Baja Outreach leads teams to Tecate, Mexico each December for the purpose of distributing food and sharing the love of Christ with those in need. These trips serve two purposes. First we are able to bless those in need; and second, those who go are often impacted greatly by their experience.
A Great Story From A Wonderful Family
In 2011, after nearly 20 years of ministry in the San Quintin Valley in Baja California, Bible Fellowship Church made the decision to forego the building of 16×20 houses and attempt to begin microenterprises around the community. We started our first summer with three families. One mother, Sara, desired to begin an egg business and she needed a chicken coop and chickens. We built the coop and loaned the family $80 to purchase chickens and feed and accessories. Another member of this same family, Rey, had built a small room to begin a tiny grocery store and we loaned him money to stock it. A third family, Vicinte and Cirenia, wanted to have a candy store in a more remote community so we built her a “candy shack” and loaned her $180 to stock it.
In the summer of 2012, we returned to Baja; and as we checked on our little micro-businesses, we were astounded. Sara repaid half of her loan and was selling eggs along with her tamales from the back of a car. Rey had had some hospital bills, so he was having some difficulties, but his business was getting on track. However, Cirenia was the biggest surprise of all. She had gone to work taking a second job so that she would be able to pay back her loan the first year. When she counted out her $180 worth of pesos, she was so proud of herself–and glad to have the “weight off her head,” she said with a smile.
Christmas 2012, the team went down to make Christmas baskets and found Cirenia with a full-up grocery store inside her tiny little candy shack! She has milk, canned goods, eggs, ice cream and other staples! A little boost and people are eager to work hard and get ahead a little bit. What a blessing it has been to her community to have a small store close by and also to her church as she and Vicinte are able to tithe and help others because they have been blessed. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!