In 1998 Touch the World began sending short term mission trips to Mexico in an effort to reach out to the poorest in the city of Juarez. Through the years we have sent many teams and in 2004 we brought on full time missionaries Gilberto and Maria Garcia.

As we worked with the Mexican people, we saw some significant needs like food, clothing and housing. The children often live in one room homes made from wood pallets and cardboard. Most homes have dirt floors and very few have any kind of plumbing. Electricity is brought in from local telephone poles where wires are connected in haphazard ways to bring power to the homes. It is not uncommon to hear of children being electrocuted while walking along a road after it rains since many of the wires run along the ground and are not protected.

Over the course of our trips, the real need became abundantly clear – the need for education. Only one of five children living in the dumps of Juarez, Mexico has the opportunity to go to school. But even those who are able to attend, come back each day to a home where mom and dad are illiterate and don’t understand the importance of, or even know how to, create a good learning environment at home.

Through much prayer TTW decided to build a school in Filipe Angeles, one of the poorest colonias of Juarez. Jeff Wells, a good friend of Touch the World and an architect, drew up plans for a three-story, 14,000 square foot school. We purchased a piece of property in the colonia and construction started with a mission team traveling to Mexico during the Christmas break of December 2004. Classes actually began in September 2005 with over 40 students enrolled.

Our school, Colegio James R. Ganley, named after Jimmy Ganley of Wyckoff, who died tragically through suicide because of undiagnosed depression, now instructs 115 students grades K-6. These students are able to attend the school, which serves lunch every day, due to faithful supporters who contribute $28 a month.

Many who have been on mission trips to Mexico There is plenty of opportunity to be with the children and share the love of Christ with them. It is a joy to see the same kids year after year as they continue to learn how to read and write and even to converse with them in English. That’s right – English! We have a full time English teacher from Colorado who gave up a year to come to the school and teach all of the children English.

You can help with this mission in a variety of ways. You can pray for the continued growth of our school. You can contribute financially with a donation for the construction or by sponsoring a child for $35 a month. OR you can be a part of a team and see for yourself how God is using Touch the World to minister to the people of Juarez. Either way, you can be blessed by sharing in this mission.

Please visit us at: www.ttwlifebridge.org

For sponsorship information: (888) 281-4887 x27 suek@touchtheworld.org or nishanth@touchtheworld.org

For all other information: (888) 281-4887 x35 JeremyM@touchtheworld.org