Proyecto Juan Diego has begun its summer activities.
This year the PJD has hit the streets of the colonia surveying the people of the community. One survey is being done in partnership with UTB School of Public Health. The survey questions target diet and exercise practices. The other survey has been developed by the PJD to find out the health and citizenship needs of the people. The staff has met many wonderful people in the colonia through these door to door surveys and we have already begun to help those in need.
We have begun “The Great Bible Reef” summer bible camp for K-12 grades. There are 4 different sessions based on grade levels. Currently, thirty-one children in K-2 grade are attending camp. The teens from the youth group are teaching and assisting in the classes of crafts, dance and drama, science, and bible. The youth have been a great example to the children. We have all learned that God’s people: CARE, HELP, TRUST, BELIEVE, AND LISTEN.
The portable offices and classrooms have been moved to PJD new site. The flooring has been laid and bathrooms constructed. In the months ahead, the buildings will be painted, electricity, water, etc. connected. It is moving along slowly but surely (and not so surely). We look forward to moving in at the end of the summer.

Neighborhood Gardens

Blanca helps Sylvia S. plant a tomatoe plant- they grow best when 80% of the plant is buried.

In Brownsville Texas, February 2 is the offical date of the last possible frost, so as soon as the date passed it was time to start planting a garden! Blanca Escobar and I headed out with the bed of her green truck filled with 3 gallon plastic pots, gardening tools, plants, and seeds. We stopped at the homes of 7 people who are diabetics, to begin small container gardens to help them to grow their own vegtables. At each home we planted a tomoatoe, brocoli and jalepeno pepper plants along with radish and squash seeds.
Now, every other week like a county extension agent, I visit the people and their plants. The plants are a good excuse to stop in and see how these folks are doing. It gives me an opportunity to talk with them about what is happening in their lives. A month into the gardening project the plants, for the most part, are growing well- the seeds have sprouted and the plants already have buds which will soon bear fruit (even the brocoli, a cool weather vegtable, is flowering!)

I watch as Francisca prepares her containter to plant the tomatoe plant.