On the far east side of Tijuana, you’ll find street upon street of undeveloped, haphazard shelters. Half-finished cinder block structures stand alongside makeshift huts, their walls composed of discarded wooden pallets and zinc metal sheeting. Waterproof tarps keep the rain out (mostly) in addition to offering a hiding place from the sun. Unfortunately, managing the dust is another story as paint-peeled sedans creep through dirt roads throughout the day.
Neighborhood residents often burn their trash, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. The smell of melting plastic is a common occurrence, hardly noticed by anyone.
It was over a year ago when a next-door neighbor carried his trash out to the burn pile and kindled a small flame. It was a routine chore done so many times before. However, on this occasion, the fire greedily crept outside its designated boundaries. It made its way into one house, then another house, and soon another. Six homes became engulfed in flames. There were no fire hydrants or emergency services available. The Hernández Orduño family could do nothing but watch as billows of black smoke carried away everything they owned.
After the coals had died and the debris cooled, the family rummaged for what they could find, starting over at square one. On the same piece of land where their house once stood,they salvaged plywood and discarded sheets of metal. They found a tent that was eagerly pitched next to their single-room shelter. The eight-person family was grateful for every extra square foot.
International Relief Teams’ partner organization that works exclusively in Mexico, discovered the Hernández Orduño family through street outreach and knew they would be a perfect match for their home building program. It wasn’t long until plans were made to provide a house for the family
On a Saturday in June, International relief Teams’ volunteers arrived at the build site and sprang into action. The volunteer team operated as a well-oiled machine and soon a flurry of hammering erupted as nails were repeatedly driven into wooden boards. Even the family pitched in by carrying trestles or painting walls.
At the end of the day, the keys to the house were presented to the Hernandez Ordunos family in a very emotional ceremony. They entered their new home with a mix of marvel and gratitude and shed tears of happiness.
As the volunteers said their good-byes to the family, and drove away, they knew that they had provided the family with not only a fresh start but also, hope for the future.
