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.