Mexican Christian Children's Aid

Mexican Christian Children's Aid, or MCCA is a non-profit corporation founded by a group of Christian business men concerned over the contrast between the wasteful affluence of our society and the abject poverty found so close to our borders. Based in the small California city of Redlands where MCCA operates a small warehouse where supplies are stored in preparation for the next trip. MCCA is a 501c(3) non profit corporation. All donations to MCCA are used directly to purchase food items. Freight and transportation costs are absorbed by MCCA drivers, members, and volunteers. Bibles and other printed materials are purchased with funds directly given for that purchase. Twelve to fifteen trucks depart for Baja California from Redlands every 4 weeks carrying 25 tons of food, feeding a total of 2400 kids, in orphanages ranging from 14 to 240 children.

Mission Statement

MCCA is a ministry obedient to God's call to care for children in need by supplying those in Baja California with food, Scriptures and the opportunity to know the love of Christ. MCCA is dedicated to helping needy children through assistance to orphanages, youth work, and other Christian workers helping these children find a new life in Christ and to become healthy, responsible, young citizens of their country.

History

Officially founded in 1964. Started by two Christians on a fishing trip down in Baja California who were told of the day-to-day struggles of running an orphanage. One, owning a ranch, offered a few frozen chickens, the other not to be outdone, offered some oranges from his grove. Soon, both found themselves taking these goods down to Baja on a regular basis. Soon the two had numerous orphanages to take supplies to and has become what it is today. Currently, MCCA is working with 45 childcare organizations throughout the Baja area.

Monthly Trips

Trips begin being planned as soon as the previous trip is over, if not sooner. Most supplies are collected the week of the trip, others are collected on the day of the trip in Mexico. Usually the Friday before the trip, everything is loaded onto the trucks, with the help of volunteers.

Most of the trucks meet in a parking area, owned by a MCCA volunteer, in Redlands. Once all trucks gather, all form a circle and pray for the Lord's blessings and then proceeds to caravan down to Escondido to get organized and meet up with those who have gone ahead. Breakfast as a group is had in a Escondido restaurant where delivery assignments are distributed and any last minute instructions are discussed. After breakfast, the group then proceeds to Otay Mesa to cross the border into Mexico. At the border, Mexican officials give the convoy different receptions, which vary as simple as paying the fees of taking food across the boarder to full on inspections by inspectors, usually agricultural, where everything is searched and then fees can be payed. Waiting times could be as few as 10 minutes to as much as 3 hours. Always different.

From the boarder, the drivers go off on different routes, usually in pairs. Some make deliveries in Tijuana, while others purchase the flour, pasta, eggs and meat, food that must be purchased in Mexico due to a contraband placed by the Mexican government. Once most deliveries or drop offs are made, drivers head back up north, delivering to few ministries along the way. Passing into the United States is a simple as showing identification at the boarder crossing in Tecate. All is waiting to get to the boarder, an hour wait at the longest. Most drivers usually arrive back in Redlands as early a 7 PM, later if stopping for dinner.

Routes

Traditionally, trucks are either part of the "short run," which makes deliveries along the boarder and ends in Tecate, or the "long run," which goes south towards Ensenada to meet and distribute food to eighteen ministries located south of Ensenada. To one not familiar with this scene, a swap meet quickly comes to mind.

But starting in August of 2008, there will be an additional route added. Trucks will travel farther south than Ensenada straight from crossing the boarder. This will relieve the traveling burdens of many ministries whose financial resources are limited and to reduce "wear and tear" on those ministry's vehicles.

Persecution

MCCA doesn't meet very persecution from the people they serve, but by the officials at the boarder. Resentment runs high and its a matter of national pride. The idea of residents of a foreign nation having to cross the boarder to feed children of their country is the reasoning most see behind all the trouble encountered at the boarder.

Contacting

Standard Mail -

MCCA

PO Box 845

Redlands, CA 92373

More information and general programquestions - [e-mail]

References

http://www.mccaredlands.org/