Brothers And Sisters In Community Service

Hello Family, Friends, and Neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying your summer. I wanted to share that l'm again joining St. Simon Parish’s Service Mission to Tijuana, Mexico to help build 3 homes, complete with electricity and plumbing, for families currently living in very unsafe and challenging conditions. This mission is enabled by a team of 50+ volunteers from St. Simon and other local parishes in partnership with a non-profit known as Brothers and Sisters in Community Service (BASICS).

My family has participated in this mission trip for many years. The minimum each volunteer is required to contribute is $900. Of that, $500 goes toward construction materials and the rest goes to rudimentary lodging (bunk beds, barracks style) and meals. I'm reaching out to see if you can contribute $5 or $10 to help me reach my goal. I'm seeking lots of low-dollar contributions so this is easy for people to support. My parents have asked me to fund-raise as much as I can and they'll cover the difference.

My experience helping the past three years has been wonderful! Working alongside fellow volunteers and the local Tijuana team, constructing homes for 10 - 12 hours each day, allows us to get to know one another well. We have built a strong sense of community over the years, and we always have a lot of fun despite the long days in the hot sun.

Our nights are used for communal dinners, learning about one another’s life experiences, pick-up soccer games, prayer, and other spiritual services. I bring my passion for art with me, and I use some of my "free" evening time to create watercolor paintings for the families receiving homes. I often paint images of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” (the patron saint of the Americas who is beloved in Mexico), "Saint Francis" (patron saint of animals), or the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” in bright colors for the families to enjoy and as a memento of our time together.

The Tijuana Mission trip has become one of the highlights of my year. I plan to stay involved for as long as possible. Some of my classes at Pitzer College have explored the moral dilemmas of service trips like ours, yet in my experience, they overlook the true impact and meaning of this experience. Yes, some service trips only have a short-term impact, can prey upon cultural stereotypes, or perpetuate the idea of the “white-savior," but this is not true of our Tijuana Ministry. The collaborative way we partner with the community in Tijuana is what sets BASICS apart. Our efforts are driven by mutual respect, sharing and acceptance, learning together, and developing true friendships. Although every year only a few families are able to receive a home, those families' lives are forever changed for the better.

I am super excited about serving in Tijuana again this year. I truly appreciate any contribution you can provide to make my service mission trip possible.

Sincerely,

Ceci Montgomery-Eder

Pitzer College Class of ’28

Hello family and friends,

We are excited to share with you that we will be traveling to Tijuana, Mexico this summer with our church on a mission trip. For seven days, we will be building homes there for 4 families in need. This is our first mission trip and we are grateful for an opportunity to serve others in this way. Through this mission, we hope to strengthen our faith and grow in compassion.

This mission trip is sponsored by Brothers and Sisters in Community Service (BASICS), a nonprofit organization that has been serving the needs of families in Tijuana for the past 20 years. They run programs that provide housing for people who would not otherwise have safe places to live. Tijuana is one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico, and also has some of the highest poverty in North America. Many people live without potable water, electricity, sanitary sewers, and adequate housing.

The total cost of this mission will be $2,700. Our parents will be helping to subsidize the travel and lodging portion of the trip. We are hoping to raise the additional $1,700 that will cover the cost of building materials.

We are asking for your support in helping us reach our fundraising goal. Any amount, big or small, will make a difference. Your donation will go directly to BASICS and is 100% tax deductible. Thank you for your generosity and prayers.

Best,

Dominic and Marissa Chao

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:39-41