Children's Center for Migrant Worker Families

Why

La Iglesia Bethesda and the non-profit Corazones Llenos Caras Felices, led by Pastora Mirna, is located in an agricultural community where many neighbors work planting and harvesting crops to be exported to the United States and Canada.

Life as an agricultural worker is arduous, often requiring long days of physically demanding labor, for a low daily wage. Many of the families in this community have migrated from other parts of Mexico in search of economic opportunity. Often, they are from indigenous Mexican communities and face language barriers and barriers accessing support provided by the government.

The ministry of Pastora Mirna provides spiritual, physical, and social support for this community, often serving as a bridge between these marginalized people to local government support (through the neighborhood association she leads), to housing and food (through the support of short-term missions and commited financial supporters), and to relational and spiritual care (through the church).

In addition to work in her community, Mirna brings essential supplies and donations to more remote indigenous communities in the Baja region several times a year.

What

The community members in this area face significant challenges due to lack of access to education at any level, and children spend long hours in home daily without adult supervision. Very few children have the opportunity to learn to read and write before entering work in the fields by the age of 10 or 12.

Additionally, families in these marginalized communities often experience domestic abuse, violence, food insecurity, and more.

Supporting the work of Corazones LLenos Caras Felices will provide for ongoing needed building improvements, enable local women in the community to begin providing regular literacy instruction, and support the essential community outreache Mirna provides.

How

Donations for the literacy program beginning at Corazones LLenos Caras Felices will provide educational materials and food for the children in the community. Additional funds will provide a financial stipend for the women volunteering to provide these classes.

Donations for the ongoing ministry work will help cover the cost of basic resources (toilet paper, water, soap, and food staples) needed to operate as a community center and shelter.