Mission trip to Jurez Meixco (house, neighborhood, casino, live)

[Manoo]

My sons along with their youth pastors and a few other youths from our church are planning to go to Jurez Mexico for a mission trip next month to build a house for a family who is need of God's blessing. With recent news about danger of Traveling to Mexico, Gangs, kidnaping, Ransoms, Killings, etc, as a father I am very concern about the safety of my children and the rest of traveling group. We love Mexican people and it is an honor for us to serve them and witness to them our Lord's love, but I am very concern about the trip. A few parents have already canceled the trip for their kids. Would someone tell me how safe it is to travel to Jurez and live there for a week? Thanks in advance and may God's blessing be upon you always! In His precious love, Manoo

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Manoo

My sons along with their youth pastors and a few other youths from our church are planning to go to Jurez Mexico for a mission trip next month to build a house for a family who is need of God's blessing. With recent news about danger of Traveling to Mexico, Gangs, kidnaping, Ransoms, Killings, etc, as a father I am very concern about the safety of my children and the rest of traveling group. We love Mexican people and it is an honor for us to serve them and witness to them our Lord's love, but I am very concern about the trip. A few parents have already canceled the trip for their kids. Would someone tell me how safe it is to travel to Jurez and live there for a week? Thanks in advance and may God's blessing be upon you always! In His precious love, Manoo

You might want to contact other mission groups that are doing that kind of thing, even contact some churches in El Paso and ask them --- St. Matthews Catholic Church for example recently completed a house with their youth group -- no problems apparently.

The travel advisories are definitely real -- I wouldn't listen to someone who insists that it's perfectly safe in Juarez because it isn't but like Detroit it might not be as true in some neighborhoods and situations. Most of the problems are between the army, police, drug lords, street gangs and other people still go about their daily lives. There are mission groups that could advise you better.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Manoo

My sons along with their youth pastors and a few other youths from our church are planning to go to Jurez Mexico

There is a US Consulate in Juarez -- maybe they can give advise.

Here's a couple links to house building missions, it seems you could contact them and get first hand information.

Casas Por Cristo - Build A Home (http://www.casasporcristo.org/BuildAHome.asp - broken link)

Amor Ministries

There are a lot of people who go back and forth from Juarez and the ones I know will tell you it's no big deal, they figure they're fine with normal precautions, but I also know people from Juarez who no longer go back over there and definitely wouldn't let their kids travel there -- so there are two sides.

[bktx1]

The missions and the housing efforts are not where the narcos are. Most likely, your son will be in an area outside the area. I would advise to stay out of central Juarez, but otherwise should be no problem. It would be wise to instruct everyone to travel in groups, do not go out after dark, the standard line.

[knightender]

I'm going to have some dental work done and will be crossing over from El Paso. What should I expect crossing the border? How thorough are the checks? Do they have Casinos in Juarez? I'd love to play cards if it's legal there and if it's not too dangerous and everything is above board. Anything y'all can tell me would be appreciated.

John

[antgar]

It's not legal in all mexico.

But there are some gaming houses like Playcity, Caliente, Palmas, where you can play...but is not the same.

Regards...