Day 1 in Juarez (Thursday) had us out in the "tundra" again. Or as the local's call it, "the kilometers". We were here last year and in 2003. We split into three groups and set out to build on three separate sites. The weather was the worst we have ever had down here. Rain, rain and more rain. Then it got windy. The water barrels were frozen. When it quit raining for a little while, it got colder. It was terrible. Once again, though, we rose to the occasion. We were there on a "mission". This day we completed our hand-mixed cement pad, put together all the walls, insulated them, put fiber-board on them, then the chicken-wire. In the afternoon, we set them carefully onto the still-wet pad. Then we put on the roof and tar-paper, loaded up the van and headed to our Mexican church for some warmth and rest.

We did our customary trip to Peter Piper Pizza for dinner. Afterward we split into groups of four (mom, dad, son & daughter). We gave each group $5.00 and sent them to the "supermercado" to purchase lunch for tomorrow. This act signifies what it's like for a typical Mexican family to buy food and what they earn in a day. It isn't easy.

Day 2 (Friday)we returned to our work site. It had rained very hard all night. The streets of Juarez were flooded. Once on site, we commenced to finishing our task. Rolled roofing applied, electrical, and drywall on the interior while the stucco and window trim is applied to the exterior. Soon we were done; done-in that is. The rain washed our stucco right off the walls. We tried to cover it with plastic, but it was too late. Around 3:00PM we left feeling defeated, vowing to come back tomorrow, weather permitting.

Then we made another stop at the burrito stand just down the road. Oooo... hot stuff. At least the place was warm and dry. On our way back to El Paso heading to the Santa Theresa border crossing in New Mexico, I got pulled over by the Mexican State Police. I was nervous, not knowing what I had done wrong. He and I tried to communicate with the little Spanish I knew. He understood what we were doing and let us go. Adios! We made it back in time to get dinner at Kiki's.

Day 3 (Saturday)was designed a bit more leisurely. At 7:00AM, a group climbed Sugarloaf Mountain behind the church. This mountain rises about 1000' above the ground. Then we all went to Denny's for breakfast. When we returned, we split up in two groups: one went to finish the house and another went to the market in downtown Juarez. The shoppers had a little problem with the policia. Seems they parked in a no parking zone (or something). A "good Samaritan" helped get the plate back. Six dollars later they were headed back to the U.S.A.

This evening we went to dinner at a new place called "Cattleman's Steakhouse", about 30 miles east of El Paso. The food was excellent! Seems like everyone liked it. A recommendation of a fellow passenger on our flight home last year. Then back to the church for devotions and lights out. Gotta get up early tomorrow.

Day 4 (Sunday) found us at the El Paso International Airport bright and early... well early. As soon as we walked in, the ticket agent said "If you're here for the Chicago flight, it's been cancelled. Come back tomorrow". That set off a three hour frenzy of trying to get us all home. Some went to Chicago and rented vans for the drive home, others got to Grand Rapids via Houston, Dallas and (me) Atlanta. The Atlanta flight was delayed and I didn't get home until about 1:00AM Monday. But, hey... we all arrived safely and it could have been worse, believe it or not. Véale el año próximo!
 

Here is an interesting comparison:
If you compare the TOTAL cost to build a 242s/f home in Juarez to the proportionate equivalent of a home in the USA for family of four with a $50,000 annual income, you would be building a home in the USA valued at $357,000!

PICTURES- hover over thumbnail for caption; click to enlarge.