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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
September 2005 |
Church group brings Mexican boy to U.S. for surgery
By T.J. Davis, Times intern
MOORESVILLE - A long trek to the mountainous region of Calnali, Mexico, to provide for a community in need just wasn't enough for Mooresville First United Methodist Church's missionary group MORE.
MORE (Methodist Outreach, Etc.), which has purposes including weekly Bible study, working on local mission opportunities and an annual trip to Calnali, took its devotion to help those in need one step further recently when the group arranged for eight-year-old Roberto Eliel Mejiah Juarez and his mother Maria Guadalupe Juarez Martinez to come to the United States to treat the boy for a medical condition that he has battled with his entire life.
MORE members first met Juarez during their annual trip to Calnali in 2003 where they aided the Mexican community in need of better living arrangements. Juarez's mother was cooking for workers as they poured several concrete foundations for the homes of various families. It was here that the group first learned of Juarez's troubles.
Made the problem worse
Just months after his birth, Juarez suffered from a condition in which his testicles didn't fully descend, sometimes referred to as Cryptorchidism. He endured several surgeries to correct the problem; however, the procedures only made the problem worse.
Having heard the boy's story and getting familiar with the family, the group's efforts to bring Juarez to the states for treatment began. The first challenge was to that Juarez and his mother had to apply for humanitarian visas to get into the United States.
"It's not too difficult to get them, it's just a matter of going through all the steps and processes," MORE member Brian Nelson said.
However, one of the difficulties was getting the family to Mexico City, more than five hours northeast of Calnali, to apply for the visa. Without any transportation, getting to Mexico City is no simple task.
The group was responsible for providing letters and documentation and also helped to arrange for the Medical sponsorship through the IU Medical Center and St. Francis in Beech Grove. IU Medical Center provided doctors and medical staff while St. Francis provided facilities.
Arrived June 12
Juarez and his mother arrived on June 12. On June 20 Juarez underwent surgery where doctors removed his bladder and re-routed his urinary tract through his rectum. Juarez recovered well. He spent 4 to 6 more weeks in the U.S. before heading home to Calnali.
"He's having a blast," Nelson said. Nelson explained that Juarez is a typical eight-year-old boy - aside from his infections that is.
Juarez is still at the age where the problem doesn't bother him and he has been staying with different families from First United Methodist Church for three to four day periods before moving on to the next family.
Juarez's mother, Lupe, may have been healed just as much as her son. Suffering from bouts of depression and sleep deprivation, she feels that Juarez's treatment in the U.S. is an answer to two years of a mother's prayer and considers it a miracle.
MORE members also feel a great sense of satisfaction for their roles in helping the Mexican community and bringing Juarez to the United States.
Improving life in Calnali
In Calnali, the group spends a week improving the standard of living for the community. One of their primary concerns is to pour concrete foundations for the homes.
The village, which is located in a fairly mountainous region, lies right along a riverbed. When rain comes, the town gets very wet, and because the majority of the homes have dirt floors, some families are forced to live in mud. With a concrete foundation, this problem is quickly alleviated.
"It grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go," Nelson said of the people MORE aid in Mexico.
There also is a strong behind-the-scenes presence of people who help to organize and plan the trips. Unfortunately, only a select few actually go to Calnali. According to Nelson, there may be up to three times as many people working to plan and coordinate the trips than the number that actually go.
Nelson thinks that it was a great opportunity for those who weren't able to go to Calnali to see the impact they have made when Juarez and his mother were able to get to the United States.
"What you realize is very quickly, you walk away with more than you have given," Nelson said.
The group plans to return to Calnali in November. This will mark their fourth trip to the village. "We're committed to Mexico," Nelson said. "We've started to establish relationships with the people there."
Nelson said that the group wouldn't hesitate doing something like this again.
"If we run into it, we would be most interested," Nelson said. "It has been a great experience for the individuals."
Copyright © 2005 Hoosier Times, Inc. Used with permission.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008