When members of Calvary Chapel’s youth group headed out to Hot Lake Springs to do some work a few weeks ago, the last thing they thought they would come away with was a $9,000 David Manuel bronze sculpture.

“We did about $1,000 worth of work moving some carpet. When we finished, the Manuels told us we could take cash or pick out a bronze,” says Summer Steele.

Steele and her husband, Jesse, are the youth and missions leaders at Calvary Chapel. For the past six years, the couple has orchestrated the church’s annual mission trip to Mexico.

Six years ago, the mission team was led into the desert to the Oaxacan Indian migrant camp: no water, cardboard shanties with dirt floors, children covered in lice, naked babies dirty and sick. Joyless adults worked from sunup to sundown six days a week, drinking themselves into a stupor on the seventh.

Unprepared for the devastating conditions that first year, by the next summer the team literally brought water to the desert. An initial project was a shower house with hot and cold running water.

Every summer, the mission team returns for 10 days. They have built a school, helped build a church, a home for a full-time missionary and small homes for Indian families.

This summer, a home for a single mother and her 8-year-old daughter will be built. The pair have been living with 13 others, and one male is abusing the daughter.

Two years ago, a second migrant camp was discovered across the fields from the first. There is much work to be done there also.

All of this effort costs thousands of dollars each year which the mission team raises through an annual banquet, a yard sale, as well as hiring out as a labor force.

Manuel’s “With Wings” bronze will be raffled and is now on display at Valley Insurance. The drawing will be held before the team leaves for Mexico. Tickets are $20 a piece or six for $100 and available wherever the bronze is on display.

The mission team is also raffling two one-of-a-kind quilts by Jan Clark and Lynn Piercey, as well as a handmade knife valued at $400 by Calvin Cathey. Those raffle tickets are $5 a piece or six for $20.

To purchase tickets for any of these items, Email summer@cclagrande.com or call the church office at 963-5884.

Calvary Chapel of La Grande is at 1433 Jefferson Ave. Sunday service times are 9 a.m. and 11. Bible study is Wednesday at 7 p.m.