Hi Friends,
I want to let you know that at the present time we are still planning on embarking on our 2010 Mission to Mexico Trip April 10th – 14th. I have attached the latest information out of Tijuana. Make sure to read the articles and check the links. We will continue to monitor the situation and if we find that it is too dangerous to go, we will cancel the trip to Mexico and look for some other servant opportunities. I also want to pass on the word from the van rental company as told to Paul Baldwin: “In the last 5 weeks, they have sent 15 vans per week to Mexico and none of the groups had any incidents.” Please continue to pray for peace throughout the world, especially Mexico.
Peace, Tom Hoegel

Dear Esperanza Groups,

Although the media attention regarding security along the border region continues to remain grim, Esperanza groups continue to enjoy enriching, life changing, safe experiences in Tijuana. The link below provides video testimonies from our most recent volunteer group from Western Washington University. We understand the great difficulty the travel warning presents to group leaders, volunteers and parents alike, however, we still do not find reason to believe that U.S. volunteer groups have any reason to feel at risk in working with Esperanza. Below is a list of reasons why we believe this that you may also want to share with volunteers and family of all participants.

There have not been any acts of violence against U.S. volunteer groups in Mexico. In over 20 years of working in Tijuana, never have Esperanza volunteers experienced a dangerous situation that has put them in harms way.
Our staff knows the neighborhoods and city of which we work. They know the areas of concern, take security matters seriously and are familiar with our organization’s security procedures. Should our staff believe that it is unsafe for volunteer groups to be in Tijuana, group leaders will be the first to be contacted.
Our facility and communities in which we work are located outside of Tijuana proper and at no time is it necessary to travel in or through downtown Tijuana or to areas outside of the communities that we work.

Our executive director Josefina Pataky and Esperanza board member Gilda Vilaplano, met with the US consul general Stephan Kashkett in Tijuana this past week to get his take on the security situation. He expressed his frustration that Tijuana has been lumped into the statistics of the border region when it is clear that the violence to which the media refers is “primarily taking place in Juarez and Reynosa while the perception is that the warning is for the whole border region”. His sentiment echoes our own and that of the people in Tijuana who are being affected by this negative press. The current warning is in affect until April 12th and we are hopeful that there will be a reassessment at that time.

We continue to stay vigilant regarding all matters of security and will remain open and transparent with groups.

Thank you for the dedication you all have to our programs. We know the incredible effort it takes to create Esperanza groups, especially during this time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is information that would be helpful or supportive.

Sincerely,
Aimee Khuu

Testimony from recent volunteer groups- 4/2/2010
Western Washington University

Security letter to volunteer groups- 3/19/2010

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs089/1102586872221/archive/1103211473076.html

Interview with Hugo Salinas, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Attorney General of Tijuana

http://esperanzaint.org/aboutus_tjsafety.html

Other online resources:

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/mexico-travel-warning.htm

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/images/torresletter.JPG

http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/01/rosarito-beach.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ahead-spring-break-state-dept-issues-travel-alert/story?id=9956535

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/20/travel-alert-hitting-city-in-wallet-mayor-says/

–
Aimee Khuu
Esperanza Registrar
206-228-2082
es----@------.com
www.esperanzaint.org

Hi Friends,
I’ve printed for you the update from Esperanza regarding the current “Travel Warning”. I am publishing the following trip update in the Sunday Bulletin as well.

Mission to Mexico Update
As you have probably heard in the news, the US State Department has raised the Travel Advisory for several areas of Mexico to a “Warning” status. While most of the violence is centered in Juarez (736 miles away), there are now five Mexican cities that have a “Warning Status” including Tiuana. The Board President of Esperanza just made a special trip from Seattle, WA to Tijuana to asses the situation. After consultation with Esperanza staff and local authorities, the determination is that risk for the average person is minimal and that violence has in fact decreased in Tijuana over the past 12 months. While we are currently planning on fulfilling our commitment to work with the needy families of Mexico (April 10th – 20th), we will continue to asses the safety of doing so. If it is deemed unsafe to travel, we will change our plans. During these troubling times, please pray for the families of Mexico and for those who are planning on participating on the trip. For more info, visit the Bethel Youth Website (www.blcyouth.com) and read the entire letter from Esperanza. Also, please contact me if you have any questions.
Peace, Tom Hoegel
Youth Director
408-252-8500 X113
th----@------.net

Esperanza International Security Update:

Dear Esperanza Group Leaders,

We realize the growing concerns of the security risks in Mexico.
I will begin by stating that, as a staff and through our own investigations, we have no reason to believe that the violence will affect foreign volunteer groups in Tijuana. In our 23 years of operation and upwards for 1,400 volunteers from the United States a year, we have never had a violent situation occur. Our volunteers are the top priority of our organization, and our staff is from Tijuana, knows Tijuana and keep volunteers out of any areas in which conflict has occurred. While we can never promise safety, I will ensure to you that we take the situation of volunteer safety very seriously and take precautions to keep volunteers in large groups, in safe areas and among populations that know our organization and its mission.

