Irresistible Portraits: Mission Trip to Matamoros, Mexico

Karen and Buddy recently took a mission trip to Casa Bugambilia in Matamoros, Mexico. They assisted the humanitarian work of Dr. Nancy Rodriguez and Larry Cox. The colonias Casa Bugambilia serves as the home of people who moved from the interior of Mexico to the border hoping to find work and a better  life for their children and themselves. Because the work often wasn't there, nor was affordable housing, they built houses on land no one else wanted - a former landfill near an industrial canal. The houses were makeshift, constructed out of whatever material could be scavenged. Slowly, as the community matured and with the assistance of volunteers like you, conditions in the colonias improved. Still, access to clean water, sewers and electricity is unreliable. Recently established colonias have no utilities, and the shelter is often little more than discarded plywood nailed together. Air quality is poor. Quality healthcare is often unavailable. The schools are poor. In short, the colonias are areas of great need - physically and spiritually.

Larry has such an influential place in the community. All the children LOVE him! As they walked through the streets, this little girl approached him. He knew her teacher from school had told her not to bother coming back because she couldn't keep up with the other children. Larry tried convincing her to come to their tutor classes at Casa Bugambilia to catch up.

This is Kayla. She has been adopted by Larry and Dr. Nancy. She was first found at 2 years old, abandoned by her mother. She suffered from brain damage at birth and epilepsy. As you can see, she was crazy about Buddy!

One of the projects they focused on through the week was helping add onto the clinic. They have a clinic where they care for live-in patients. They currently have 15 patients living there. They provide around the clock care from bathing to feeding.

Casa Bugambilia provides a classes for children two times a day. The classes are open to anyone. The children that fall behind in class or have any learning disabilities are told not to come back to the regular schools in the community. The tutor classes allow these children to catch up and get another chance.

The children's home of Casa Bugambilia helps children of all ages. During Karen and Buddy's stay, doctors were there to care for two handicapped children.

Just a few days before Buddy and Karen arrived, three children - 8 month old, 2 year old, and 4 year old - were abandoned at a laundry mat. They are currently staying at the children's home and they've had no response from the parents. Due to their ages, they're not even sure of their names, other than nicknames from their older sister.

Our hopes are to take a mission team from North Kannapolis United Methodist Church down to Matamoros, Mexico, in 2011. So far, Casa Bugambilia has helped to build 200 houses in Matamoros. The average cost of these houses is $3,000 each. Hopefully we can help build while we're there.

I realize how important it is to help people. We've done vacation bible schools and brought Christ through the word of God on past mission trips. This trip was different; we brought the hands and feet of God to a community that needed help.

-Karen and Buddy