Since 2003, employees of Designscape Horticultural Services have traveled to Matamoros, Mexico in the spring as part of a mission trip to build houses.
Normally, Designscape works with SOS Ministries, primarily in Matamoros. SOS Pastor Paul Gonzalez has built more than 500 homes and Designscape has done 43 alongside them.
Nine to 15 Designcape missionaries have also done work at an elementary school in Matamoros. Designscape general manager Gabriel Gluesenkamp said they’ve built a kitchen where staff can prepare meals for children, a special education room and a small store where kids can buy drinks and sandwiches.
This year, however, things looked a bit different.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]In mid-January, Gonzalez told Gluesenkamp that they would not be able to get across the border.
Designscape then decided to keep it local, serving ministries in Brown and Greene counties the last week of February.
Designscape employees built wooden bike racks and a work bench for New Song Mission, an educational and residential children’s home campus in Brown County that serves vulnerable children from all over Indiana.
They also collaborated with Hope Builders out of Bloomington to build a handicap-accessible ramp for Erin’s Purpose in Bloomfield. Ten Designscape volunteers and six with Hope Builders completed the project for Erin’s Purpose on Feb. 25.
Erin’s Purpose is a nonprofit whose goal is to “encourage and inspire youth through building up of self-esteem; providing a confidence of power, love and self-discipline through the love of Jesus Christ,” according to their Facebook page.
Gluesenkamp said that Terri Neighbors, founder of Erin’s Purpose, had contacted SAWs (Servants At Work) about a ramp. SAWs referred Erin’s Purpose to Hope Builders.
“The day they were trying to figure out who to hire for the deck was the day when Designscape decided to do local missions,” Gluesenkamp said.
Gluesenkamp said they aim to be the “hands and feet” of Christ, with a goal to serve others.
Since Erin’s Purpose had contacted other organizations about their particular needs, he said they could focus on simply providing the service.
