This post is the third in a series of six written by our Project Nexus team members. Project Nexus is a 10-week summer internship experience for anyone ages 18-25. These Project Nexus team members are splitting their time between three of Amor’s locations working with groups in Tijuana, Rosarito and San Carlos.  To read the last post in this series click here.

By Sarah Woods

I have a playlist of songs that I put together after a very challenging and life changing Amor Mission Trip exactly three years ago.  It contains the songs that we had listened to and focused on during our week in Mexico, songs that came to mind during those bittersweet moments that brought our team together and made us a stronger family.  As I’m listening to these songs tonight for the first time this summer, I’m taken back to that trip and I can remember it like it was yesterday.

I participated on one more Amor Mission Trip after that year and I somehow felt even more connected to Mexico and the integrity of the trip with my youth group.  I missed the annual trip in 2010 because of a summer job opportunity, and I was really bummed.  When I made the decision to apply for and later accept this Project Nexus opportunity I was really excited that I was going to be experiencing this week-long mission experience that I loved for a whole summer.  It wasn’t until two weeks into the program when we were building our training house that it really hit me: I get to be a part of something bigger this summer, because not only do I get to witness God’s love being shown to these families every week through the house-building process, but I also get to be a part of a new group each week experiencing that same love and camaraderie that I loved so much about my Amor Mission Trips in high school.

It has been an adventure these past five weeks working in the field, but I have noticed one common pattern.  The Mexican people are full of never ending hospitality and over flowing joy, no matter what their situation.  This past Sunday two other Nexus and I went to Pastor Cesar’s church in Rosarito and were invited to lunch at his house after the service.  Pastor Cesar serves on Amor’s Ministry Planning Board in Baja California.  I speak very limited Spanish so there wasn’t much I could do at this lunch except eat the wonderful food and just watch.  Even though I had no idea what was being said for the most part, I could feel an overwhelming sense of love and fellowship to the point where I had to join in on the laughter even if I missed the joke.

I’ve realized this summer that coming to Mexico is about so much more than building a house and bonding with your team.  It’s also about building relationships with the Mexican people, even if there is a language barrier.  Because God’s love overcomes any barriers.

This post is the second in a series of six written by our Project Nexus team members. Project Nexus is a 10-week summer internship experience for anyone ages 18-25. These Project Nexus team members are splitting their time between three of Amor’s locations working with groups in Tijuana, Rosarito and San Carlos.  To read this first post in this series click here.

By Allegra Vieux

The typical day in the life Project Nexus team member looks like this:

6:00 am- Wake up.

6:30 am- Breakfast.

7:30 am- Leave for worksite.

8:00 am- Arrive at worksite. Start working on the house.

12 Noon- Eat a brown bag lunch.

1:00 pm- Continue working.

2:00 pm- Greet Mexican vendors, stop to shop.

2:30 pm- Resume work.

5:00 pm- Clean up worksite.

5:30 pm- Arrive at camp, open Amor Store.

7:30 pm- Eat dinner while working Amor Store.

8:00 pm- Close Amor Store.

8:30 pm- Connect with group at campfire time.

10:00 pm- Sleep.

One may think that doing the same thing day after day, week after week would become tedious and redundant, but its weeks like this past one that attests just the opposite.

This past week another Project Nexus team member and I worked together with a group from Iowa.  It was a youth group of approximately 45 students who had traveled for three days before arriving in Rosarito, Mexico.  They were incredibly eager to build a house.  Being from Kansas City myself, it was nice to experience some Midwestern hospitality in Mexico.  We built two houses in the same area of Rosarito, separated only by one large hill and lots of dirt.

When we first arrived at the site, we met an older woman named Jimena who was living in a very run-down trailer.  She introduced us to two teenagers and three young children who were all living with her.  As I got out my paper and pen and drew the plans for the house, I experienced the most humbling moment in my life.  Jimena explained to me that she did not want the interior wall we usually include, because the house was not just for her family.  She wanted to use it for church services and to help the homeless in her community by giving them a place to stay if needed.

