The Brickyard-La Ladrillera

A couple of weeks ago, I went out to the Brickyard, or the Ladrillera, with Allyson and Denesia, two of the missionary ladies that work out there. The Brickyard is a community of workers, mostly Tarahumara Indians, that make and sell bricks that are used in construction all over the city. It is back-breaking work and the families barely scrape a living out of making bricks. There are several missionaries from at least two different organizations that work with the folks at the Brickyard with community development projects as well as teaching the Bible. This was my first time visiting the Brickyard as Allyson had invited me to go out and teach some of the ladies how to make the little craft boxes. Many of the ladies at the Brickyard make jewelry, baskets, and other items to sell. I don't have any pictures of the box-making project, but found a few other pictures...

The finished product...

Loading up the bricks...

Girls in traditional Tarahumara dress...

Harsh living conditions and yet the children
still smile like children everywhere...