Mexico

Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
An image of Mexico Where Mexico is in the world.

Mexico has mountains, rainforests, deserts and beaches. Ancient people groups such as the Aztecs built huge pyramids and impressive cities. In the 1500s the Spanish came to Mexico, bringing diseases that made the Aztec tribes sick. The Spanish took over and ruled Mexico until 1821.

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Mexico City

Compassion's work in Mexico began in 1979.

Spanish

Here's some basic Spanish:

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Hola
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Gracias
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Adios

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Xoloitzcuintli

(or Xolo for short, a hairless dog). Archaeological evidence shows that they have lived in Mexico for more than 3,000 years.

Traditional Mexican houses are built with adobe, which is a muddy mixture of clay soil, straw and water. The mixture is made into bricks which are then used to build houses.

Living conditions

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116 million

There are currently more than 32,900 children supported in Mexico.

Mexico has lots of oil that it sells to other countries. This means that some Mexicans are rich, but most, particularly those who live in the country, are often very poor. Gigantic shanty towns are built around cities as people come looking for work but are too poor to afford other houses. It is estimated that 24 million Mexicans are living in extreme poverty.

The poverty has forced many children to move, on their own or with their families, both within the country and to the United States. Over 3.5 million children are forced to work and many end up homeless, often sleeping on the streets of large cities where they face many dangers.

Find out what a Compassion sponsored child from Mexico thinks about God. Story and photos by Cesiah Magaña, Mexico Field Communications Specialist.

Mexico is a Catholic country and most people have some understanding of God. The children that go to Compassion projects hear about God through regular Bible studies, talks, prayer and songs, as well as through their encouraging Christian project staff.

Here’s what they said:

Angel Rivero, an 8-year-old boy from the state of Mexico.

Who is God? My Saviour.

How do you picture Him in your mind? Great and beautiful.

What is your favourite Bible story? The one on Moses because he took the people of Israel out of slavery.

What is your favourite Bible verse? Psalm 23.

What has God done for you? He gave my father his work back because he was unemployed for two months and they called him back from where he used to work to hire him again. He also healed my mother when she fell and she hurt her feet and takes care of my brother Jose because he has brain paralysis and cannot walk or talk.

Have you ever asked God for anything special? I ask God for the surgery that my brother Jose will have. He is going to have surgery on his feet so he can walk. I also pray for his rehabilitation.

If you could see God what would you ask him? I would ask Him to take care of my family and that we will be always together. I would also ask Him why is it that my great grandmother cannot stop smoking? I ask God to take care of her and to give her health so that she will be with us longer.

Ana Mercedes Chavez Zárate, a 16-year-old girl from Chiapas.

Who is God? The creator of the universe; a supernatural being. He is love.

How do you picture Him in your mind? I picture Him as a person, because He created us in His likeness and image.

What is your favourite Bible story? Job and Abraham because they had great faith and obeyed God.

What is your favourite Bible Verse? Psalm 4:3.

What has God done for you? He died for me.

Have you ever asked God for anything special? I have asked God that my mother will come back to walk with the Lord.

If you could see God what would you ask him? I would ask Him not to leave me ever.

Aarón Hernández Chavez, a 4-year-old boy from Chiapas.

Who is God? My father.

How do you picture Him in your mind? Very big.

What is your favourite Bible story? My favourite character is Jesus and my favourite story is the one of Moses when he opened the sea.

What is your favourite Bible Verse? Psalm 4:8.

What has God done for you? He has protected me from everything.

Have you ever asked God for anything special? I ask Him to take care of my family.

If you could see God what would you ask him? For a toy.

Please pray for the people living in poverty in Mexico, especially for children who are homeless. Pray that they would be safe.

Pray that children in Compassion projects in Mexico would know how loved they are by God.

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Peso

The Mexican peso is the eighth most traded currency in the world.

There are 187 Compassion projects in Mexico.

How can you encourage your sponsored child?

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Why not write to them and mention some of the facts you’ve found here. Ask them questions about what it’s like to live in Mexico.

For a taste of Mexico, try our simple Quesadilla recipe:

Recipe:

Ingredients (adult help needed)
  • 6 large flour tortillas
  • 3 cups of grated cheddar cheese
  • Olive oil
  • ¼ of a red onion finely chopped
  • ½ red chilli deseeded and finely chopped to taste
  • Lettuce, salsa, sour cream and guacamole to serve
  1. Heat oil in a frying pan to a medium high heat.
  2. Put a large flour tortilla in the pan and put a thin, even layer of cheese, onion and chilli on top. Leave a one centimetre rim around the edge of the tortilla.
  3. Add another tortilla to the top and squash down on the cheese mix carefully. When the cheese has melted slightly and the bottom tortilla is a golden brown underneath, turn the quesadilla over carefully with a spatula. When both sides are nicely browned and the cheese mix is melted, remove from the pan.
  4. Repeat the same process with the rest of the tortillas.
  5. Cut the quesadillas into six or eight segments to serve and plate up with the lettuce, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

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Sombreros are the wide brimmed hats that come from Mexico. Their name comes from the Spanish word for shadow, ‘sombra’.

What is a dog’s favourite city?

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New Yorkie!

Information sources: The CIA World Fact Book 2011, Compassion International, Human Development Report, BBC, Wikipedia