How Can CUPS Adapt?

Will the current drug war violence currently being experienced in Mexico lead inexorably to the end of CUPS mission work?

The work of CUPS is guided by its Mission Statement:

CUPS is an ecumenical ministry assisting northeastern Mexican communities to improve health and education, and fostering a sense of community while providing mission trip volunteers an opportunity to serve and be served. Working alongside community members, volunteers help build or enhance community facilities and foster related activities.

Accomplishing this Mission Statement requires volunteers and financial support to address the health and education needs of northeastern Mexico.  CUPS is currently facing considerable challenges to find the resources needed to meet these needs, even as these needs are expected to increase.

CUPS has a 20 year track record of good service to the region.  Included in many of CUPS' past projects have been improved water quality supplies to poor communities, health care facilities for those without access to health care, and enhanced educational facilities for children in needy areas.  CUPS has established deep and trusted relationships with many community, education, and health leaders who look to CUPS for continuing support, and it is our goal to continue to help them as God gives us ability.

CUPS is facing unprecedented financial challenges, and also the reality that reports of violence have deterred many volunteers from traveling to Mexico.  The extent of these challenges is forcing CUPS to look for creative ways to finance its operations, to keep as many volunteers as possible involved in CUPS' work, and to continue to support the communities which count on us.  One way CUPS is addressing the financial challenge is by reducing costs, including cuts to staff, office expense, warehouse expense, truck expense, and even postage and office supplies.

Due to the very small number of workgroups this year, CUPS has reduced the number of projects, and has also recruited more volunteers than ever from the Mexican communities to assist with construction, while continuing to provide supplies and construction supervision.  This approach will allow CUPS to complete two education projects - one for the Atizapan de Zaragoza Primaria, and the other for the Nueva Creacion Primaria in Valle Hermoso,   While this is no mean accomplishment in the difficult environment of 2010, it is not a satisfying fulfillment of the Mission Statement.

The CUPS directors are spending many hours evaluating ways for CUPS to turn this situation around in 2011, to provide the needed facilities, as well as opportunities for mission workers to be engaged. To what extent and how long the region will continue to experience the current unrest is unpredictable. One fact is evident - the ability for CUPS to serve the northeastern Mexican region in its traditional manner is very limited at this time.  Recognizing this, and with a strong desire to remain a viable entity to serve the region, CUPS is pursuing the possibility of identifying some service projects on the US side of the border for 2011.  In doing so, only projects that are consistent with CUPS' mission, ie. serving the health and education needs of communities, and providing excellent mission opportunities for volunteers, will be considered.  An update on this initiative will be provided as more is learned this summer.  If you, or your church, might be interested in this type of service opportunity on the US side of the border, we would very much like to hear from you.

Even though CUPS is currently limited in its ability to assist communities in the northeastern Mexican region, CUPS staff continues to maintain its long-term relationships with health and educational institutions and hopes that we will be able to return to serving the needs of this region.  The current state of unrest in the region has only made the needs more critical.

CUPS asks for your continued prayers for our work, and welcomes any thoughts and suggestions on how CUPS can best address its current challenges. Also, we need your continued financial support now more than ever. Please go to the Quick Links for information on how you can provide financial assistance at this very critical time.