We had the privilege of building a house for Ricardo and Manuela Escobar, both in their mid-sixties, and their extended family. But building them a home does not begin to tell the whole story of what we experienced on this trip. Therefore, I’d like to take a minute to tell you a great story. So, please take a few minutes to relax and let your imagination take you to the very edges of the possibilities of God’s grace.

Ju-bi-lee (noun)

Definition
1) A season of celebration.

“Jubilee” seems like an old-fashion word that isn’t used much. But in the Old Testament, the Jubilee Year was celebrated every 50th year during which time land that was sold for whatever reason was to be returned to the original owner and slaves were to be emancipated (Leviticus 25). If you were on the receiving end of the Jubilee Year, it was definitely a season of celebration. God, in his wisdom, wanted to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to get a fresh start. In other words, God is a God of “do-overs!” Well, we had the opportunity to witness a kind of Jubilee during our final week in Mexico. After we presented the completed home to the Escobar family, the girls and I lagged behind the rest of the group to do a final clean-up of the yard and then we loaded into my truck and began to drive away. I suddenly noticed, in my rear view mirror, Mr. Escobar running toward my vehicle waving for me to stop. Following him was a clean, well dressed Mexican man in a white cowboy hat. We got out of the truck and Mr. Escobar explained that he wanted me to meet his boss. The man’s name was Cesar and he greeted me in broken English. He was a successful race-horse breeder and actually owned the land on which we built Mr. Escobar’s house. He also owned the adjacent land and was constructing a new ranch on one of the larger parcels down the road. This is where the story gets really good! Cesar explained that he and Ricardo have known each other for many years. A few years ago, Ricardo, while living elsewhere in Juarez, applied to receive a home through Amor Ministries. Ricardo would have been approved except that he did not own the property on which his house was to be built. Amor doesn’t really have many restrictions to being approved for a home, but owning the land on which a house is to be built is one of those requirements. As a result, Ricardo was not approved. Cesar, realizing that Ricardo may never get another chance to live in anything more than a pallet shack wrapped in tar paper, gave Ricardo a parcel of land provided Ricardo and his son worked off the cost of the land by constructing the house and out-buildings for his new ranch. In many respects this may seem like the perfect arrangement but consider, for a moment, the arrangement from a third world perspective.

We often think of slavery from an entirely negative perspective because of the many inhumane slavery environments around the world today and from our own American history. However, during the history of the Old Testament, a slave was commonly someone who, for whatever reason, was either substantially in debt or could no longer provide for themselves or their family and were forced to sell themselves into slavery as a way to pay off their debt or simply as a means to survive. It meant food on the table and a roof over your head. It was a kind of employment except you couldn’t quit and go to another job. You were, for lack of a better term, “property” until your debt was paid or your owner released you of your obligation or until the Jubilee Year. The working environment was not generally harsh as is often the case in the type of slavery we envision today. Nevertheless, a slave during any point in history lacks the one thing we all hold very near and dear to our hearts—freedom!

Ricardo’s situation was very similar to an Old Testament example of slavery, which makes this story so beautiful! After giving Cesar the grand tour of the 11 foot by 22 foot house we built, he wanted to know why we would come all the way to Mexico to build a house for a complete stranger. We explained to him (partly in English and partly through a translator) that we do these things to demonstrate our love for God and to show people how much God loves them. At this point Cesar was so moved by God’s grace shown to his friend through complete strangers that he turned to Ricardo and gave him title to the land free and clear of any debt! Imagine, if you can, what must have been going through the minds of the Escobar family. In one fell swoop, they received a brand new home, title to the land that they probably would never have been able to pay off and, don’t miss this, freedom!. What a celebration there must have been at the Escobar household after we left! A “Jubilee” like nothing you’ve ever seen. Thanks to you and your generosity, we had the opportunity to be part of that Jubilee. As usual, God demonstrated how he makes the impossible—possible. It was awesome!

In February, my family and I joined about 200 folks and traveled to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico to build houses for several families. This was my second year to go, and I can tell you that on a trip like this you receive far more than you give. The house is built from the bottom up in three days. It is hard physical work, but I so enjoy the simplicity of just eating, sleeping and building. The family we built for was so appreciative, and through an interpreter, we get to know them as we worked.

The organization who coordinates the house building is called Amor Ministries. They have a large plot of land in the middle of the desert where we make camp. In a matter of a few hours, the bare plot transforms into a tent city that serves as our home away from home for the three nights.

At the end of the second day we were finished with our work before it got dark and were able to wash up in buckets of water and rest before dinner. That afternoon was very windy, and there are no trees and little vegetation, which translates into blowing dust and gritty teeth. We laid inside out trusty Cabelas tent and waited for the wind to die down. Exhausted from the day, we lay quietly on our sleeping bags and listened to the wind howl outside. Staring at the ceiling of our tent, I marveled at the beautiful simple abstract designs the tent structure made and started creating compositions with my iphone. I was reminded of the stain glass windows I have seen in France inside the worlds most beautiful and acclaimed cathedrals. For a few moments, this was our church. I was thankful for the day, the friends we worked side by side with, my clean face and hands, and the food that was on the way.

