Youths on a mission to Mexico

As hundreds of their peers slept-in Saturday morning, 63 Yuba-Sutter youth packed vans and trailers for a weeklong trip to Mexico to build houses during their spring break.

The youth, as part of the Yuba-Sutter Mexico Mission, volunteered to give up their week's vacation from school to help others in another part of the world.

"It's worth it," said 17-year-old Alex McConnell when asked why he's participating. "You get a sense of satisfaction by doing something for someone else."

During the trip, organized by parishioners from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Yuba City, participants build homes and churches for families and communities in Mexico that need it the most.

On Saturday morning, the 63 young adults and 25 parent chaperones were at St. Andrew to begin their journey.

The group is scheduled to build three homes and one church in the town of Tecate on the Baja peninsula. They will return to Yuba City on March 29.

Trip Director John Buckland said this is the church's 19th year organizing the trip and the eighth year he's participated. He comes back, he said, because each year is a different experience.

"It's really amazing to me that the young adults are giving up this week to do deeds for others," Buckland said. "It's rewarding to me to see the look of excitement and appreciation on their faces when we come back."

Buckland said the young adults participating are not just from St. Andrew; many are community members from other churches and high school students who wanted to help.

Buckland's son and wife are also on the trip.

"I'd much rather do this than nothing for my spring break," Nathan Buckland said. "It's a lot of fun."

Katie Roberts was at the church Saturday to see off her son Justin.

"I think all of our youth should go on some type of trip like this and make some type of sacrifice," she said. "They get a lot out of it."

Chris Odom said that as a mother she always worries about her children.

"I'm proud he's out there doing this," she said about her 16-year-old son, Gary.

Cheylene Dellamaggiore, 17, said she loves the experience of meeting and communicating with the Mexican families she's helping.

"I connect with the kids," she said. "It's fun to interact and show them their new homes."

Contact Appeal reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com