Day 4 Continued: Migrant Camp Outreach

Following Child Evangelism, we had the opportunity to serve in a migrant camp during the Adult Evangelism program. Here is some background information about the migrant situation:

The Migrant Workers' Plight

Migrant camps: these are the sites across the Baja produce belt where thousands of workers--mainly indigenous peoples from Oaxacana, Mexico (pronounced Wah-HA-ca)--are brought in to work the produce fields.  

Although promised fair wages and acceptable housing, the labourers arrive to work 12-hour days in the fields for only a few dollars a day, and to live in substandard houses. The provided homes are often without plumbing or electricity. To ensure that the working families cannot leave the labour ranch, the ranch stores sell food and goods at inflated prices. The low wages and high prices keep the workers indebted to the ranch.

An informative paper YWAM sent us before our trip provided these additional startling statistics:

-Over 80% of such workers are exposed to harmful and carcinogenic pesticides. (Additionally,

most workers do not have access to clinics and medical insurance, and cannot afford health care or medicine.)

-25% of these workers are children under the age of 14.

This is the situation to which Foundation for His Ministry's Adult Evangelism program provides outreach twice a week. To read further information about migrant workers and the Mission's ministry to them, click here:

http://www.ffhm.org/our-ministries/reaching-the-lost/adult-evangelism/

The program involved serving a meal to the entire camp, engaging with the kids, showing a film projected on the side of a van, and distributing toiletries and Bibles in the Oaxacan language. 

For PICTURES of the event, please click "Read More."

"After driving into the hills on a road that reminded me more of a wide hiking trail, we pulled into a sandy clearing overlooking a wide valley. We spilled out of the van and straight into a crowd of grinning, excited little faces. Hola! I echoed, making my way to where the others were serving food among a cacophony of laughing voices, swirling crowds and loud Spanish music."

First came the time to break out stickers, animal balloons and jump ropes.

When supper was ready, the people lined up...

And the workers served.

While seconds were being served, I started to hand out yarn for string figures. A long, excited line soon formed, following me as I ran over to recruit Barb to help! Soon we were snipping, tying and distributing lengths of string to make and teach figures.





One guy was so excited--practically beside himself  with glee as he mastered making a realistic, squashable "mosquito" out of string! It was hilariously fun.



The moon over Mexico, tilted on its side.
"It looks," Lana said, "As though it fills. Like a glass."



Darkness came quickly, and the movie projected on the side of a van began. Stars came out over the valley we overlooked until the sky was more silver than black. I nudged Barb and pointed to a falling one.  

Afterwards, the evangelist spoke, leading many in prayer. Forty or fifty people accepted the hope offered them there under the stars, and we prayed together. There was real joy, and a feeling of "aliveness" in that place that night as we handed out Bibles to the new believers. Who knew that such things can--and do!--happen? As Lana remarked, driving back down the mountain that evening, "it was absolutely awesome."