BETHLEHEM – When Bryan Nurnberger of Naugatuck went to Mexico for vacation, he chanced upon an orphanage where children lived in destitute conditions.
He also made an alarming discovery at the dump in Oaxaca, Mexico – 33 families living in structures that rose from the refuse, families whose job consisted of sifting through garbage for recyclables.
The families it turned out, had purchased the small piece of land at the dump from the government.
This weekend, miles away from Mexico, Bethlehem will be bustling with people when the Christmas Town Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8.
People will watch the reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter and minds will be occupied with the glory and gift giving of the season.
The Rev. Pamela Briddle of First Church of Bethlehem, 21 Main St. South, is asking residents to extend the spirit of gift giving to the children and families in Mexico.
“The name Bethlehem literally means house of bread,” Rev. Briddle told Voices. “We are intentionally working to become a church in mission. We’re inviting the community to participate with us.”
First Church of Bethlehem is working with Simply Smiles of Naugatuck, a non-profit organization Mr. Nurnberger founded after his trip to Mexico. Those who attended the Christmas festival in Bethlehem are welcome to stop by First Church, Rev. Briddle invited.
An auction will take place and food will be available for purchase, will (sp.) all proceeds going towards the church’s mission work. The church seeks to provide funds door both orphanage and for the families living at the dump.
One cement block home for a family costs $2,400 to build and comes with a table, chairs and bunk beds.
Those who make a donation to the church’s mission work will receive a loaf of freshly baked bread.
“Let’s have Bethlehem, the house of bread, build a home with bread,” said Rev. Briddle.
Rev. Briddle said that during one Sunday service, she was struck with an inspirational thought.
“If 24 of us put $100 in a plate, we’d have enough to build a house,” she said she told the congregation. “Within five minutes, we had $1300 in that plate. We raised money for half a house.”
There is no minimum donation required; Rev.Briddle said First Church is seeking participation from the community, no matter what the age or talent is of those who wish to help.
She gives examples of people who knit mittens or help paint homes in the local area. She said the church members take trips to the orphanage and the dump, and members of the community who wish to come need not be church members.
“When you go down there, all you hear is children laughing and playing games,”she said. “They had nothing but each other. There’s more joy there – you don’t hear kids bickering because there was nothing to bicker over.”
Now, the children in the orphanage have uniforms and a bus to go to school in. Before Simply Smiles, the children did not go to school because students are required to have uniforms in order to attend and could not afford them, said Rev. Briddle.
“Bryan has really transformed the lives of the children,” she said.
The orphanage, called Casa Hogar, has developed a relationship with the families living in the dump. Once a week, those who live in the orphanage bring lunch to the dump.
The families will not leave the dump because they are proud and often, that is all they know, said Rev. Briddle. Families are raised in the dump and the children and adults work there.
She said Mr. Nurnberger worked hard to develop a relationship of respect and trust.
She shared a touching story about a woman who lives in one of the cement homes from Simply Smiles.
“They get to pick the colors of their house,” she sad. “One woman picked blue for the outside. She had Bienvenido, the Spanish word for welcome, painted over the door.”
A small paved walkway and plastic flowers found in the dump decorate the outside of the house. Rev. Briddle said the woman will not wear her shoes in the house and carefully removes them before entering.
Helping out the orphanage and local families in Oaxaca, Mexico, is great role for First Church. Rev. Briddle said the Congregation voted to enter itself in missionary work.
“We do really good job of taking care of ourselves,” she said. “The gospel says ‘feed your sheep, tend them,’ and that’s what we hope to do.”
First Church will be open from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, December 7, and 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday, December 8. A 7:30 p.m. Vesper’s service will take place on Friday and a Handbell Choir Concert will take place at noon on Saturday.
Those seeking additional information may call First Church at 203-266-7288. Those seeking additional information on Simply Smiles may visit www.simplysmiles.org
