Friends of Anapra is a Christian mission organization dedicated to supporting the Susanna Wesley School in Anapra, Mexico, by fostering education, empowerment, and hope through volunteer efforts and sustainable partnerships.

The Susanna Wesley School is a story about the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how that power transcends borders, languages, class, and race for His glory. The story of the school's founding in a little corner of the world where hard-working, faithful Christians work every day to love, care for, and educate the children of Anapra, Mexico is incredible. By the grace of God and the love He has planted in the hearts of dedicated missionaries in the United States, the school continues to this day. The story began when a Methodist pastor at a popular church in Ciudad Juarez was invited to speak at a "church" in Anapra, a struggling community on the western outskirts of Juárez, Mexico, about a half mile from the U.S. border. The “church” was actually a scraggly tree that was somehow growing in the sand along a street. Undeterred, that young minister named Antonio Briones (pictured above on the left) began to preach in Anapra but quickly realized that Anapra didn’t need another church, they actually needed a school for all of the young children in the fast-growing, but impoverished village.

In July 2000 a group from First United Methodist Church (FUMC) embarked on a mission trip that would spark a decades-long commitment to Anapra, Antonio, and his family. It began as a last-minute pivot—after an orphanage canceled a scheduled work camp—and FUMC Youth Director Phil Rayson connected with Dr. John Sherman of Christian Hands in Action (CHIA). Dr. Sherman introduced the group to Antonio, who shared his dream of building a school for the youth in Anapra. That first trip, a group of youth and adults—including Phil Rayson, Steve and Carolyn Scott, David and Jana Fallin, Sarah Blair, Michelle McGuire, Pastor Jim Reed, and a lot of young people—crossed the border daily while staying in a Baptist church in El Paso. Their task: pour the footings and first floor of what would become the Susanna Wesley School. Despite scarce supplies and near-impossible conditions (no water for cement at one point), miracles unfolded—prayers were answered, resources arrived, and the foundation was laid. Antonio and his wife Dina marveled at the group’s work ethic and dedication, setting the tone for years of partnership.

From that humble beginning, the mission grew. Early trips tackled rugged roads, border crossings (pre-9/11), and basic construction—transforming a tar shack and pallet baño into a fledgling school. Steve Scott’s construction skills, Preston Chapel’s Spanish fluency, and Diana Chapel’s coordination kept the momentum alive. By 2003, FUMC teams were making regular visits to tackle projects like painting, tiling, and expanding classrooms. The Briones family’s radical hospitality—delicious meals, heartfelt stories, and unshakable faith—forged deep bonds with volunteers. Antonio and Dina juggled school duties with side jobs (selling watches, teaching English) and pouring everything into their vision of education through Christ.

The mission evolved with each trip. In 2005, Jim and Sherry Reed delivered mobility carts to Juárez’s mayor and worked on development with Antonio and Dina. By 2008, the school celebrated its first 6th-grade graduation—eight students named their class after Jim Reed, a proud milestone. Families like the Bernards, Funks, Hoffmans, and Rices joined the effort, bringing supplies (soccer gear, school materials, shoes), building classrooms, and even pouring a massive concrete pad for an auditorium fellowship hall in 2010. Highlights abound: cooking 200 hamburgers for Benito Juárez Day, surviving border delays, and witnessing the school’s Christmas pageants. Volunteers funded their own travel and materials, often marveling at answered prayers—like trucks being allowed to cross borders with critical equipment.

Now in 2025, the school now boasts multiple buildings, an auditorium, and a legacy of transformed lives—all rooted in that first providential trip. From youth laying foundations to families erecting steel structures, the Anapra mission reflects a rare persistence. As Antonio noted, most groups come, serve, and leave—but this community stayed, inspiring others (like K-State Wesley, who wrote a song about the school) to join. It’s a story of Christian faith proving that loving discipleship and perseverance will work out for good according to God's purpose for all those who believe.

The school founders: Antonio and Dina Briones.