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It wasn't the beaches of Tijuana, Mexico that Laurel Elementary School teacher Sara Harrelson remembers most from her mission trip there last summer. It was a woman and her passion for books. Their encounter left such an impact that four months later, Harrelson's still working to assist the Tijuana community.

Harrelson, a Glen Burnie resident and Special Education resource teacher at Laurel Elementary, started a Spanish book drive last week. She said she hopes to have 100 books by January.

The books will be donated to YouthWorks, a Minneapolis-based organization that provides short-term Christian mission trips to 75 locations for youths, who will then distribute the books to schools in Tijuana.

Education in Mexico is better than in most Central American countries but still lags behind most industrialized nations. When the Paris-based Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development released its 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment results – which evaluates 15-year-olds in reading, math and science – Mexico finished last among the 30 member nations.

Harrelson went to Tijuana with Faith Baptist Church in Glen Burnie through a YouthWorks-sponsored mission. While working to expand the church Templo La MontaÒa's worship center, she met a woman named Flora, a member of the church who told her of her love of reading.

Most Mexican schools have a morning shift and an afternoon shift, each about five hours long.

Nelly Stromquist, an International Education professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, said the school systems have double shifts to serve students without having to build new buildings.

Harrelson said she was told high achieving students attend school in the morning, while the afternoon has students that will probably drop out.

With the school situation in mind, Harrelson chose to start a book drive for the elementary and middle school students.

"Its important they be literate in their own language to get jobs," she said.

Harrelson's colleagues are proud of her effort.

"It's refreshing for us to see her take things she learned on a mission trip and apply them to things at home," said Jason Atkinson, YouthWorks regional director of Mexico and Puerto Rico. "It's great she's still serving Tijuana and is willing to take that burden with her to her life in Maryland."

First Baptist Youth Pastor Dale Puckett said Harrelson's efforts are an example of the Lord working in her life and was encouraged to see someone return from a mission trip and want to give back to the community.

"She took up the initiative when she visited Mexico, and saw there was such a need for books," Laurel Elementary Principal Melinda Lee said. "She thought our community would be able to help."

Sixth-grader Jamie Contreras, 11, said he hopes to be able to contribute to the effort.

"It's important that the students receive books. I learn more from books than anything else," he said. "If I can find Spanish books I'll donate them."

Harrelson said she hopes to have another book drive if this proves successful.

"We'll probably look for another community to help out," she said. "It doesn't have to be Mexico, but any Spanish-speaking nation if any families have a desire to help them out."

E-mail Timmy Gelles at tgelles@gazette.net.