By Alyssa Robinson

They were a hard-working church of fellowship, building walls, a roof, and erecting the frame structure of a modest house before 9:00 a.m. on a sunny Saturday morning.  One man entertained himself and the group as he made cat noises while working on the roof, keeping the mood light-hearted and lively.

Who were these workers that, despite the danger painted by the media, showed up to build love and hope through a home?  For the first time in the history of Amor Ministries, a group of men from Tijuana came together to build houses with Amor Ministries.

Amor houses are usually built by Mission Trip participants from the U.S. and Canada. Earlier in the year, however, a group of students had begun building this same home but because of suspected drug activity in the area, Amor decided to reassign the group to a new worksite, leaving the house unfinished.  Instances such as this have occurred for decades in Tijuana, just as they do in every large city.  But because Amor has always valued the safety of its’ participant groups, they moved the young builders out of potential harm’s way.  Many never realize how seamlessly such situations are handled.

And so the projects were brought back to where they started, to the Pastors of the Mexico Ministry Planning Board of Tijuana. When Lydia Lozano, Amor’s Mexico Ministry Coordinator, met with the Tijuana pastors, she explained that the houses could not be finished.  After learning of the many Mission Trip cancellations Amor has faced this year, they offered to build the houses themselves, and providing themselves the perfect opportunity for their own churches to serve.

Undefeated, the pastors immediately gathered groups to start working.  The congregations of Tijuana jumped into action to serve the people of their very own communities.  Inspired by the Mission Trip groups who come to build and provided with the materials and resources supplied by Casa de Amor partners, the local church brought hope.

The men building this home were not looking for spiritual fulfillment nor were they changed by the sight of extreme poverty.  When one man was asked why he came to help, he simply responded, “My pastor asked me to.”  He didn’t second-guess the conditions or over-evaluate the possibility of danger.  He knew he was needed, and he showed up.

Out of the violence that has surrounded Tijuana for years, God has encouraged the local church.  The pastors’ desire is to continue to build in their communities, as well as have their youth work alongside the Amor groups.  Perhaps one day soon, we will see churches on both sides of the border working together to fulfill the Great Commission.

If you have a story about the impact of your Amor Mission Trip, we want to hear more!  Please reply to this post.