By KATHERINE PETERSEN
Nearly 200 students, parents and teachers from the King's Academy in Sunnyvale packed their bags, tools and materials March 22 for a week of building houses for the homeless near Tijuana, Mexico.
This service project, which is in its fifth year, teaches high school students how to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people less fortunate than they, said Lisa Spangenberg, the school's public relations director.
"The King's Academy hopes to instill in our students a serving mentality that will motivate them to give their time and talents to make a difference in this generation," said principal Jack McBirney.
During their week in Mexico, students were placed in construction teams that built eight homes from the ground up. The students did everything from drywalling, installing electrical equipment, building lofts, and putting in windows to painting.
"Building homes together with students, teachers and parents is a real bonding experience. It's rewarding to work so hard to build something for someone else," said Brian Cordial, a senior from Cupertino.
Sunnyvale resident Joel Vanderet, a senior, agreed, adding that going to Mexico and seeing so much poverty helps him appreciate how much he has.
"The people are very poor in the city where we are building. It's amazing how happy they are with what little they actually have. They're so willing to give you anything. I've been touched by so many people there," he said.
Laura Peterson, a teacher at the academy, enjoys watching students learn and working alongside them.
"It's one thing to build a house, but it's another to teach someone to build a house. It's encouraging to see freshman girls up on the roof pounding nails," she said.
They realize how much they have and come home different people, she added.
In addition to handling construction duties, students enrolled in Spanish classes were busy conducting the Kids' Club, an afternoon event where the Mexican children could play games and sports and to do crafts.
Students develop strong bonds among them while sweating, sleeping in tents, using outhouses and learn to survive without the comforts of home, Vanderet said.
"The girls complain at first about not having showers, and I miss having one, too, by the fifth day. People usually get over it once we're out there working," Vanderet said.
Students who choose not to go to Mexico must complete 40 hours of community service during the rest of the year.
King's Academy is a nondenominational Christian middle and high school, founded in 1991 with 29 students. The population has grown to 400 students this year.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, March 26, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.