My Trip into Mexico March 2024

Del Rio Texas and Acuna Mexico, Tuesday March 12, 2024

Last year my buddy Bill Siewert introduced me to Shon and Janeene Young from Young Living Stones. (younglivingstones.com) They are missionaries based in Del Rio Texas.  Bill said to me ‘if you ever make it to Del Rio look them up, they are good people doing good work’.

Since I am just wondering around the country, I pointed the RV towards Del Rio and I am so glad I did.  What an experience.

I met Shon and Janeene around 8:45am at their home/mission home-base in Del Rio, TX. After introductions and coffee, we set out to work.

My first task was breaking up/sorting Red Cross Emergency Boxes and separating the ‘good’ food items from the expired items.  There were 2 large boxes each containing 30 smaller boxes…to start!  After I got finished with them Janeene said ‘good job’ now start working on the other 12 cases!  4.5 hours later I finished, and my back was hurting bad, but there was more to do.

After finishing that task, Shon and I crossed the border into Acuna Mexico where his team does most of their mission work.  I had absolutely no idea where we were going or what I was about to experience.  

We approached a walled and gated compound, Centauro Sifuentes Shelter, part prison, part mental institution and part rehab center.  It looked like hell to me.

A ‘trustee’ unlocked the gate and we entered. Shon began to tell me about this place.  It is a place where the mentally ill, unwanted, unwashed, homeless, addicted, forgotten people go in Acuna.

There are about 75 people ‘living’ here, they are just existing here. There are 3 large rooms for living.  Young men’s room, older men’s room, and the women’s room.

These are the bunks in the young men’s room.  The mattresses were so dirty and broken, it was so sad.  The smell was something I will never forget.

The older men’s room.  It was larger with better ventilation but still horrible conditions.  Some of the older men were in wheelchairs and using walkers.

The mental illnesses range from Schizophrenia to severe anger issues to depression to various addictions, and everything in between.

If this wasn’t bad enough, they next took me to the ‘rehab room.’

The room was about 10x30’ where 13 girls/women ‘lived’ sleeping on cots and mattresses on the floor.  They are locked in here 23 hours a day!!!  There is one lightbulb and no windows.

As they unlocked the door, they all started cheering, the door isn’t usually unlocked during the day, so they were happy that they were going to see some daylight.

What I saw next absolutely broke my heart. They were absolutely packed in there and the stench was overwhelming.  All they have is a bucket for a toilet and some small personal items, and nothing else.

They stay here for 6 months and then are allowed to return home where their families usually get them strung out again and they return.  The families don’t want them or can’t take care of them.

There is absolutely NO rehab going on here!  Just locked up like animals and the only outside human contact they have is during meal time and the hour they get to spend outside in the evening for exercise.

This is me with my new friend, Arturo.  He is 22 years old and has lived here for just over 5 years.  When he was 2 years old, his mother doused him with acid and gasoline and set him on fire.  After a long time in several hospitals, he was sent to an orphanage for a short time, then he ran off and became homeless, living on the streets and gutters.  He can’t hear or speak but he has learned to read lips.  He is in constant pain and still has open wounds on his arms and legs when the skin is so stretched due to the scarring.  When he first arrived here there were flies nesting in his wounds!  So horrible.

But let me tell you, Arturo has an amazing spirit!  He laughs and tries to communicate by squeaking.  He ran over to me and gave me a big hug and wanted his picture taken with me.  He is absolutely amazing and loves God.

He gets a little money from the government, but he sends most of it to his mother.  He told the missionary that she needs it more than he does.

What an amazing young man…

Update on Arturo as of October 2024

Someone that visited Centauro Sifuentes Shelter was able to secure an emergency medical visa for him and got him to a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. When Arturo arrived at the hospital he was so septic that they had to force IV antibiotics for a week so they could perform surgery.  They did several surgeries on his burn wounds and surgery to help with his hearing. He did outpatient care with Shon and Janeen at their home in Del Rio for several weeks. When he was discharged he wanted to go bak to Centauro Sifuentes Shelter..it’s his home!  

This is Janeene and Shon, the missionaries.  They have dedicated their lives to serving God and the people in Acuna.  They are such good people, and I am so glad to have met them and helped them out a little.

I’m praying for everyone that lives at Centauro Sifuentes Shelter and for Shon and Janeene.

Such an emotionally exhausting day but I am filled with gratitude for everything God is doing in my life and that I have the opportunity to help others along my journey.

Was very happy to see this sign after crossing the bridge!

You can reach Shon and Janeene through their website

younglivingstones.com