It’s common to hear complaints about today’s teenagers, things
like unmarried pregnancy, drug use, gang violence and vandalism.
But a recent experience involving youth from the Gilroy
Presbyterian Church can give us all a shot of optimism.
It’s common to hear complaints about today’s teenagers, things like unmarried pregnancy, drug use, gang violence and vandalism. But a recent experience involving youth from the Gilroy Presbyterian Church can give us all a shot of optimism.
A team of 37 members, including 12 adult chaperones, began planning in November for a mission trip to Mexico over Spring Break. They raised money for expenses the usual ways (baby-sitting, car washes, candy sales, etc.) as well as through generous donations from members of their congregation and the South County community.
Leaving early on March 25, they endured a 14-hour drive to Cuernavaca – not the resort, but a neighborhood of the Mexican city of Mexicali. There they met up with some 2,000 other teens camped in a tent city sponsored by Azusa Pacific University. Their goal: serving the poor in that part of Mexico
Each day, the Gilroy group traveled about 45 minutes to “their” village: Ejido Satillo, a “humble town” in an agricultural area where wheat and oranges are raised. They spent the week engaged in a number of ministries, rotating assignments.
Each morning they presented a Vacation Bible School for children ages two through 10. This would consist of activities like singing, Bible stories, skits, crafts and games.
A Teen Ministry for girls exchanged ideas and experiences. Besides doing Bible study and teen-style crafts, the participants would discuss shared struggles common to all teens: sex, drugs and rock-n-roll.
There was a Construction Project focused on the house of the local pastor. With encouragement from experienced adults, the teens were able to install plumbing and a kitchen counter in the kitchen as well as repair some inside electrical wiring.
A Women’s Ministry featured building relationships through crafts like creating photo albums and crocheting wash cloths. The Gilroyans brought gifts for the Mexican women: dish towels, soap, shampoo, nail clippers, etc. But Namra Pourroy, Youth Director of GPC, praised how the village’s women “gave us so much more, the gift of their love.”
In the middle of the week, the Americans held a Carnival for all the children of the village, featuring games, balloon animals, sack races and a piñata full of candy brought along just for that purpose.
A Community Service Project, dubbed “Mano a Mano” (hand to hand), involved the youth in painting a school and renovating a local park by weeding fields, planting shrubbery, and painting play equipment.
After a hard day of work, the group returned each afternoon to their base camp at 5 o’clock for dinner and recreation, followed by an inspirational chapel service at 8 o’clock.
Vaughn Campilli, co-leader of the Gilroy team, was impressed by the 2,000 teens gathered for this event. Besides their physical labor and supplies, they donated more than $9,000 for relief expenses to the residents. He says the experience “empowered the youth in a positive way, equipping them to make a difference in others’ lives.”
“We went to serve the Mexican people and teach them about God, but we received much more in return from them,” said Nick Campilli, a sophomore at Gilroy High School. “We saw God in the faces of those around us.”
For more information about this annual Mexicali Missions Trip which Gilroy youth have made for many years, call at Namra Pourroy at Gilroy Presbyterian Church (842-3000).
