Military Rolls into Town. Mission Trip Canceled.
About the Author
Aaron is a mission trip coordinator for a small non-profit working in Tijuana, Mexico. The organization builds homes for the poor and operates an orphanage where he can often be found helping out with the children.
When I heard Felipe Calderon, the new president of Mexico, was sending 3000 troops to Tijuana in an attempt to clean up the corruption and curb drug related murders I was ecstatic. I figured the city would be a safer place and, as a byproduct, more mission trip groups would be willing to come down and do ministry with us. Well, it looks like I was wrong — at least for the short-term. This morning the message on my answering machine was from a group in Southern California saying that due to the military involvement in the city they were canceling their trip that was scheduled for mid February.
At first, I was outraged. How could these people just up and cancel on us four weeks out after all the planning and coordination we had done to make this happen? Before calling them back and telling them what I thought of their decision I decided to make a few phone calls to people I know living in their area, as well as to two leaders of other groups who are coming this month to see if this topic had come up.
The results: The friends living in SoCal clued me in that their local media has had a field day with this story, and its been picked up by news agencies all over the world. Here’s the search for Tijuana in Google News. Some headlines at the time of this writing:
- Mexico sends in army to retake Tijuana
- Soldiers take guns from Tijuana police
- Unarmed police in Tijuana receive wave of death threats
- Wealthy Mexicans flee Tijuana
There’s a lot of half truths and exaggerations in their reporting and some items are blatantly incorrect. But hey, it sells papers and who fact checks stories on Tijuana? If you read through the news, here are two things to keep in mind that have been reported in the papers here in TJ:
- Murders in Tijuana fell to a three year low in 2006
- The city police are unarmed, but they are still patrolling the streets and are working hand in hand with state and federal officers.
The important results: I don’t agree with the decision to cancel the trip. My personal opinion is that the city is safer now than it was the last three times this team came. But after talking with the group leaders I was reminded that I really have no idea the kind of pressures they face from the parents of the youth they bring down (note to self: youth pastors take a lot of crap). Soccer moms read stories like the ones linked to above and –with no ill intent– they are quick to organize and scare the rest of the parents.
Time will tell if this military operation is a success. Calderon’s predecessor tried a similar tactic six years ago that at best produced minimal results and many argue made the country more dangerous. For now, we pray that God will guide the leaders of this country and give churches the courage to come and serve.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
That is un fortunate that they canceled. It is always a difficult decision, and one that we face almost every time we head into restricted countries with teams. We always have back up locations, but it is still heart breaking to have to inform our workers . One of the locations we are involved, it has been three years since we have been able to put a full team on the ground. I have seen the disappointment from both sides. You may get over this in a few months, but the disappointment and let down for some of the youth may last a lifetime . when things are shaky, some times it is an option to split up into two or three smaller groups over a larger period of time. It is much easier to ensure the safety of a few than that of a large group. I will hold you , and the youth up in prayer.
Blessings John
January 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
bummer! I know we have been driving through those check points and such on our travels from state side to Ensenada . . .But it is a real bummer to hear of churches getting scared. Man. Guess God isn’t safe enouph?
January 12th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
but I understand about “youth pastors taking a lot of crap” . . . it’s not them, it’s the mothers.
January 14th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
John,
you wrote:
“when things are shaky, some times it is an option to split up into two or three smaller groups over a larger period of time. It is much easier to ensure the safety of a few than that of a large group.”
Although I am excited about the military cleaning up the city, I go back and forth in my mind about how much effort I should put forth to make missions convenient and safe. Short term missions on the U.S. Mexico Border has been called a multi-million dollar industry. There are many organizations here who pride themselves on making mission trips to Tijuana as easy and comfortable as possible. I’m not saying that’s necessarily right or wrong, just searching for the right balance.
I’m getting off topic here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter. We’ll probably do a post dedicated to this later.
January 15th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I recognize that we face different threats , but For me, the bigger the group the bigger the target! For myself or some of the other middle aged men to spend a night or two in jail would be a reasonable risk, but to have a 70 year old grandmother or someone’s 18 year old daughter taken for a few days would not be reasonable risk. it is also harder to keep a large group out of trouble and a low profile in the markets and villages. Safety I believe is something that we must take seriously, lets put it this way, I would be of little benefit to future trips to have a team member kidnapped and beheaded or even gunned down in the streets for that mater. As far as comfort, as long as I find them a flush toilet once a day, they should consider themselves fortunate ! I look forward to your post on ” Making missions trips easy or comfortable”
BLESSINGS