Seventeen members of the Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church traveled to Valle de Santiago in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, from June 25 through July 3, 2005, to work at Habitat for Humanity there.  Their work was supported by grants from the Synod of the Trinity and the Presbytery of Carlisle.  In addition, members paid some of their expenses themselves, earned some money by fundraising, and were supported by their church.

In Valle de Santiago, the group split into two subgroups.  Three participants worked on laying bricks for one Habitat home. (picture at left). The other participants tore down an existing house that was to be replaced by a Habitat home, (see below) and then began the digging for the new foundation.  The families in Mexico who were to live in the new homes worked with the two groups throughout the entire week.  The picture at the top is our group with the Habitat families and staff.

MPC members who participated in this trip were Barbara Bell, David Bell, Ben Bricker, Ron Flaig, David Hoover, Samantha Horvath, Spenser Leader, Sean O’Malley, Amanda Pepper, Brandon Philp, Ed Schwalm, Jenna Singiser, Nancy Singiser, Chris Vandrew, Kathleen Wells, Patrick Zang, and Sara Zullo.