She had confidence that God would take care of her so long as she took care of the orphans and widows.  How cool is that? It’s not every day you meet someone with that kind of faith.  Stories like these are the reason I can love what may seem like a tedious daily schedule.  I am learning it is so much more than redundant.

By Wendy Johnson, Chief Operation Officer

In his July 6 blog post by the above title, Tony Campolo wrote about Mother Theresa and her wisdom.  I really recommend that you read the entire post because it is a great reminder about our call to serve the poor. Or as Mother Theresa put it, the Poor.

One paragraph jumped out at me:

“I know of a woman who went through a divorce and felt very much alone in the world.  She wrote to Mother Teresa and asked if it was possible for her to join the Sisters of Charity and minister among the needy.  Months went by without an answer.  Eventually a hand-addressed envelope came to the home of the woman.  Inside the envelope was a simple letter that read, “Find your own Calcutta!”  Mother Teresa was all too aware that we have a tendency to look for exotic places to do service for the kingdom of God when, in reality, there are needs all around us that are waiting to be met with Christ’s love.  She made us aware that until we are faithful in loving those around us, we ought not to think we will be able to love those who live in some far-off place.”

That last sentence is especially poignant.

“She made us aware that until we are faithful in loving those around us, we ought not to think we will be able to love those who live in some far-off place.”

It reminds me of a question that was put to Jesus in Luke 10: 25-28 (The Message).

“Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. ‘Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?’

He answered, ‘What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?’

He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.’

‘Good answer!’ said Jesus. ‘Do it and you’ll live.’ ”

Do it and you’ll live.

Who is your neighbor? Do you love them as well as you do yourself? If so, are you ready to find your own Calcutta?

This year we have decided to create 12 Monthly Focus points to help you learn more about Amor’s programs and to ask for your prayer in support of these programs.  July’s monthly focus is Project Hope: Hunger No More!

The Hunger No More program provides each Pastor on our Mexico Ministry Planning Board (MMPB) a stipend to feed their families and the families in their communities who might go hungry without this fund.

• Many of the Pastors on the MMPB run food programs for their communities.

• This program also provides another outreach tool for Pastors to reach families that we may not be able to build houses for.

Amor’s monthly goal for Project Hope: Hunger No More is to provide $3,000 per month’s worth of food for the Mexican Pastors to feed their families and distribute to hungry families in the Tijuana, Tecate, Rosarito, Puerto Peñasco, and Ciudad Juarez neighborhoods.

This program is so important to Amor because having food to feed your family is just as important as adequate housing.

How to Get Involved:

• Donations to the Hunger No More program can be made online, by sending a check or calling the San Diego office.

• We ask you to join us in prayer for this program.  We pray that this fund would grow and that the love of Christ would be spread through the food that is given.

Click here to make a donation or learn more about Project Hope: Hunger No More.

Last month’s focus was the Founders’ Fund.  Click here to read more about that.

By T.J. Putman, Field Specialist

In Lomas del Rubi, Alejandra, a single mother, has four children and two grandchildren that live with her.  They are supported by the money her 18 year old son makes working on cars at a body shop.  He makes about $60 a week.

Alejandra had lived in her houses in Lomas del Rubi for 24 years.  She had raised her kids in that house.  So when her house burned down in the fire she truly lost everything.  However, Alejandra says she has felt the presence of God throughout this horrible tragedy and knows he is taking care of her.

When the fire came up the hill, Alejandra was watching her grandkids while her three youngest kids were at school.

Alejandra raced to get her grandkids out of the fire – thankful she only had to lead two of them.  Alejandra says she felt the presence of God as he directed her on where to go to get to safety.

Her church has taken care of her family, helping to provide them with food and clothes.

Alejandra truly saw God’s provision for her when she was contacted by a Pastor on Amor’s Ministry Board.

Her old home, where her kids grew up, was burned to the ground.  But God was providing her with a new sturdy home – a home her grandchildren will now grow up in.

Alejandra looked on with tears two days ago as she saw a group of youth and adults pouring the foundation for her new.  The new home God has given her.

To learn more about the fire that burned Alejandra’s home click here.