Through many years and more than a few changes, the mission has maintained a focus on listening to and working with the people in the colonias (Anapra) near Juarez, Mexico. The mission work began in 1983 at St. Mark’s Parish in Independence, Missouri with an outreach to communities in Texas and New Mexico. Work in Anapra began in 1990 under the name Guadelupe Association. Throughout the 1990’s a core group of people in the Kansas City area and in the Anapra area worked together to meet the immediate needs of a growing community. The main focus was on medical assistance, educational support, and providing housing. A mission house called Casa de la Cruz was built on land generously donated by two sisters, Gregoria and Leonora de la Cruz. This house served as a gathering place for volunteers and provided a place for tutoring and other educational programs desperately needed in the community. A school sponsorship program began linking children in Anapra with sponsors in the Kansas City area covering some of the financial burden of education. Casa de la Cruz is still managed through St. In the early 2000’s, there was a revitalization of the core group of volunteers on both sides of the US-Mexico border. An emersion experience by parishioners from St. James Parish in Kansas City, Missouri opened new doors and new opportunities. The people in the Anapra expressed a need for a Vacation Bible School program to provide a safe place for the children to go and learn during the summer months. This VBS program started in 2004 and last for 5 weeks serving 80 – 100 children each day. Other Kansas City area parishes including St. Matthew the Apostle, St. Sabina, Holy Family and Immaculate Conception joined with St. James to support this vigorous VBS program. From 2005 to 2008, the VBS program continued to grow with more than 150 students attending each day. Adult and teen volunteers from Anapra stepped forward to help while the Kansas City parishes worked to provide supplies, support, and additional hands during the weeks of VBS. The school sponsorship program continued as well, providing financial assistance to more families each year. A new volunteer house was built on the property of Berta Infante and the core group choose a new name for the mission: “Manos Amigas para una mañana mejor” or “Friendly Hands for a better tomorrow”. Violence in Juarez and the colonias kept the Kansas City volunteers away in the summers of 2009-2012, but the work of the mission continued. More volunteers in Anapra stepped up and served 160-200 children each day for VBS. The school sponsorship arm of the mission celebrated the first college graduation of a sponsored student and more than 60 children benefited from sponsorship. Volunteers from the Kansas City area returned in 2013 and were once again touched by the spirit of the people they encountered. Despite the brutal violence, the community continued to grow strong. A wonderful library built and supported by Lakeland Church complements a lovely public park. There is still great need, but the years of work and connection between Anapra and the Kansas City area has produced many success stories. The work of Manos Amigas continues to change lives and hearts on both sides of the border, truly making it a better tomorrow for all.
