PIONEERS OF SAN FRANCISCO

This little girl lives with her parents in the tiny settlement of San Francisco which is east of Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. 

Because of the forecast of cold weather along the border, we paid a visit to the new settlement of San Francisco.  Since they don't have electricity in their homes, we wanted to distribute some blankets along with beans, rice and candles and matches.  It was a springlike day with blue skies and warm temperatures which made it hard for us to believe the dramatic forecast.  The yellow gravel road out of Nuevo Progreso was baked dry, but it was still like a washboard full of ruts, ridges and holes.  Occasionally we got a glimpse of the Rio Grande River through the trees to our left. 

Cindy Jalife had sent home baked coconut cookies with us.  This little baby chewed on a cookie while I visited with her mother.

Families seem very happy with their new homes in San Francisco.  Even though they don't have the usual conveniences of electricity and water in their humble dwellings, they have peace and more freedom than in the city.  Here they can make new beginnings.  They build their houses little at a time while living in makeshift shelters. 

We were pleased to hear this baby's name is Milagro (Miracle).  Her mother has a growth on one eye and wears a patch over it.  With her permission, Lloyd and I prayed for God to heal her.

Each family has a small lot where they can plant a small garden and maybe a tree or two beside their home.  There are no street lights, so when the sun goes down it is extremely dark.

Santos and his wife load their beans, rice, candles and blanket on the front of their bicycle.  We have known Santos since he was in his teens and lived with his large family of brothers and sisters in Nuevo Progreso.  They have made a new start in San Francisco.

It was good to visit with old friends on such a beautiful day.  Everyone is friendly and welcoming in this new community.  They are especially happy to receive candles and matches so they can have a little light in their homes after the sun goes down.  Next month we will begin distributing garden seeds to the residents of San Francisco.

Our friend Marcelino loves to show off his garden where he has grown cilantro almost waist high.  He also has a fig tree, jicama and other plants but doesn't have enough water to keep things growing.

Many of the residents of San Francisco carry buckets of water to their homes from the Rio Grande River which is just a few blocks to their north.  This water is fine for their plants and for mixing cement for building, but they have to buy their drinking water. 

Francisco is an old friend who was formerly a policeman in Nuevo Progreso.  Francisco quit his job for political reasons.  We're proud of Francisco for making that decision, but now he needs another job to support his family.  His daughter Stephanie is here with him.

While in San Francisco we extended an invitation to our friends to join us for church Sunday evening in Nuevo Progreso.  Several said weather permitting they and their families will be there.  They didn't seem to be discouraged by the thought of walking down that rough road after dark.