About Acapulco
One of Mexico`s most popular and beautiful seaside resorts, Acapulco is located on the southwest Pacific coast of the country. The city enjoys a romantic and glorious history. Founded by the Nahua Indians (the predecessors of the Aztecs) around 3000 B.C. Acapulco was conquered by Spaniard Hernàn Cortès when the Aztec Empire fell in 1521. The city retained its importance as a world trading port for the next 400 years and during that time became a haven for pirates. Acapulco began its transformation to that of a vacation destination in the 1920´s when Prince of Wales, the future King Edward II, visited the bay on a fishing expedition
Acapulco's Street Children
There is another not-so-glamorous side of Acapulco, it’s 2,900 children working in the streets of Acapulco, some of whom live and sleep on the streets, rejected by society, and exposed to all manner of dangers around them. These children are as young as 4 years old.
Our ministry in Acapulco
The Sobre el Puente (“Over the Bridge”) Ministry started in January 2002, by a group of local volunteers who came every month to visit the children on the streets of their community. These compassionate volunteers would bring breakfast, games, songs, and lots of Christian love and acceptance. A few months later a businessman offered a small apartment, which allowed us to begin a small “drop-in center” where we worked with the children once a week. The program expanded in early 2003, when we moved the center to a rented house. The drop-in center is now open six days a week from 9 a.m. to 1 p. m. The children take showers, have breakfast, followed by the different activities (worship, Bible club, drug rehabilitation, games, crafts, English lessons, school activities, etc.). Before they leave, the children have assigned cleaning chores, and have lunch.
Many local Christian people are volunteering their time and energy, which is allowing us to extend the program to six days a week. Short-term teams from US churches and missionaries are a great help in this ministry.
The Sobre el Puente ministry is directed by Maggie Gonzalez. To read Maggie's account of the ministry click here. |
