by GIna Greco
The Inlet Community Church will be holding an informational meeting on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. at its worship location for those interested in joining its mission team on an upcoming trip to Mexico.
The team is traveling to Juarez, Mexico for spring break to help build a local orphanage.
This will be their second time teaming with Tapestries of Life Ministries on the project.
“[This orphanage] will house about three hundred Mexican orphan children who are currently living on the streets,” said Inlet Community Church Mission Team member, John Swick.
“These children will be raised in a loving environment and be given the opportunity to be educated, cared for, and possibly adopted,” he said.
There is no foster care system or assistance of any kind for the children in the area, Swick said.
“The orphans are forced into the drug war and the sex trade to survive. We are building them a home to give them a hope and a future through the love of God,” he said.
Fifteen to twenty people have already expressed interest in the trip at informational meetings held earlier in the month, according to Swick.
“It was encouraging to see that we have several people who plan to return for a second trip,” he said.
The ideal worker is someone who has a heart for children and enjoys hard work, Swick said.
“We have had group members from eight months old [Swick’s son Garrett] to group members in their eighties and everything in between,” he said.
The dates of the trip this year are during the first week of the Town of Webb school’s spring break from Saturday, March 19 to Saturday, March 26.
Swick said the cost of the trip is about $1,200 to $1,300 per person.
“We ask people for a $50 deposit if they are serious about joining the group, so that we can begin to book plane tickets while they are cheaper,” Swick said.
“Our group will be fundraising to help support everyone who wishes to go. All ages and skill levels are welcome and needed,” he said.
Swick said they have a better idea this year of which fundraising efforts were successful and which were less. That should help with efficiency.
Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. to discuss fundraising details and get a better idea of the goals.
Those that are unable to attend the meeting can get more information by emailing John Swick at johnnyswick@gmail.com.