Spring Break 2007 Service-Learning in Tijuana, Mexico
Jacob Spaun
Program Assistance
Service-Learning
The group of 20 flew out of Spokane on March 24 and returned March 31. Upon arriving in San Diego, they drove across the border, set up camp at a site provided by their host organization, Amor Ministries, and worked on building a house for the week. Amor is a unique organization that is just as concerned about building relationships as building houses, and therefore does not allow its workers to use power tools, encouraging everyone to interact with each other as well as the family that will eventually occupy the house. The experience was meaningful on multiple levels for everyone who went. Students had the opportunity to learn about another culture first-hand and commit themselves to helping a family in need in a very real way. It’s impressive that these 18 students sacrificed the usual R & R accompanying spring break to reach beyond themselves and lend a helping hand (literally). In the end they all took away more from the week than they gave, which is the beauty of an experience such as this. They were very blessed by the children in the neighborhood that they worked in and will miss the evenings of sitting around the campfire as a group laughing, worshipping and reflecting together.
As we began our return journey, the group was hosted for a day by alum Michael Keenan (an uncle of one of the students) and his family in San Diego, before returning to Spokane. They treated them like royalty! They were so generous to host a group of 20 worn out and dirty people, providing them with great food and plenty of opportunities to recuperate.
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