendly, kind, and very enjoyable. They opened their hearts, their families, and their lives to us – complete strangers. I know we opened our hearts to them and they will always hold a great deal of our hearts.

I was so blessed to have been a part of this “team” from VA and to have shared a part of their lives that will be forever a part of me. And I thank all of them for enriching my life.

#13 Charlotte Hines

How truly blessed we are in the United States, and I guess I've known this much of my life. I've visited countries where the poverty is great, and I've prayed for people and given money to people who have almost nothing. This was a new experience for me, however. I've actually given of myself in a very new way.

When I first returned to the States, I looked at having gone to Mexico and participating in the Lenten Habitat Build as a gift to myself. I was wrong. It was God's gift to me, and it was God's gift to each of us who went. I'm sure there is not one of us who can say that we left Mexico without a feeling that our lives have been changed for the better. I went expecting to like my fellow Southwestern Virginians and those from North Carolina. I went expecting to like our Mexican families, but the big surprise to me was how much I would be drawn to them. How could we not respond to such graciousness and warmth? I admire the fact that while they were pleased to receive our help, they are proud of what they already have. The love they feel for their country and families and their culture was evident everywhere we went, and it was important to them that we understand this.

I certainly would like to think that we'll all remain in touch with each other and with our families from Santiago De Anaya, but even is this is not possible, I know we've developed a strong bond and will keep one another in our hearts. I can't imagine ending a day without including Anna and Felix and all of you in my prayers.

#12 - Very Rev. Richard Fife

Lots of the learnings are clichéd but I found them to be true. We have so much here in US, take most of it for granted, how exciting it is to work with others who appreciate our help, importance of flexibility, different sense of time overseas, etc. Lots to think about. Imagine folks will be hearing about it in my preaching and teaching for some time to come. God was very good to us. We had a great team. Nan did a marvelous job. Habitat made a lot of connections for us. Certainly would have been a much different experience trying to do it on my/our own.

Good mix of work and fun. Big help having the Goldmans, our Spanish speakers. Tired every night but a good tired. Enjoyed the historic district of Mexico City immensely. Found our Habitat family to be very dear, industrious, hospitable, personable. Felt we connected well with the Charlotte, NC guys well after a while. The roof pour on the last Friday was a good way to end the work week. Thanks to all for making this great trip possible.

#11 - Nan Carmack

Big Mike from North Carolina said "Every day has been better than I imagined it." I echo these thoughts and am overwhelmed with gratitude at having been part of this experience. My new American and Mexican friends affirmed for me the humanity and joy that is found in all people, regardless of geography or economic condition. My new friends also affirm for me our strength as a flock--we are able to accomplish so much as one body, with the direction of the Good Shepherd.

Big Mike also grasped onto the hope demonstrated by the Mexican people in leaving the ends of rebar sticking out of their structures, in case they are able to "add on" someday. I think this physical demonstration of hope and faith are tangible lessons for those of us whose rebar might be less obvious. I have been thinking about what my rebar might look like. What I am hoping for? Where might faith and hard work get me? I am not sure of these answers yet, but I will hold onto the image of rebar--a straight, certain strength onto which I can build more houses of faith.

#10 Back to Mexico City

After another great breakfast at the Quinta Rivera hotel we boarded a bus back to Mexico City. Saturday was Nan Carmack's 40th birthday (sorry Nan) and "Happy Birthday" was sung with great gusto to start her day off.

The bus was much larger and we all had more room for sleep, reading and talking. The trip was scenic passing from the mountains to the plains of Mexico. We arrived in Mexico City just before noon. Our accommodations were back at the Tulip Ritz in central Mexico City.

Everyone wandered off in a different direction for shopping, museums or touring. Mexico City is certainly a beautiful city with many parks, churches, museums and statues. Lots of sales were made based on the amount of bags being brought back in to our hotel. Items included clothing, jewelry, blankets, purses and gifts for loved ones.

Dinner was followed by a great party surrounding the hotel bar. Final pictures were taken, addresses exchanged and hugs all around. Here are the official group photos:

Early Sunday morning we were transported by taxi through a mainly empty Mexico City streets (at breakneck speeds, of course). No troubles at the airport and all arrived safe and sound back in the USA.

We'll post some recollections later this week.

#9 Finishing Together

Our last day of work was completely differernt. We went to a Habitat house that our group had not worked on. It was ready for the roof to be completed. The roof is made of wood planks with a concrete top.

