KELSEY MAYS
Staff Writer
Following a U.S. State Department announcement alerting American travelers to increased violence along the U.S./Mexican border, Pepperdine’s Campus Ministry office canceled plans for students to build a home in San Felipe over Spring Break. The decision, made Feb. 9, impacts roughly 40 students who planned to attend the joint Campus Ministry/Project Serve trip.
The State Department’s announcement, issued Jan. 26, urges U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico to exercise added caution in light of increased kidnappings and violence among Mexican drug traffickers. Extending until April 25, the document reports that criminals are taking advantage of Mexico’s disorganized law enforcement agencies and kidnapping or murdering unsuspecting foreign tourists.
Campus Ministers Scott Lambert and Linda Truschke made the decision following notice of the announcement and Pepperdine’s cancellation of other Project Serve programs in Mexico.
“Since the Spring Trip was partnered with the PVC (Pepperdine Volunteer Center), we needed to think accordingly,” Lambert said. “We’re going to work in concert with the University.”
Campus Ministry originally planned to send a team down to build the foundation, followed by the main group to build the house over Spring Break. Both outings were canceled. The semiannual trip usually takes place during Faculty Weekend in October and Spring Break in March, the latter coordinated with Project Serve. The event attracts as many as 120 students in the fall and up to 70 in the spring, who always goes to San Felipe.
The project works in concert with San Felipe’s Church of Christ, which has a 40-year relationship with Pepperdine. During the trip, students typically build a house for a poor family and also do various volunteer activities for the San Felipe community.
“We felt a tug in our hearts … we hate not to go,” Lambert said. “It’s part of our identity.”
Students voiced reluctant adherence to Campus Ministry’s decision.
“It’s disappointing, but at the same time you have to balance the needs of student security,” said junior Robert Jacobo, co-coordinator for the project.
As for the family whose house was to be built, they will have to find alternatives or wait until fall.
“It was kind of sad because we had it all set up, so we had to call the family … and ask them if they might be able to wait until the fall,” Jacobo said.
Campus Ministry fully intends to resume trips next semester.
“We’ll be back in the fall,” Lambert said. “Our relationship with the church and town are not done. There are always people who need help.”
02-24-2005