As I lay there, I thought of the day behind us, and the conditions that the locals were living in. Not much more than tents themselves, and not just for a weekend, but every day. In a few days, we would pack up our tent and head back to our comfortable home in Mesa, our discomfort only temporary. These Mexican folks live this dusty, difficult life in the desert day after day.

These panels were painted as a tribute to the work of 200 hardworking volunteers, the Mexican people we served, and the amazing work that was accomplished on behalf of our amazing God. It really was like church in the desert.

There was not a single thing about my two mission trips to Mexico that I’ve regretted. In every spiritual aspect of firm integrity, the roots to my faith began in Mexico. Simply founding the idea of “Whatever you need, I’m here to serve” was the basis of my relationship with Jesus Christ. It was shortly after my 2nd mission I came to know this immense service to God through the lens of my own suffering. And I was humbled simply to know how far less my suffering was compared to the crucifiction of Jesus’ body and heart.

I came to understand the value of quiet time with God, being a doer of His word, loving unconditionally, serving from the strength God gives, seeking His kingdom above all else, letting go of the love of the world, and many other things. All of these came through the seed God implanted in me, which I found in the deepest aspects of Love. And it was through many people, places, and things that I came to understand how immense His love is for me.

Since the time that seed was planted, I’ve seen Him growing in me. I’ve come to understand and practice righteousness. I’ve come to preach the gospel out of the courage I’ve been given. I’ve come to let go of my deepest idols, and offer them up to the great God of justice. And I’ve come to see how pathetic my own glory is next to He who created the cosmos. And I can truthfully say that God is using Amor Ministries to heal the blind, feed the hungry, serve the needy, and those people He sent from far away.

When I arrived to see children playing soccer without shoes in roads filled with nails, broken glass, I was shocked. I saw poisonous water everywhere, stray dogs, poor families, and destitute homesteads. But what I came to realize that those people – their hearts – were glad to be alive! They had each other, and their love was real. It wasn’t what they had, but what they displayed that shocked me. It flipped poverty over in my face, and showed me that I was the poor one. I was the one that thought having ‘things’ was living. If there was one thing I’ve come to know from it all, it’s that love is much more than giving things, or time. Serving Jesus was, is, and always will be a matter of the heart.

Humbly,
His Servant,
Paul Walker

After deciding not to make the trip to Juarez last year, the group of builders from my church were antsy to head back this year. We left our church early Sunday morning with trailers and vans packed and a very solid plan (this was our 5th Amor trip) and a little concern after hearing of some violence in Juarez over the weekend. About 8 hours into the drive, Amor calls – we can’t go to Juarez. We decided to switch locations and head to Puerto Peñasco… a mixture of excitement (beaches!) and fear. We re-figured our route, ate lunch, and hit the road again. Smooth sailing until Albuquerque, where we were stopped for 3 hours because of a snow storm. We decided to try and make it to Tucson before stopping, and after very long night (especially for the drivers!) of sleeping in the van, we arrived in Tucson early Monday morning. After driving for a few more hours, crossing the border, and driving some more, we finally made it to camp! After more than 30 hours in the vans.

Tuesday morning we headed out to meet the family and start building. I have thanked God every day since last Tuesday for the absolutely wonderful family we built for! This was my 5th Amor trip, and I have never built for such a generous family. The husband, Luis, was a fisherman and brought home fresh shrimp and fish every night for tacos. Luis and his wife, Maricela, graciously invited us into their home and sacrificed for us every night. Maricela’s “stove” was made of two cinder blocks, a fire in between the blocks, and an old metal cook top. I was the only one in our group who spoke Spanish, and I wish I could recreate the excitement they had telling me about all they were going to prepare for us! Not to mention, the food was awesome. Our group had not planned on eating with the family every night, so we had packed dinner food. Once again we adjusted what we had planned to go with the flow, to go along with what God had already planned! It meant so much to the family, and us! The experience I had with the family definitely trumps the beach and market experiences. I had no way of predicting the impact they would have on my life! But God did!

The trip home was no less adventurous than the trip to Puerto Peñasco. We spent almost 3 hours in Tucson fixing a trailer, and another 4 waiting out a snow storm in Albuquerque. This last week was definitely a challenge! Almost none of our plans played out like we had originally intended, and nonetheless, the week was absolutely incredible! We were reminded over and over again that we’re not in control, God is. All the time. He already has it planned out! We just have to let him take us where we need to be. Praise God!

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.
Isaiah 25:1

I thank God for Luis, Maricela, all the kids in the neighborhood who came to help us build, TJ, Andrew, Kyle and everybody from Amor, and the wonderful group of servant builders with whom I am blessed to work.