When we got to the new site we met many of the habitat families and the masons we had been working with. To our relief a cement mixer was on the site to mix the concrete. However the labor to fill the mixer, empty the mixer and carry the concrete to the roof was all ours (including our habitat families and habitat local workers). It took a solid 3 hours of work to complete the roof cement pour. A huge cheer was raised by all.

We then went back to Santiago de Anaya. The padre at the local church gave us a tour. The church was built in 1546. After our tour we went to a village celebration of our habitat work. All the families and workers were there. A special meal had been prepared and we all ate together. After the meal we had a presentation of Habitat Certificates to each of us, a hang up sign for each diocese (North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia) and plaques for each diocese made out of local tile. Each of the habitat families had a representative thank us for our work. Our leaders, Bishop Gary of NC and Nan Carmack gave responses. Then we were serenaded in song and sent on our way back to Actopan.

The bus ride was full of tears as we bade farewell to our new extended families.

This evening Bishop Gary and Richard held a Eucharist in the Hotel. For offerings we gave an item that meant something special to us from this week. Many emotional speeches were given by the team members on what the week meant to them. A final dinner at the hotel completed a wonderful last day in the state of Hidalgo.

#8 - Going Underground

Thursday started off much brighter and a bit warmer. All the work teams were pouring concrete or getting ready for roofing. This was our last day working with our families. Tomorrow the whole build group will work together to do a roof at a different site then we have been working at. Habitat uses a poured concrete roof that requires lots of labor and thus the complete 20 workers we have this week.

We worked till 2:30PM then we visited the local Santiago de Anaya Museum. The museum director took us on a very informative tour in which we learned about the region's archeology and history. The local cactus supported indigenous Indians for centuries before the Spanish arrived. After the museum tour we boarded our bus for the caves of Xoxafi (shoshafi). Several brave people in our group put on hardhats and went deep into the caves. The rest enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and liquid refreshments after a much shorter cave tour.

On our way to work today we stopped at a hardware store to purchase some items to help in the build. A long handled shovel, wood saw, extension cord and a toilet seat made for interesting purchases. Here we are with the families we are building the houses for:

#7 - Cool Weather

The weather turned windy cloudy and cool (50 deg F) today. At least it was cool this morning. Lots of jackets were brought out by the workers. The sun finally showed at about noon and the rest of the day was pleasant and mild.



Work continued on making and pouring cement at the four work sites.

We were supposed to finish work early to check out some local crafts people and to visit the Huge Actopan open market. As we started to pick up our fellows workers two of the sites had big cement pours going on. They called on the other volunteers to help out and delayed our journey. Great teamwork made a tough job light.



We also had a team member, Joan Freeland, to help prepare lunch for her work group. Joan did a great job and will be ready for catering Mexican food at St. Elizabeths.


Nan Carmack and Lou Goldman played soccer with the kids near their project and only wiped out two of the kids. No serious injuries were sustained. All groups stayed warm by working hard this morning.


After picking up the groups we stopped and shopped with local crafts people before heading back to Actopan. In Actopan there were literally thousands of vendors selling everything from socks to fruit to meats to electrical supplies in a open air market. A satifying meal of creme of cilantro soup, rolled chicken and sliced potatoes in cream sauce and a lime jello with rum sauce for dessert was had in our hotel.

#6 - Working the Chain Gang

Day 2 at the build sites brought sun, wind and lots of hard work. We are finishing up the brick work at most sites and that means pouring corners and wall tops. Mix the cement, put the cement in the bucket, pass the bucket to the next person, who passes to the next person and so on down the line. Some of us were filling in floors with dirt. That used the same system. Shovel the dirt into the bucket, pass the bucket up the line, dump the bucket.

We again worked at 4 different sites and got to know the families we are building the houses for. Today directors of Habitat from the USA and Mexico visited and had lunch with us. They wanted to see how the Lenten build was going and what we thought of the program.

Back to the Quinta River Motel, some went swimming (ok soaking) in the pool. Every evening we get together after dinner to talk about our experiences that day and to review our pictures of the day. We have 6 photographers out of 10 so we have lots of pictures to view. Here are some from today:

#5 - In Actopan

We rode a tourist bus 2 hours north from Mexico City to our new home of Actopan in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. Actopan is a town of 50,000 people (small by Mexican standards). We are staying ath the Quinto Rivera motel which is comperable to the hotel we stayed in Mexico City. We do have a pool here and the rooms are very quiet.

