Past Expeditions: Monterrey 2006

 

 

 

Another Great Day in Monterrey!
October 2006

In October of 2006, an energetic group of 28 ventured into Monterrey, Mexico. The group consisted of 20 teenagers (most from Aspen Academy of Learning in Payson, Utah). Many of the teenagers had gone on an expedition to Monterry in 2005. With the large group, we planned several ambitious building projects. The largest project was for a family that we met during our expedition to Monterrey in October of 2005.

Our friends in Monterrey were eagerly counting the days for us to come and work with them again in 2006. Many of them had been scouting out places for us to stay and finding transportation for such a large group. We were able to rent two “large” homes on the same street for the week. Both homes actually had hot water, which was a pleasant surprise.

Some of the things we did were:

1. Build a one-room cement structure for a family of five.


2. Place a cement roof on a home for a widow and her children.


3. Deliver hygiene kits.


4. Organize a youth activity with the local LDS branch.


5. Taught gardening to help with self-sufficiency. Delivered seeds and compost to get them started with their gardens.


6. Taught beading and delivered supplies to get several ladies started with a supplemental income.


7. Made visits to many of the local families and handed out quilts and school packs.

The largest construction project was located up on the mountain several hundred yards above where the road ends. The only way to haul all of the needed construction materials (2 tons of gravel, over 200 cinder blocks, 1 ton of dry cement and an endless supply of rebar) was by hand. It paid off having so many energetic youth as we formed a bucket brigade and handed bucket after bucket of gravel up the hill. Many of the local children and youth watched us the first day, but by the next day dove in to help haul the endless mass of construction materials. It was a great opportunity for our group to work together with the family we were serving as well as many of their neighbors. Our last day of construction was a rainy one and the final cement pour for the roof was done entirely in a downpour. We had to cover the cement as quickly as we mixed and poured it.

We ran into many struggles that threatened to slow us down, but the group adapted and refused to give up. It made the trip that much more memorable and rewarding.

At weeks end we even had a day to go out to the county and visit Horse Tail Falls (Cola de Caballo). The day ended with a large feast provided by our friends and a spirited game of American Football.

 

Handing out School Packs


House-warming Gifts for Antonia's New Home


Cooling Off at Horse Tail Falls


Putting up Forms for the Roof


Playing Games with the
Neighborhood Kids


Yes, those are little girls
hauling cinder blocks


Youth Activity


Teaching Beading


Mixing Cement the
"Mexican Way"