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Build El Arca

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Help El Arca (The Ark) Church replace their pallet and tarp walls with solid, concrete walls. With your help, El Arca will be able to purchase the supplies and the men of Vista Hermosa and El Arca will create a permanent home for worship and refuge in their community. The families of Vista Hermosa will have a place to gather for fellowship as well as vital services close to their homes. 


The Community of Vista Hermosa
El Arca Church is a small Christian church located in the community of Vista Hermosa, on the outskirts of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The community of Vista Hermosa is home to families struggling with poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and isolation. The families of Vista Hermosa live in basic homes, some made of concrete while many are made of plywood, corrugated tin panels, pallets, tarps, and other salvaged materials. Many of the homes lack electricity and running water. The dirt roads of Vista Hermosa are rough, and become difficult to navigate after the rain. Most families lack transportation and rely on busses to get to services located far from their community - schools, grocery stores, doctors, jobs. The families that live in Vista Hermosa are making use of every opportunity that comes along to improve their lives and the lives of their children. Their hope for a better future can be seen in the home improvements that are in-progress, community-led events for the children, and small stores where women sell items to support their children. 


El Arca - Sanctuary for a Struggling Community
This the community that El Arca serves. Pastored by Vicente and his wife Maria, El Arca provides a place for families to worship and fellowship. El Arca is also a hub for the community - a place for family celebrations like weddings and quincineras. Once a month, a pediatrician travels to Vista Hermosa to perform free exams of the children, checking their growth, identifying problems that need specialized attention, giving advice to parents, and providing basic medicines. These exams, which are critical for a community lacking basic medical care, take place inside El Arca. The children are laid on the benches to be examined and their height is measured on the church wall. El Arca is a refuge for people seeking spiritual and physical help. Vicente works with men in the community struggling with addiction, helping to get them into treatment programs and supporting their recovery. 


Building the Ark and Preparing for Hurricane Season
El Arca is constructed of pallets, plywood, and tarps, with a roof of reused, corrugated metal tin. A single donated fan provides relief from the heat, in an area where summer temperatures regularly surpass 100 degrees. The ladies of the congregation make tamales to sell in order to raise funds to make improvements. The men work on El Arca as funds are available, adding a concrete floor, building a simple stage, creating drainage to prevent flooding during storms. The 2018 hurricane season has already started and El Arca has already weathered one storm with mud and water destroying some of their efforts. The goal of this fundraiser is to help El Arca construct solid, concrete walls. The solid walls will prevent devastating storm damage during a hurricane season predicted to be more severe than usual, and will allow El Arca to be used as a refuge for families needing shelter during storms. 


Phase I will raise the funds to build the walls. All labor will be provided by the men of Vista Hermosa and El Arca. Vicente works in construction and will oversee the project. The work is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. The total budget of $3500USD includes the concrete blocks, concrete, sand, and gravel, as well as ceiling fans.

In the future, Phase II will raise the funds to build a roof, and Phase III will allow for construction of bathrooms. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)


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Donations 

  • Bill and Kathy Sellers
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Todd and Tamera Blankenship
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $200 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Todd and Tamera Blankenship
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Todd and Tamera Blankenship
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Tamera Blankenship
Organizer
Sonora, CA

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