We met our Habitat liason, Marilyn Stevens. She is a volunteer that knows the area and supports Habitat. We will building homes in Santiago de Anaya, about 25 minutes north of Actopan. Santiago de Anoya is a village of 15,000 people. This area of Mexico is mainly desert with little industry and too dry for most agriculture. The people we are helping live on $5.00 US per day. They will be paying $50.00 US per month to buy the $8,000 homes we are building for them. The mortgage money goes for buying new homes for others.

We had an introduction to the site by Marilyn and Arranja the local Habitat coordinator. After dinner we went to our rooms to prepare for our first day of work.

We left for the site around 9AM and stopped at a shop for some to buy wide brimmed hats. The desert is hot in the day (80 degrees F) and cool at night (50 degrees F). The sun is very strong and we all lathered up with SPF 50 sun block. There 20 total workers, 10 with our group from Virginia and 10 from North Carolina (Charlotte). The North Carolina group is lead by retired Bishop Gary Gloster. We divided up into 4 groups of 5 to work on 4 homes. A shortage of local masons caused one of the groups to join the other 3 today.

Work consisted of helping with laying of brick, cleaning up the brick, straightening rebar wire and working smaller wire for forms. We all met the families we are helping. They worked along side us and expressed their gratitude for our help mulitple times. Here are some construction photos:

#4 - Sunday Morning

We woke up early since we are on Central time here. After a delicious breakfast buffet the group went exploring. Some followed Richard to the central square and some went the opposite direction. We reconvened at the hotel at 10:30AM to travel to the Episcopal Church of Mexico City. The church is about 5 blocks away and is located in an abandoned catholic church build in the 17oos. The rector spoke excellent English and had Bishop Gary (from the NC group) to read the gospel and chalice during communion. It was an awesome experience. Pictures are below.

Back to the hotel to finish packing and lunch. We leave at 3PM for Actopan and our work home hotel.

#3 in Mexico City

Our United flight arrived early into Mexico City. We were doing great till Ralph and Mary Ann got separated going through Customs. Twenty minutes later we were reunited and finally headed off to our hotel by Taxi.

Ralph, Mary Ann and Richard in the Taxi
Mexico City is the largest city in the world and we probably saw most of those people on the highway today. It took an hour to get to the Hotel in downtown Mexico City. I estimate it was near 15 miles from the airport.

We are staying the Tulip Ritz hotel. It is Holiday Inn standard though a bit dated. We met the team from Charlotte, NC that is joining us building homes in Santiago. We had a joint session of introduction led by Tonya from the Mexican Habitat.

Dinner at the hotel consisted of a pasta appitizer, beef steak with mashed potatoes and cooked vegitables. We had fruit for dessert. Drinks were lemonade and beer.

After dinner Richard, Ralph and Nick took a tour around the block of the hotel. We visited a beautiful church where a Saturday night wedding was being performed. We also saw 3 McDonalds, a KFC and of course a Pizza Hut. A main square area was very crowded with an exhibition of some kind going on and an Indian group doing a native dance. The weather was perfect (70 degrees) and made for a pleasant afternoon trip. Police were everywhere and we felt very safe.

We will go to the local Episcopal Church for Sunday service then head to our work home in Actopan in the early afternoon.

#2 - On the Way

We are all in Chicago O'Hare airport safe and sound. Very uneventful flights from Roanoke and one from Washington Dulles. As you can see we are happy and healthy - Joan Freeland took the picture. We are all checking out food options since United will try to sell us lunch on the plain. Choices are Starbucks, Bagel Backery, McDonalds or even Wolfgang Puck. Ah the joys of modern travel. Next post will be from Mexico City (hopefully!)

#1- Diocese of Southwestern Virginia Mexico House Build

Hi there! I hear we have Internet Access at our hotel in Mexico so I will try to keep a blog up this week. Its Friday February 22 and I would guess all bags are packed. Ten volunteers from our Episcopal diocese are ready to join Episcopaleans from North Carolina to work on Habitat houses in Mexico.

The early word was 40 houses in 40 days, but I believe the number is a bit less then that. So who are we? Our leader is Nan Carmack from St. Paul's in Lynchburg, she is joined by Lou and Sandy Goldman from Ascension Amherst. Our member from Staunton is Tom Howell from Trinity. In Roanoke we have the Rev. Richard Fife, Joan Freeland and Charlotte Hines from St. Elizabeth's. From Covington we have Mary Ann Beirne, Ralph Jackson and yours truely. Here we are:

Where are we going? Santiago Mexico in the state of Hildalgo near the town of Actopan (where we will stay). Here is a map link: Click Here!

The Covington group is staying at the Comfort Inn Roanoke Airport tonight (the last supper will be consumed near by). We'll be on our way early Saturday so I'll update as we have time!