Mary and Raul married when she was 14 and he was 17.Today, 14 years, later, they have 3 children: Jose, Alejandro and Araceli.In 2004, Mary and Raul lived in a tar paper shack on the side of a mountain in the Colonia Loma Linda.It has one of the best views of the bay of La Paz except during hurricane season.One storm several years ago almost washed their entire house away.Their stove got carried half way down the hill.Raul is trained as a welder.On a good day he might earn $20-$30.Therefore his income went primarily to food and clothing.There was nothing left over for housing.

Mark and Susan lived in an apartment in Bethlehem, PA.After a mission trip to La Paz in 2003, they came back in January 2004 for a 3-month short-term mission experience.They quickly renewed their friendship with Mary and Raul.They started visiting them on a weekly basis.Mary and Raul taught them Spanish and in turn they taught them English.When Raul's faith walk started to falter, Mary called Mark and asked him to talk to Raul.We credit Mark and Susan with saving Mary and Raul's marriage during that difficult time.One evening as Mark sat on the hill, overlooking La Paz, he thought, "God, the world is too big."And God answered, "Then why don't you start right here."

In 2005 the city decided to push a road through Loma Linda so that trucks could access a new area being developed on the next hill. Mary and Raul's house got bulldozed in the process.There was no compensation from the city.A cousin offered to rent them a small two room house in the meantime.In June 2005, Mark and Susan returned to La Paz for a one-year mission experience.Mark still had a burden about Mary & Raul's house, even more so now that they were temporarily homeless.He and David spearheaded an effort to encourage the English-speaking ministry at Crossroads to undertake this house project as their Mission Project.Crossroads embraced the idea and people began to funnel time and money into making it happen. The foundation was dug.Walls began to go up. And when the Youth Pastor at Mark's home church said, "I want to bring some of the youth group over Christmas break to La Paz.What can we do?"We all responded by saying, "How would you like to work on Mary and Raul's house"

So from December 29, 2005 to January 3, 2006, fifteen persons from FBC Bethlehem, PA came to contribute to this project.They poured the cement roof, dug an 8 foot hole for a septic tank, poured a cement floor, and started some landscaping.But most importantly, they bonded with Mary & Raul and their 3 kids.They transformed a family's life.Mary shared, "I've been praying about a house for years.I told Raul, ‘God will provide a house for us.Just wait and see.'"I'm sure she never anticipated that God would usher in a group of gringos to answer that prayer!

As your ABC missionaries, we thank you for the opportunity to host mission teams from your churches.Some people, like Mark and Susan, become missionaries themselves.Lots of youth get to expand their view of the world.And couples like Mary and Raul grow in their faith and friendships as they bridge lives with people from across the border.