Nor did they expect border-crossing lessons from a pair of union-friendly nuns of the aptly named Servants of the Eleventh Hour. "The trip did not go exactly as we planned," said Heim upon his return. "But we found unexpected help every step of the way."

The goodwill odyssey began with a trip arranged by Professor Harley Shaiken of the University of California, Berkley. Shaiken and the Center for Latin American Studies regularly escort eye-opening expeditions to the so-called free trade capital of Mexico for lawmakers, union leaders and business officials.

"The sight of Mexican workers living with their families in cardboard boxes is hard to imagine and difficult to describe, but it is impossible to forget," said Shaiken. "This is where free trade rhetoric meets real world reality."

The initial trip made a strong impression on 19-year old Eric Heim. "I wanted to do something to help," said Eric. "These people have so little. It wouldn't take much to make a big difference."

The instinct to help stayed with Eric all the way back home to Michigan.

With assistance from friends and fellow students at Macomb County College, Eric created "Hands Across the World," a non-profit foundation to collect and deliver donated clothing for desperately poor workers and their families in Tijuana.

By December 5, the Heim household was overflowing with nearly a half-ton of clean, folded clothing ready to make the 2,400-mile trip to Mexico. With truck space provided by Yellow Freight, Inc., the international mercy mission was on its way.

"We flew to San Diego to meet our truck when it arrived on Dec. 10," said Eric.

"Once it got there, we moved the clothing into a smaller truck. All that was left was the one-hour trip to the border. Or so we thought."

"Most people cross the U.S.-Mexico border without any problems," said Karl Heim, who accompanied his son on the second journey. "Our truck, however, drew immediate attention from border guards who did not want us to cross," said Heim. "You can't bring donated goods into Mexico," declared one guard who said the only place we could cross was Laredo, Texas, more than 1,300 miles away!

"Nothing we said to the guard about how desperately this clothing was needed seemed to make any difference," said Karl Heim. "It was hard to understand what the problem was. But clearly, we had a problem.

"We were almost ready to give up when Sister Carmen, one of two nuns making the trip with us from San Diego motioned us to her," said Heim. "Follow me," she whispered. "We know how to get these things done."

Sister Carmen and Sister Olivia are part of the unusual 11th Hour religious order founded last year and ministering to a flock that includes orphans, cancer patients and convicts in Mexico's toughest prisons. They specialize in collecting donated goods throughout San Diego and coordinating delivery across the border.

It was with their help that the Heim's began the first of ten problem-free trips across the border in a car loaded down each time with clothing, shoes and goodwill that came all the way from Michigan.

By the end of two very long days, every last bag of clothing was across the border and delivered to families whose need was as great as their gratitude. "It was an arduous journey that concluded as a resounding success," said Karl.