A new home is dedicated to a family in Reynosa, Mexico, in March. Sue and Jerry Cooper are pictured in back, at right, surrounded by other volunteers (including Edrei Rodriguez, at left), the family members who are being blessed by the home and two Escuela Viva kids who the Coopers sponsor.
Coopers’ love for Mexico mission trip keeps building
Love has no borders for one Holyoke couple, and now Jerry and Sue Cooper are hoping the Holyoke community will fall in love with a mission project just like they did.
In 2008, the Coopers began regular trips to Reynosa, Mexico — a city that borders the United States at the southern tip of Texas.
Through Strategic Alliance’s Homes for the Homeless program, the Coopers have worked alongside other volunteers to build houses for families living in a trash dump.
“It fit our skills,” said Jerry, who was initially asked to be a team leader because of his background in construction and handyman work. And Sue is the perfect complement to her husband with her great organizational and relational skills.
The teams — with a minimum of eight people and a maximum of 25-30 people — use four days to quickly and efficiently assemble a small home before it’s presented to the family in a dedication ceremony.
Jerry said Homes for the Homeless makes sure a concrete pad has been poured and that all materials are on site. It’s a simple process he said — so simple that teenagers can help build the house. It’s not as much about a volunteer’s building skills as it is about their heart and their willingness to serve, he said.
Meanwhile, volunteers like Sue thrive on the relationships that are built with the family. She loves getting the opportunity to pray with them and show them God’s love.
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