last minute details…
We’re about a week away from the Tijuana 2010 trip…. Just working on the final details. This is when it can get a little hairy – farming out backpacks, soccer balls, random tools and craft supplies to our team members. Here’s some of what we’re bringing:
50 School Bags for kids – from MEC
50 mini school supply kits – my wife got some screamin’ deals on school supplies, so each bag will have some pencils, pens, erasers, a notebook, and one other small item like colored pencils
20 fairly traded soccer balls
our tools for the house build
craft supplies for kids we meet in the street – there’s nothing like an impromptu craft sess in the street.
We’ll try to keep you posted as to what’s coming down the pipes for the trip – and future trips – there’s some cool stuff in the mix!!
-james
pencils, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
back on the ground…
prayer, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
Stay tuned…
TJ 09 – Two days away…
Just wanted to update and let you all know that on Saturday afternoon we’ll be pulling into Tijuana in style – 16 fantastic teens, 4 crazy leaders, 52 fair trade soccer balls (a big thanks to James @ social conscience for setting us up with such a great deal!) and 75 school bags to give away to children down there….oh yeah, and one house to build.We’re stoked to see our sponsor child, Gustavo, again, and build a house for him and his family…this is a once in a lifetime thing!!
Thank you so much for your support. Please keep us in your prayers if you are the prayin’ kind of person. It is always an intense trip.
Also, please pray for Ana – we are going to see if she is willing to leave her life of factory work to return to school and get an education. If she is willing, we are going to help her out – some kids from my school (who were on the 08 trip) decided to raise money to help support putting her into a private school after hearing her story last year. I met Ana two years ago, when the team I was helping lead stuccoed her family’s house. Ana wrote the test at the end of gr.7, and didn’t get a high enough grade. Now she works in a sewing factory for 10 hours a day, and rides a bus for about 3 hours to and from work. She probably makes about 10 dollars a day, if she’s lucky. Ana is about 14 or 15.
This is huge, perhaps the most important part of our trip, but Ana and her folks need to agree with the idea before we can act. If they say yes to this rescue, then perhaps we can help break the cycle of poverty in her family by helping provide Ana with an education that could get her a decent job.
I’ll update the blog when we hit the ground again in Canada. Here’s hoping for an amazing trip of spreading hope in practical ways…
cheers,
james
gearing up for the spring break drop – 75 school bags!
gearing up for the spring break drop – 75 school bags!, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
Just a quick photo of the swag bags I picked up today from the post office… 75 school bags for children who need them in Terrazas, and around Tijuana, Mexico! A big thanks for Mountain Equipment Co-Op for footing the bill for shipping!!! Yahoo!!
Thank you for your support!
pickup day!!
What a great spending spree!!
My family and I had the pleasure of picking up fair trade soccer balls and backpacks today…
We were happy to finally meet Janine, the face behind Fair Kick Soccer, and hear how she came to be involved with fair trade soccer balls.
janine w/ Fair Kick Soccer, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
We are grateful for her support in helping us meet our goals!
Our garage is now home to four boxes of backpacks, and a box of soccer balls…
By the way, a 2002 toyota echo can easily accommodate 41 backpacks (MEC Pika Plus), 20 deflated size 4 fair trade soccer balls (no child labor!!), costco groceries, random mec biking supplies, two lovely children and all their paraphernalia, and my lovely wife and I (oh, and an ipod & other misc. things like banana peels…) And when I say easily, I mean when it is packed to the trunk lid, with boxes under children’s feet….
cheers!
we only have 58 backpacks left, and then all of our goals would be met for September!
Delivery date: Sept. 22-28.08
