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In July, 19 youths and four adults from the Chapel of the Cross spent a week in Juarez, Mexico, working in a community that was literally built on a trash dump. Here are a few of their responses to questions from the leaders.

What was the most exciting thing that happened this week?

* The house that my group was working on belonged to a couple who slept in one small room with their son and had no bathroom. At the end of one day we accomplished more than I thought possible in four days. The appreciation and respect that the family had for us was amazing.

* It had to be finishing a stage at the worksite like pouring concrete because I know that it would be there for a long time and I did it.

* Climbing down the mountain. That ranks in the "top 10 scariest things I've ever done" list. Trying just to stay on your feet was exciting, but terrifying.

What was the most challenging experience emotionally this week?

* At the end of the week the kids were so connected and attached to us that they'd wait outside our window and watch us at night. The last night it hit me that most of these kids have nothing coming for them and all week I have seen smiles. These kids are the strongest people I've come in contact with in a long time. It really bothered me that just our presence made them so happy. It also made me feel selfish and spoiled. I truly think that I will have a different point of view to everything I come in contact with for the rest of my life.

* The children and their families' way of life was the hardest thing to experience. Playing with the beautiful, dirty, poor, but loving children was such an eye-opening experience. They have so little but give so much, which is something we aren't used to. They are such loving people.

* Seeing the extreme poverty and the unimaginable challenges the people of the community face every day.

What image, or scene, or face do I want to take with me from this trip?

* One night we took a hike up a mountain. From the top of this mountain we could see for miles. What amazed me about this view was how beautiful the mountains were and all the sadness and poverty they held below: dirty children, cardboard houses, 16-year-old mothers, dead dogs, and a neighborhood built on a dump.

* Smiles -- all week all I saw were kids that had smiles, even the guy whose house I worked on smiled and danced. It was nothing but happiness the entire week.

* The poverty of all the people in Mexico; it made me realize how much I take for granted.

What did I learn about Mexican culture that surprised me?

* The generosity the people had for the work group by making them lunch. They gave so much food, more food than they eat in a week to the work groups. Just them being grateful for help and giving as much as they can when they are so poor.

* That most of them had moved to Juarez to seek a better life, even though their new lives were pretty grim.

* Everyone is very welcoming; every person we passed by in our bus had a smile and a wave for us even though almost all of them had nothing else.

How does poverty change perspective, either in our lives or in the lives of others?

* Seeing the poverty that these people live in shocked me. I have always known that people live in horrible conditions, but this seemed like a third-world country. As we drove through the dirty, crowded city, I couldn't believe the way people were living. As I go home, I'm sure that I will have a different outlook on my life and how I live. I have already begun to appreciate clean water and not being covered in dust.

* It has always made me appreciate what I have and all my opportunities. Especially this time, I really want to start doing something regularly in Chapel Hill.

* It has made me realize just how lucky I am to have a sturdy roof over my head, clean water, parents that love me, and living in an area of the world that is relatively safe.

* It made me realize how lucky I am and how much I should thank God for what I have.

© 2001: Chapel of the Cross