¡Adelante!

In Spanish, adelante means “go ahead” or “move forward”. This is the best word I can think of to describe how God has made it clear to us to move forward with a Christ- centered drug treatment center in our neighborhood.

The pastor of our local church, Ramon and one of the church leaders, Miguel, have a heart for drug addicts. Ramon was redeemed out of a life of drug dealing. Miguel was rescued by God from a life of drug addiction. Miguel was once the director of a Christian drug treatment center near Nogales, Mexico before the center was closed for lack of funds.

Over a year ago, Brian Donohue joined in an on-going conversation with Ramon and Miguel regarding the need for a drug treatment center that not only addressed the addiction but also showed the way toward a real life in Jesus Christ. Late in 2007, a piece of land was found at the far end of our neighborhood. It overlooked the city with what I think is one of the most beautiful vistas of Nogales. This photo is courtesy of Ryan Thurman, a Cuirim friend.


It is in an area of our neighborhood heavily populated with drug addicts. As we prayed about this and waited for God to provide funding to buy the parcel of land, the owner decided to sell it to someone else. It seemed that God was putting the plan on hold. The call to help drug addicts has not changed for Miguel and Ramon. Again, they were in a position of waiting for God to bring to fruition the hope that He had placed inside of them.

We started the summer work projects. About half-way through the summer, a single mother named Lisabeth approached Brian with an offer. She owned the plot of land next to the plot that we had wanted for the drug treatment center. Her husband had begun to build a home for them before he abandoned Lis and their 2 year old daughter. Lis was willing to trade with us for a different plot of land. Within 2 days, we had located a house for sale up the street from her mother. The existing house was in poor repair so we offered to build her a new house as well. Here a group of volunteers surrounds the house before demolition, praying for Lis and the neighborhood.


The cost of the property we bought for Lis was $1,600. We can build her a solid home for about $2,000. The total transaction is less than $4,000 which is about what we would have paid for the land we had looked at last year. As we choose to not fret over our plans not working out, we learn to wait for God to work things out because He knows when it is best to move forward. Because we waited and didn’t rush through another land deal somewhere else, we got the plot of land directly beside the one we originally wanted. Additionally, a single mother now has property in her name and a house for she and her daughter. Finally, the location of the new plot of land for the drug treatment center is located next to another, larger plot that may become available in the future, allowing expansion of the center as God provides. Here is an action shot of the work:


The initial plan calls for housing for 6-8 men in a single dormitory. In front of the dormitory is a chapel and behind that the future kitchen/office and bathroom. In the picture below you see the chapel being constructed of cement block. The wood structure to the right is the men’s dormitory. The concrete floor to the right will be the kitchen/office area.


Miguel has been named the director of the center. He is currently the cook for the Kid’s Café. When the center is up and running, he will work there exclusively. We are looking for someone to assume the responsibilities of cooking for the Kid’s Café. It is hoped that an older woman in the neighborhood, Doña Mica, can begin cooking for the kids soon. In order to complete the construction and open the center, we will need to raise $1,500 to complete the dorm, $1,200 for the kitchen, $2,500 to complete the chapel, about $1,800 to complete the bathroom, $750 for the office, $300 for the gate and about $400 for a flower garden. Please pray about this need as it is brought to your mind.

No one is certain as to the cost of operating the drug treatment center. We are estimating that we will need $1,200 per month for operating costs, mainly for the director’s salary. As with everything, we look for God to raise up people to support this outreach. It is very much needed. While we worked on the construction of the first building, I was approached by a man who lives across the street. When he learned what we were doing, he told me that he himself was addicted to crystal meth and he asked to be checked in. His name is Luis and he is 26 years old. I think we are in the place where God wants us.