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The article profiles Bob Decker, a Houston cop who has devoted himself to improving the lives of the people of Mexican colonias. Decker found the shanty village of Matamoros (Mexico) after taking a wrong turn on vacation. Shocked to see such poverty only two miles from the U.S. border, Decker started the charity Paper Houses to help the people of the shanty towns.

The article relates the author's experiences during an affinity travel to Matamoros, Mexico. She spent her vacation in a work camp organized by Global Village, Habitat for Humanity International's mission department where she volunteered and helped build homes for the poor. Volunteer vacations allow participants to travel and work side-by-side with people from other cultures.

The article reports on the denial of James Dannenbaum, head of an engineering firm and University of Texas Board of Regents, that his firm is responsible for two public finance-related scandals. He opposed to the alleged improper contribution of his firm to the political campaigns of El Paso, Texas county officials or in seeking contracts. Meanwhile, Dannenbaum said that his firm was falsely accused of failing to provide services in the construction of a bridge to Matamoros, Mexico.