OUTREACH MINISTRIES

FOREIGN MISSION OUTREACH

Colonia Lomas Taurinas

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The city of Tijuana is sectioned into communities called “Colonias”.  Colonia Lomas Taurinas (“Colony of the Bullfighters”) is where Antonia lives, and is the place where she began her ministry.  This colonia began  in the early 1980’s as a squatter community.  Migrants from southern  Mexico and Central American countries began flooding Tijuana, in search of work . Many had hopes of entering the "promised land of prosperity," the United States.  

The photo at the upper right shows a distance view of Colonia Lomas Taurinas.  The first migrants built their shelters on government owned land and improved them as their own personal circumstances improved.  Homes are stacked on steep hillsides near the Tijuana airport.  Old rubber tires are used to shore up the hillsides and help protect the structures from soil erosion.   (Note the photo at left and the steep dirt road in the center.)

When Our Lady of Refuge first began visiting Lomas Taurinas in 1988,  the community had no water,  sewer, electrical or phone systems.  The unpaved streets were a maze of dirt, rocks and ruts.  (Note the photo at right.  It shows the main street of Lomas Taurinas after a rain storm.)

The homes were poor - often improvised structures of scrap wood, metal, tar paper and whatever other type of material was available.  (See the photo at left.  It shows the type construction commonly found.)     Although material conditions have improved for many people in Lomas Taurinas, there remain other types of poverty - drug abuse and crime among them.  The challenge remains for Antonia and all who work for the betterment of the community.  

To continue the story, click on the link below:

[The Church in Colonia Lomas Taurinas]

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 OUTREACH MINISTRIES

FOREIGN MISSION OUTREACH