Last December we had the adventure of a lifetime! I had a hard time putting it into words to blog about it. This Fall Mark needed me to type up a report of it for work (as they donated money towards the furniture building)...long overdue, here it is:
Club Dust, 2009
Two years ago the spark was lit in my heart to take our family outside of our comfort zone, and into a great experience. Our dear friends came back from a place called Club Dust and shared their story of service and growth, joy and compassion. They have 6 children, successfully run their own business, contribute regularly to their community, and teach their children well. Yet, they were looking for something more, an experience that would illustrate the need for love and compassion in our lives. They found the perfect answer. Club Dust is a non-denominational service group that raises monies for families near Tecate, Mexico. With those monies they travel down several times a year to build houses, donate goods, and help build a local church for that community. Families of all ages and sizes are invited to come and join. While there, accommodations are provided, along with food.
I introduced the idea to my family, and with some time and thought everyone got on board. It helped, of course, that we were also going to Disneyland! Our trip to California was long and beautiful. Disneyland was all we hoped it would be, and we enjoyed our Christmas there.
Arriving at the San Diego airport, all the “Club Dusters” trickled in, included our dear friends and their 6 kids. Soon there were boxes piled high with socks and shoes, donated by a corporation recruited by one of the Club Dust leaders. The socks needed to be paired up, the shoes matched, and all of it stuffed inside our luggage. Everyone jumped in and helped. I found that each of my kids settled into the routine, finding a spot to help out. When the younger boys were bored, they would play with their friends.
As dusk arrived we loaded onto the buses, cramming luggage in and finding space for all our bodies. I think that two of kids ended up sharing seats with someone. We arrived at the “ranch” to find a beautiful old set of buildings, with a pool that I imagine would be a welcome relief in summer trips. The bunk house was stuffed full of bunk beds. Finding enough together and rearranging them was a little frantic!
The next morning a delicious breakfast was served and we loaded onto rusty metal buses, driven by friendly locals. A dusty, bumpy bus ride took us to the small village where the partially completed church and materials to build waited for us. As we walked up to our assigned family, I looked around at the houses already there. It was a mix of previously built “Club Dust” homes and homes built from materials the families there have access to: metal sheeting, plywood, cardboard and fabric. The dirt streets were steep and difficult for the buses to get up. The family we were assigned to was a sweet, shy woman named Maria, her three boys, and their father who worked long hours during the day and we never met.
The next three full days were busy with building a small house on the concrete slab that had been prepared. Mark and our 12 year old son, Thomas, spent all of their time on construction. Framing the house, building the roof, walls, installing drywall and finishing work, even building an outhouse for the family filled the days. Our 14 year old daughter, Katie, helped with painting the exterior wood in an empty lot by the house.
Our youngest boys, Joe and Peter, made friends with Maria’s boys and spent their days playing on the dirt hills, handing out small toys to the local kids, and playing soccer on the dusty streets.
Our oldest son, Spencer, worked in a separate area building bunk beds and tables for the homes. Each family that got a house got some furniture to go with it.
There are many aspects to Club Dust. During our trip there 5 regular houses were built, and several smaller “pop up” houses were built and delivered to families that live along the railroad tracks. They need a semi-permanent shelter that they can move if the government comes in to clear out families living there. Food, clothing and camp stoves were given to families.
Another big project was sorting through the shoes and socks. The entire first day was filled with sorting the bags into tall piles in the church basement. Then the shoes were lugged up to the unfinished church’s main floor, quickly accomplished by volunteers and local families lined up along the steep cement stairs leading up to the main floor. All that first day, word spread throughout the area that on the following day we would be giving out shoes, socks and bags of groceries.
Shoe day arrived and Katie and I headed straight to the church to begin work. The woman in charge started us off with prayer and an explanation of the work. She stressed the importance of doing all we could in that one moment with each person we helped. She explained that we would feel joy and sorrow and our hearts would burn with the desire to do more, when we simply couldn’t. She encouraged us to share our Father’s love with each person, no matter the language barrier. All that morning and afternoon we served the ¼ mile long line of grateful, beautiful people. We would take a family to the chairs along the wall, seat them and take off their shoes and socks. The best part was washing their feet with a cool, clean wipe. Some of them laughed as we gently cleansed their feet, some were shy, most were joyful! Then we found shoes and socks to fit and put them on. We all took turns being the feet washers, shoe runners, sock finders and helpers. The experiences we had that day were sacred, amazing and life changing. I believe that I left a bit of my heart there with those families!
The next day was filled with finishing work: delivering furniture, painting drywall, hanging pictures and decorations, and finally a dedication of the home.
Each team leader said a prayer with all of the workers and the family present. Then we handed over the key and they explored their new home. The expression, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!” was made for that day. The end of the day was filled with finishing laying paper on the large church roof, just in time for the light rain to come. My oldest son helped me find and cut wood to build book shelves for the church basement.
And I made some last minute visits to women I had met and learned from while there.
One of the most beautiful parts of Club Dust was the growth I saw in my own family.
The relationships my children built with the family, the confidence in themselves they gained, the opportunity to spend long days with new friends of other religions, the hard work and the personal growth was unique and unforgettable. Club Dust lives in our hearts and reminds us to open up our minds to the chances to serve every day.
I fell in love with the people of Tecate. I hope to go back!
