After Christmas in 2002, our family realized that we had spent this special holiday thinking more about ourselves and presents than about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We decided to do something different the following year. After many months of praying, we came across the service organization Charity Anywhere. We went on our 1st trip with them over Christmas 2003. What an amazing experience we had! We slept on the floor, ate PB & J sandwiches for a week, worked hard all day, didn't take a shower all week, didn't think of ourselves one time and made life long friends and memories. After we said a tearful good bye to a family that we had built a house for, our kids looked at us and asked, "Can we come back next year?" Of couse the answer was yes. We just returned home from our 6th trip to La Gloria, Mexico- each year experiencing the same spirit of service that has changed our lives.
During this years trip, in 1 week we did so many things to help the wonderful people in La Gloria. Thanks to all the generous donations we recieved and the hard work from all the people that went with, we were able to:
-build a house for the Diaz family
-build a home for the Leon family
-build a home Ariel's family
-build a home for the Schwarez family
-pay for a water tank for Ariel's house
-pay the Trejo family, Rojas family and Contreres family for cooking dinners for our group
-Provide a bathroom for America's family
-donate 8 sewing machines, 2 microwaves, a fridge and a dishwasher
-Hire and pay 4 local boys to help us work during the week
-built a roof for Thelma, and provide food for her
-provide a 3 month supply of food for 60 single mothers
-brought newborn kits and school kits donated by the McKell family
-gave out sock dolls donated by the Burnham family
-Eagle Project of 100 1st aide kits (Alec Burbidge)
-Eagle project of clothes (Austin Johnson)
-Eagle Project of shoes and coats (Chad Madsen)
-Eagle Project of 20 Missionary kits (Colby Horne)
-Have a large donation night at the church from all the eagle projects and other donations we brought down
-Gave out new Scholastic Spanish books donated by Beth Borup
-Dress pants and ties donated by Mr. Mac
- new roof for the Cuanaro family
-pass out soccer balls donated by the Atkin family
-pass out childrens coloring kits donated by Shelby Bruining
