MEXICO JOURNAL  2001 - 2003

With deep gratitude and admiration for the commitment, inspiration and friendship of the students and adult leaders of the Teen Satsang group, who have kindly provided the following photos and excerpts from the journal of their 3 summer work trips to Casa Emaús and Maclovio Rojas. Special thanks to Rosie and Mylo who put their journal together.

                                  Con amistad y cariño,
                                           Barbara 

I am consistently amazed, when I come to Mexico, by the poverty that can be found wherever you go. The conditions in which many people are forced to live were hard to believe when they were first described to me, but I had to believe when I saw them for myself. Even more amazing than that, is the way that the people persevere, survive, make do, and live in their conditions with a better attitude than most Americans who work comfortable desk jobs that provide them with financial security. Mexico always reminds me that, indeed, it's not the clothes that make the man.

Mexico is great, simply because you get to make a positive impact while bonding with your peers and being pushed out of your comfort zone. Mexico is lots of fun and you get a sense of accomplishment.

Most of my week was spent helping repair a roof on the two-story building at the orphanage. We first ripped off all the old shingles. Often our work was delayed because of winds that prevented us from laying down paper. It was also very cool using the tar.