Letter from Rick Barker
Dear Friends of Esperanza:
It's important, I think, to share with you my experience recently in Tijuana working with our friends at Esperanza. Our group (The Neighborhood Church located in Pasadena, CA) has been traveling to Esperanza in Tijuana for over 6 years. Partnering with the staff and families of Esperanza has been an immense joy, each trip filled with really hard work and really great reward (for us as well as the families).
Most recently our group traveled to Tijuana in October 2008 and April 2009 to work with Eduardo, Sergio, Antonio, and all the wonderful people of Esperanza. Both these trips were taken during "dangerous times" according to U.S. media. And yet we experienced nothing except the warm welcome hearts of the people of Tijuana. There were no dangerous incidents, no threats to our safety, no close encounters to be avoided (unless you count a few extra spicy tacos some of our group are inclined to consume). On these trips we found no difference whatsoever from previous trips taken over the years -- no difference crossing the border (to or from Mexico), no difference dining at the local La Gloria Taqueria for evening meals, no difference traveling across the city in our car caravans (7-10 cars) to and from our job sites (mornings and evenings), no difference in the neighborhoods where we worked (La Morita, Valle Verde, etc).
We were safe. We were happy. The birds were singing, and so were our hearts. It was as always. A beautiful experience.
Admittedly, prior to these trips we'd heard all the horror stories about the drug cartels and violence on the streets of Tijuana. We were concerned, quite naturally. We feared the worst. But we decided the wonderful work of Esperanza was so important that we should make the trip and form our own conclusions. And we're grateful we did. Because after both trips it was the unanimous consensus of the group (averaging 25-30 people) that we had experienced absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, and that our fears of violence had been completely unfounded.
We have no reason to believe your experience, should you come work with Esperanza, will be any different.
So please allow me, wholly out of good will, to encourage you to do as we did-come and see for yourself.
And in the process, help keep the wonderful work of Esperanza alive and well.
Rick Barker
San Francisco, CA
(a veteran of 10 trips to Esperanza)