Puerto Vallarta - The International Friendship Club (IFC), in its mandate to respond to the humanitarian needs of our community, is always happy to spotlight the efforts of other members of the population that are also making their mark in our little piece of paradise. The IFC is proud to be able to help many such agencies.

On February 23rd, I had the pleasure of accompanying Susan Davalos, Community Services Director for the International Friendship Club, along with Bob Davidson, the volunteer photographer for the IFC on a visit to a new community outreach center.

The center is called Arroyo de Esperanza and is headed by Pastor Luis Miguel Vasquez de Reyes and his wife Lupita Solis. Pastor Luis Miguel formerly headed another center with a similar mission called Pan de Vida.

In just a matter of months this group located in Colonia Salitrillo out beyond the Regional Hospital already has over 200 children in their program. They offer daycare, help with homework and tutoring, English classes and crafts for the children as well as Bible study.

The children range in age from infants to high school. They have over 50 adults learning English and making crafts for sale as well as being involved in Bible Study groups.

The reason for our visit this week was because a group from a large community church in Snohomish Washington, called Gold Creek, was on hand with nurses and volunteers and were partnering with a local doctor from Puerto Vallarta to do health screenings for the children.

Nurses Jen Stout and Ann Ehoff and their husbands and families were in Puerto Vallarta for a combination vacation and volunteer trip. Jen, Ann and Susan Davalos measured height and weight, did pulse and blood pressure readings and took temperatures. Children with any problems will be seen by the doctor.

The members of the Gold Creek congregation have made a financial and volunteer commitment to Arroyo de Esperanza to help them acquire land and build a large building capable of handling this quickly growing community.

Right now they are in a rental building with some small tents to handle the large group and various activities. Already they have set their sights on a nearby parcel of land.

Plans are in the works for two buildings one for administration with an apartment above and another to hold the activities and worship services. They envision sewing labs, classrooms, a kitchen and an auditorium capable of holding 500 people.

Today, Pat Cox, a volunteer from Gold Creek Church who winters in Bucerias, was organizing the clinic as well as crafts for the children. When we arrived the children were fast at work with new puzzles the volunteers brought from Washington state. Later in the afternoon volunteers were blowing up balloons and making dogs and various animals to the delight of the kids.

Pat and her husband Ray volunteer as often as possible at Arroyo de Esperanza. Ray said that the congregation back in Snohomish sold Christmas trees and pledged a days pay to help support this fledging community that most will never see.

The women are involved in doing crafts for sale. They are making the popular crocheted necklaces, beautiful pounded and formed metal work known as Reposé including art frames, crosses and other pieces, and some adorable "fairy crowns" that every grandmother will want to take back for their granddaughters. Right now they have a booth at the Sunday Farmers' Market in La Cruz and hope to branch out to other locations in the future.

The children must show a good command of Spanish before being qualified to begin English lessons. Volunteers work with the children to help them to achieve high marks in school. If a child meets certain standards, then the $50 annual fee for books and school supplies is waived.

The community puts a very high value on education and from the looks of things today they are getting results. We observed some youth and adult English lessons in progress.

Greg Swearingen and his wife Alicia volunteer one day a week at the Center. Greg is on a sabbatical leave as an associate pastor from a Vineyard congregation in Colorado. He is volunteering with the Worship in Paradise Congregation in Puerto Vallarta.

Greg said teams of volunteers buy and prepare food for Arroyo de Esperanza making hot dogs on Wednesday and Quesadillas on Fridays. Another project the volunteers do is make reading glasses for those in the community who need them. They have a metal jig and turned out 45 pairs last week!

Arroyo de Esperanza is looking for volunteers. You need not speak Spanish to help this community. They are right at the end of the Majesterio busline so, although quite a distance, it is not difficult to get there by bus. If you are interested you can contact Pastor Luis Miguel by email at Luismivaz(at)hotmail.com or Pat Cox at Patthodgsoncox(at)aol.com.

The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad. It is located at Edificio Parian del Puente #13, Calle Libertad Corner Miramar, in downtown Puerto Vallarta. For more information, call (322) 222-5466, email ifcvallarta(at)gmail.com, or visit ifcvallarta.com.