The Poorest County in the United States-A Mission Trip in S. Texas

This week Mission Discovery Spring Break mission trips are on the ground in Hidalgo County, Texas. Just north of Mercedes, Texas is the neighborhood of Indian Hills. At first site the neighborhood seems like another middle class U.S. neighborhood, brick homes, fenced yards and a few children playing nearby. But withing 100 yards of the entrance is a community of poverty, with pieced together homes and mobile homes and debris filled empty lots.

On the very last street in a home meant to house a family of 3, Marie and 6 others live in a mobile home with two bedrooms. She says her daughter and grandchild will be moving in this week bringing the total to 9 in the home. She shrugs her shoulders as she seemed powerless to tell them "no."

With broken windows, and the pin-holes of sunlight peering through small holes in the wall it seems silly to ask, "Marie, what are the most important concerns you have about your house?" She gives the same powerless shrug. "Anything you do will be a great help." "A great help." From the very bottom of life small acts of kindness seem great, but our small budget will only allow our team of 37 to focus on the replacing of two windows on the front of the home, patching holes in her wall and continuing the drywall that a relative started with leftover scraps of drywall.

Marie's house is one of three that a team from Austin will focus on here in South Texas this week. Not only will they repair homes but organize children's games and activities, and share their testimonies.

Of counties with a population over 200,000 Hidalgo is the U.S.'s poorest. In partnership with a local church, Mission Discovery teams will help continue the ministry of that congregation in Indian Hills.

Down the street I asked Perla who will get a new roof this week thanks to the team what color she would like it to be. Color is at the bottom of her list, "You can pick it. I'm just thankful to move closer to having a functioning bath." The roof will be over that new bathroom.

For information on Mission Discovery mission trips in Hidalgo County click the link below. Mission Discovery coordinates mission trips for college students, youth groups, adult groups and family mission trips. Home