When you hear of someone doing “missions” in Cabo San Lucas, you might find yourself thinking (maybe not out loud), why there? why a resort town? From a westerner’s perspective, specifically someone from the US, when we think of missions, or global missions, most often we think of far off places where no American has ever been. A place where tourism doesn’t abound, where English isn’t a commonly heard language, where there aren’t beautiful beaches and resorts that infiltrate the local community’s landscape. But for some, specifically GRIP international, a place like Cabo is just the place to reach out a hand and offer friendship and care. In a place like Cabo, many times the hurt, the poverty, the poor care of the underprivileged is masked by consumerism, tourism, government development, population growth, nice hotels, pretty beaches, and lots of beautiful handmade artifacts and trinkets to take back to your hometown. GRIP saw through the facade, a group of people who deserve the best, hard-working people, who need a helping hand.
Found on the english version of the Baja California government website was this statement:
“Migrating people arrive to Baja California with the intention of a temporary stay, expecting to later immigrate to the U.S.A., and when they do not accomplish it, the majority decides to reside here permanently. This is the reason why one of each two habitants is born in another State or country”.
Cabo is a land of opportunity, but sometimes not all dreams come true. Many people migrate to Cabo for work in hopes to “get ahead”: to move to the US where visions of greener grasss lie, maybe it’s to give their kids a better education, or maybe it’s just to get a job when it was difficult elsewhere. Immigrating to the states can be very difficult, and many don’t make it.
Many of the people of Cabo have basic needs that are not met everyday: nutritious food, fare wages, childcare while parents work, the presence of a father figure for children, access to free school and education, and many health needs. This is not to say that the government is not trying, but poverty exists as it does all over the world. GRIP can’t solve all these social problems, so lending a helping hand means providing kids with a fun activity, that is safe, healthful, and enjoyable. A place where kids can laugh, be mentored by adults, get exercise and learn how to work together.
Baseball is the name of the game. Helping people is the vision. The location- it could be anywhere- but for GRIP, it’s Cabo.
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