
Tepehua then and now, opportunity knocking at the barrio door…
High on the hillside that’s visible westward from Chapala’s plaza, sit a number of barrios. San Miguel is the closest, most notably accessible from the brightly painted Quetzalcoatl steps next to the Surtidor market on Francisco Madero, and so named by the presence of Iglesia San Miguel. A bit farther north, up the hill from Chapala Centro’s bus station lies the barrio of Tepehua. If you can see the large statue of Jesus high atop Iglesia El Cristo Rey in that direction, you have found Tepehua. This is where the Tepehua project was first formed (circa 2008) for a community of forgotten people, who lacked the basic necessities that many of us so easily take for granted: education, clean water and sanitation, health care, nutrition, and employment. As the initial leader, Moonie King possibly recognized a scene much like the war-torn London that she grew up in, not so much in any kind of big city sense, but in the rock and rubble left over from bombings and destruction, the struggle for resources and survival, and the snail’s pace slow recovery of life that she lived with in the 1940’s and 50’s. In these hillside areas, she recognized families that were much like hers in those days of her youth, fighting unemployment, hunger, sanitation issues, poor education opportunities, ill health and addictions.
These scenes may have also been present in other areas of the world she and husband Perry found themselves: Thailand, Vietnam (war years), Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. I believe the emotional connection of all those experiences struck a nerve deep inside of Moonie and she knew she was called to this area to make a difference. She set to work with a team of eager and dedicated volunteers and organizations to create a place within an already existing building that brought opportunities to a community of people who were hungry for them.
I have my own personal word to describe Mexican people – opportunistic. I’ve lived in this country for 20+ years and this is the Mexican quality that stands out the most to me (well, let’s not forget smart, kind, family-focused, and friendly!) I’ve heard that in the early days, Moonie and her team’s efforts were met with distrust and maybe a bit of sabotage, but in time, the locals in Tepehua saw they were being offered opportunities at their doorstep that they never imagined to be available to them.
Typically, the opportunities were found down the hill in Chapala Centro, which wasn’t far, but still a 15-minute walk away. In time, changes occurred. Slowly but surely, the community center was housing a part-time medical clinic, a pharmacy, and a dental clinic, all at low cost. Local women were put to work within the building to cook and serve meals, clean, and do a number of odd jobs to earn educational tokens for their children. A sewing program was started to teach interested women a skill that could be income producing for their families. Weekly meals were offered to those in need (unfortunately Covid interrupted this program). Clean water was provided to families. And so much more…all in their own barrio of Tepehua. They were not forgotten. They saw glimmers of hope for themselves, for their children, for their community. And Moonie King and her volunteers were always there with the next plan, the next idea, the next solution to the problems that surfaced. Opportunity knocked and the people of Tepehua heard it loud and clear, then answered with participation and approval.
Our thrift shop, located in Riberas, is one of the main financial supports of Tepehua Community Center. We so appreciate your donations, your visits, and your purchases that help us continue providing these vital opportunities to the Tepehua community. Even if you’re not a “thrifter,” stop in to say hello!
- Profiling Tepehua – February 2025 - January 30, 2025
- Profiling Tepehua – January 2025 - December 26, 2024
- Profiling Tepehua – December 2024 - November 30, 2024