I looked down the thirty-foot slope of dirt and rock, I saw six-year-old Casandra looking up at me from the doorway of her families two month old home. I waved with a grin on my face. “Hola!” I said. She smiled and her eyes widened as she scrambled inside to get her mother. I was greeted at the front door with a big hug from Maria. She has a way of smiling with her whole face, full of love. Excited, Maria invited us in to see what she had done with her home.
Jose and Maria’s beautiful double house custom built with a step down slab to accommodate for a large, immovable stone.
The week of July 20th, I had the blessing of leading an eager crew from Tigard Christian Church in Tigard, Oregon up the rough and windy, dirt road to Jose and Maria Barrasa Alvarez’s property in the community of Colinas del Florido. They live on the east side of Tijuana out in the hills near the Amor Ministries main camp. We would be building a double house (22’x22’) for their family of five who were currently living in a one-room plywood shack. Their little stove was about one foot away from Jose and Maria’s bed, and every time it rained, water would wash down the steep hill that their property is on, under their walls, and across the dirt and rock floor of their home. Not an ideal place to raise three children of 14, six, and five years of age.
From the road where we parked our vehicles, their existing structure was about 100 feet up a precarious slope of dirt and small stones. Further up the hill was a flat area that Jose built to accommodate there new home. Because of the grade of their property, Jose had to build a wall that was approximately ten feet tall out of stones that he broke out of the mountain with a sledge and steel rod. He told me it took him six months to build the wall by himself and that his family had been waiting about eight months or so to receive an Amor house.The next four days were characterized by hard work, patience, and lots of quality-time shared by the family and the Tigard crew. Helping me that week was Linz Snyder, a Nexus intern, who led the way in befriending and engaging the Barrasa Alvarez family.
This is the system we created to move all of our sand and gravel down the 30 foot slope on slab day! Just one of the obstacles we overcame that week. I called it the via rapida after a road in TJ.
On the first day, we spent hours trying to break stones that were elevating the back edge of the form. We ended the day with half of the slab poured and the second half of the form not quite finished. We ended up deciding to pour the second half of the slab one and one-half inch higher because we couldn’t remove one large stone no matter how hard we tried. That was one of those frustrating, “I wish we would have thought of that earlier” moments.
After having a big set back on day one, nobody panicked. Tigard’s trip leader, Matt Rader, is the reason why. He led with a calm consistent drive. He didn’t push too hard and let everyone get the rest they needed, but he also didn’t let people get disengaged. If kids from the group were spending time with the family or other neighborhood kids, he let them, knowing the importance of building relationships.
By day four, the house was finished with time to spare. We were able to celebrate Cristian’s birthday with a piñata, balloon animals, and face painting before finishing the second coat of stucco later that afternoon. It was clear to me that the Holy Spirit was at work in every individual on that worksite. The joy and bonding that occurred in those four days are a testament to that.
When it was time to leave, the group had a key ceremony where they gave their blessings and presented the keys as well as other gifts that they brought from Oregon to make the house more of a home. Maria wept tears of joy as did I, Jose, Matt, Linz, and most of the group. Before we left, Maria made sure that each of us wrote our names on the wall studs in her home so she could remember us all.
Six weeks later, after receiving a photo-book that documented the build week made by Kathy Veerhuizen, one of the mothers from the Tigard group, I returned to deliver the gift with my dad, and Katie Haar. The three of us were on a mission to take professional-quality photos that Amor could use for marketing, advertising and other design needs. My dad was serving as the photographer, Katie (former Amor Team Member) was serving as our interpreter, and I was the driver. We ended up spending almost two hours chatting and laughing together with Maria and her children.
Casandra and Cristian showing off their books for the camera while they sit on their mother’s new bed that was given to them by a neighbor after their new home was completed.
Maria shared with us that everything in her new home was given to her family as gifts since I had last seen her! They had been given beds, tables, a stove, chairs, a stereo that Erik has in his room, and even a big bag full of meat and other food that lasted them for several days! She also said that she has had many people, strangers who were passing by on the road, come to tell her how beautiful her house is. Maria’s face glowed as she shared these praises with us, giving all the glory to God. Before we left, Jose was able to come home and join our little reunion. We took some photos of the whole family and hugs were given all around as we left.
Matt Rader, me, and Linz: Los jefes de la semàna.
I am amazed at how God works in our lives. Jose and Maria are a shining example of the Lord providing for those He loves. Matthew 6:25-34 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Maria and Jose stand proudly with their three children, Erik age 14, Cristian age 5, and Casandra age 6, at their back door that overlooks the beautiful landscape below their colonia.
I see now, after nine months with Amor, that this is what our ministry is really about: building relationships through acts of love. This family was already involved at their local church and they knew very deeply that it was because God loves them that He sent a group of strangers down from Oregon to their hillside in Tijuana to help them build their new home and become part of their family. Though not every group and family become so close, the underlying truth remains whether or not anyone acknowledges it; God loves us all more than we can understand. I love the way Amor Ministries understands this and creates opportunities for us to work out God’s love for us in our lives in a tangible way… by building homes, providing water filters, backpacks, school supplies, and food to those in need. Amen.
To read more of Andrew’s experiences in Mexico, check out his personal blog, druznuz.
In 1996 a youth group from Salem, OR built a double house for the Lobatos family with 
In evaluating our recent trip to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, some thoughts have gone through my mind as to why we go on the Amor Mission Trip anyway.
This year, the violence continued to raise major unease in Juarez. Our parents expressed their concern for safety issues. In discussion with Amor, they opened up the opportunity to go to Puerto Peñasco. Most of our parents were excited about the opportunity and felt comfortable with the change. The change of location proved to be an awesome opportunity to serve our neighbors. The poverty issues were much the same. Unemployment at 70% as the tourism based economy was hit hard by the travel warnings, Puerto Peñasco is in desperate need of the church’s help. We can be tools of His Kingdom assisting the local church to meet the ever present needs surrounding them.
Yes, there are risks involved! But at no time did I even feel any danger while on this trip. The border crossing was uneventful. The Church and the community welcomed us with open arms. It was hot! (That may be a slight understatement!) We worked from 6-12 in the mornings and just a couple hours in the evenings to complete the houses in plenty of time. Some did get sick with the flu (we brought along with us) and the heat was a challenge. Along with this, the usual smashed thumbs, minor cuts, blisters, sunburns and bruises persisted.