The violence that has generated this most recent state report is a tragic incident that took place in Ciudad Juarez- over 736 miles away from Tijuana and two states away from the state that the volunteers will be working. The murder of a US employee of the US consulate and her husband is unfortunate but in no way indicative of the security situation in Tijuana or the entire state of Baja California. The border region is often generalized and Tijuana is lumped into statistics and reports that include the instability of the cities south of Texas, including Ciudad Juarez.
Please rest assured that should the situation in Tijuana become precarious for volunteer groups- we will contact group leaders and participants immediately. At this time, the areas that we work and reside- the small neighborhoods that surround the city of Tijuana to the south- have not been impacted by the insecurity with which Mexico is struggling. Violence continues to be concentrated between drug traffickers, law enforcement and those actively speaking out against the drug cartels.

Esperanza Board Member, Jan Kline, has spent the past few days speaking with Esperanza staff and local Tijuana officials to fully assess the situation. All conversations have affirmed our understanding that the risk for the average person is minimal and that violence has, in fact decreased in Tijuana over the past 12 months. According to Chief of Staff for the Attorney, Generals Office for Tijuana, Baja California “16,000 Americans live in Rosarito..and the number continues to grow, and 50,000 people cross the border daily.” He adds that police in Tijuana are actually trained in 10 US cities including Seattle and Vancouver BC.

It is important that we all have open communication. We will be open with groups and volunteers and continue to be in contact. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We ask that all participants know that risks exist in travel but Esperanza commits to do all that is possible to ensure a safe experience. In the same way, we ask that group leaders are open with participants regarding the new warning issued by the state department regarding risks in Mexico. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html

Please let me know if you have any additional questions, comments or concerns. Feel free call or email me at the contact information below.

Sincerely,

Aimee Khuu
Esperanza International
(206) 228-2082
es----@------.com

www.esperanzaint.org

Tonight we’ll be having a wonderful St. Patty’s Day celebration at the Emmert’s. Leave at 5:30 and be back around 8:30. If you haven’t already signed up make sure to do so, so we know how much food is going to be needed!! DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR GREEN CLOTHING!!!

- PAIGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

Hi Friends,
I know you are concerned, as I am, about the latest reports of violence in Mexico. We will be researching the facts of what has been happening and determining if the environment is safe for us to travel to the Tijuana area.

Esperanza is also very actively pursuing the safety concerns and I am including an email from the Chair of the Esperanza Board as to her personal commitment to get the accurate facts.

Please contact me with questions and/or concerns. I will keep you posted as to our plans.

Peace, Tom

Here’s Jan’s letter:
March 15, 2010
Dear Esperanza groups,

Yesterday, March 14, 2010, the United States Department of State web site upgraded the Mexico Alert to a Warning. We immediately became aware of this status change and met this morning to determine the course we will take and share that information with you.

As a group leader of 19 consecutive years and board member since 2001, I will be going to Posada this Wednesday to observe, ask questions, and try to assess. We, as a board, remain committed to your safety and take our duty seriously. We pledge a thorough investigation of what impact this might have on our valued groups. We also have a contact with the American Consulate in Tijuana to determine what increase danger might be present. Statistically at this time, Tijuana is increasingly safer with a sizeable reduction of violence during the past 12 months.

Please look for an update later this week.

Jan Kline

–
Aimee Khuu
Esperanza Registrar
206-228-2082
es----@------.com
www.esperanzaint.org

Hi Friends,
Just a reminder that we’re taking our Sr High Sunday School on the road today (March 14th). We’ll leave at 10am to head over to Good Shepherd church with a pit stop at Starbucks. Bring some $ for your snack. The service goes from 11am to 12:30pm and we’re invited to stay for lunch if we want. We’ll check people’s schedules and figure out what we’ll do. Call me if you have any questions (408-309-9975).
Peace, Tom

Hola mi amigos,
We will be heading off tomorrow night at 5:30 to enjoy a dinner at Taco Bell and then Yogurtland.
At 7:15 we will be having our Mission to Mexico meeting in the Fireside room.Even if you are not sure if you can go or want to go, come and find out the details before you make your final decision. This is a great trip to experience so come and find out more!
Hasta mañana,
Lindsay

Hi Friends,
Here’s a pdf of the Common Ground Announcement Page for tonight. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Also, a reminder that we’re having a Mission to Mexico Info Meeting this coming Wednesday night, March 10th at 7:15pm in the Fireside Room.

Also, also: We will be joining two So Cal churches for a Houseboat Trip this summer (see the announcement page). We have a fund raising opportunity this Saturday working concessions at the Bethel School Health Fair. I’m looking for interested kids and adults to work this event. Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks, Tom
March 8, 2010 CG Announcement (104.2 KiB)

Hi Common Ground Parent Types,
I’m excited that so many of you were with us last Monday. I’ve attached pdf’s of many of the forms that I handed out last week. I’ll put out the schedule very soon when I determine the exact date of the Car Wash. Thanks for all your support and I look forward to the coming months.
Peace, Tom
2010 Youth Mission Statement (45.6 KiB) 2010 Common Ground "Is" (86.0 KiB) 2010 Common Ground Parent Help (44.8 KiB) Common Ground History (29.4 KiB)

Hi Friends,
Here’s the March 1st Common Ground Announcement.
Peace, Tom
3.1.10 CG Announcement Page (106.6 KiB)

Hi Friends,
I want to invite you all to join me for Sunday School tomorrow. We will talk about God’s love for us and be inspired by the talk Jay Baker gave at the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans last summer. Oh yeah, we’ll have snacks too. I’ll see you at 9:30am tomorrow morning.
Peace, Tom
P.S. Bring your Winter Retreat payments too.