As a mission of the Little Chapel by the Lake for more than 20 years, the congregation has taken food to 25 of the poorest folks (down from 50 due to hard times) each month in the little town of San Juan Tecomatlan. The famous “blue box” (now painted white) in front of Little Chapel by the Lake is a repository for all manner of donations that are taken directly to the village and the homes in need of the items. Folks have been generous through the years, donating doors, windows and lumber torn from their homes during remodeling. In fact, seven bathrooms were built with sink, toilet and showers with hot water – an impressive accomplishment in a town where 220 homes out of the 330 homes there do not have functioning bathrooms or no bathroom at all.
Recently, nearly 100 people of the Little Chapel by the Lake, the Christ Church Anglican Congregation, Lakeside Presbyterian Church and friends visited the village while 50 of the village’s poorest children enacted a traditional “posada.” The typical Mexican scene of Mary on the burro and Joseph walking beside her seeking ‘posada’ (an inn or someplace to rest) was unforgettable, and, according to some who were there, will long be remembered after all the presents are gone.
The kids, their visitors and benefactors all assembled once again at the home of Wendy Johnson, who is in charge of the mission, for a big potluck. “This is so important,” said Johnson, “because these who have so little need to know that they are not forgotten.”
Those interested in helping the mission with the feeding program or other aspects of the mission should contact Johnson at (376) 763-5139. Donations of clothing, household goods and just about everything useful can be dropped in the big white box with the letters SJT in blue on the front.