• Ixtapaluca (“suburb” of Mexico City) population 430,000
• Most of these families have moved out of Mexico City or other surrounding cities, often moving out of their parents’ or in-laws’ home, and are making a fresh start
• They have spiritual interest, and aren’t unduly influenced by their traditional family or customs
• There are approximately 25 churches in the area, most of them house churches, the largest about 350. Around 3-5% evangelical
• Approximately 70,000 small homes built in the last 13 years, with well over half of them built within the last 7 years
• Bedroom community, most people work in Mexico City
• Very few civic or volunteer organizations, no sports league, very few opportunities in music, art, etc… The church is uniquely able to satisfy some of these needs
• English is in demand, but schools are expensive
• The average monthly wage here is $500-700 a month, very little disposable income