Recently, Amor was featured in a local Tijuana paper, The Frontera.  To see the article about Amor’s work in Rosarito click here.  The story is translated in English below…..

Families in Rosarito benefit from homes

ROSARITO, Baja California.  After the return of Amor Ministries (known as Comision de Amor in Mexico) to Rosarito, 75 families have benefitted from the construction of small houses, which helps improve their living conditions. The houses were mostly built in the poorest areas of Primo Tapia, said Luis Millian, a representative of Amor Ministries.  At this time there are still 15 more homes to build in Rosarito.

He explained that these homes are a part of a list that was already approved for some time, but only this year was it possible to complete the work.  It is expected that 120 homes will be built in Rosarito in 2012.

The houses are built with a concrete floor, the walls wood and cement.  The houses can be used immediately after they are built. Luis Millan added that the homes are provided to families with limited resources.

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?

By Gayla Congdon

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person unclean.”  Matthew 15:18

“The Church ought to live out love.  Woe to her if she does not do that!  Woe to her if by her silence and by all sorts of dubious excuses, she becomes jointly guilty of the world’s outbursts of hatred!  Woe to her if she adopts words and slogans that originate in the sphere of hate.”

This is an excerpt from a letter by Pastor Walter Hochstadter, a German pastor and hospital chaplain in France during the Second World War.  He secretly sent a letter with this in it to 1,000 German soldiers at the Russian Front.

We all have heard “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  And we all know that isn’t true.  Words are powerful and when spoken with anger and a mean spirit they can leave an indelible print on someone long after a bone has healed.

Long before the shootings in Tucson and the discussion it created about our national rhetoric, I had been thinking about some of the most surprising things that have been said to me these past two years, especially in reference to Mexico.  Rhetoric from fellow Christians that I have come in contact with while traveling and representing the Ministry.

Imagine how I felt when a couple of years ago I was sitting with a pastoral staff and church leaders discussing their church’s upcoming trip to Mexico when one gentlemen informed me that there were people in the church that just hated Mexico and Mexicans!  In my most diplomatic voice – and those of you that know me know that I don’t really have a diplomatic voice – I spoke very softly and told him that given the words of Jesus to “love our neighbors” hating Mexico and Mexicans is just not an option for Christians.

I have honestly been appalled at how many folks have taken it upon themselves after I have spoken at their church to tell me what they think about Mexico, immigration issues, gun control and even our president.  And the anger in their voices belies an attitude that borders on the hate that Pastor Hochstadter speaks of in his letter.

You can imagine my shock when once a complete stranger walked right up to me after the service and told me that they would never go to that “Godforsaken country of Mexico!”  Why would someone feel a need to say that to me?

Last fall Chuck Colson and Jim Wallis came together to create a “covenant of civility” for those in the Church to express differences in a kind and thoughtful way that would reflect respect for one another.  Many well known pastors signed it.

As bothered as I am about our national rhetoric, I am more concerned about what is being said in the Church.  This passage in Matthew really speaks to the fact that what comes out of our mouths is a true reflection of what is in our hearts and I’m saying that some of it is just not good or acceptable.

In Proverbs this is an important topic.  There are references to words, lips, mouths, tongues that appear about 150 times in the 31 chapters.  Why?  Because our tongue is moving all day long and it tells the story of what is going on in our hearts at the moment.  And what we say is not always in harmony with the holiness of God.  I also believe that this is a spiritual problem we all face, some more than others, in that we all have problems with our mouths!

Years ago when my friend Mike McClenahan was the youth pastor at h, he started making the yearly trip to Mexico each spring with his group.  Our staff loved eating with them because they had become well known throughout our Ministry for their delicious meals.  But what affected me most was how he and the other leaders created an intentional atmosphere of kind words and encouragement with over 100 students.

As the students lined up for their food you never heard, “ugh I don’t like that” or anything derogative about what was being served.   Their thankfulness to the servers as well as for the food was so evident and it had such a positive impact on their group as well as those of us that came in contact with them.  After eating you always walked away fed and with more than just food!

My challenge to all of us during this season of Lent and Easter is to use words that genuinely reflect Christ’s nature and his character of love.  Let us remember the power of our words.  And may those of us in the Church be unified in civility towards one another in spite of differences.  It is my prayer that those who are marginalized in our world hear and see the love of God in the power of our words and deeds!  That is why Amor Ministries exists.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

Gayla Cooper Congdon
Founder and Chief Spiritual Officer

By Clint Barnes, Amor Ministries Field Specialist

Resort Town?
Many of the people for whom we build homes in Puerto Peñasco are amongst the poorest we serve. Part of what makes this unbelievable is what Puerto Peñasco and neighboring Las Conchas have become to American visitors. Because of the beautiful desert, dunes and ocean, this area has become a very popular vacation spot for Americans. It’s convenience is a big part of it’s popularity, as it sits just over an hour from the border and within several hours of Phoenix. Over the last 20 years, luxury resorts and condos have sprung up in parts of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point to many Americans) and Las Conchas. Whenever I travel highway 8, the main pipeline in and out of Penasco, I am struck by the fact that I lead missionaries with shovels and tools in their vehicles as we are surrounded RV’s carrying 4-wheelers and other toys.

In truth, many of the people who visit Puerto Penasco on vacation have no idea just how bad things are in the areas that they don’t frequent. I observed the shock on the faces of people who have vacationed in the area and never knew the extent of the poverty around them. Despite the fact that ignorance is bliss, I have found myself frustrated and in judgment of the people who visit Puerto Penasco for extravagant fun, while such dire need exists there. The disparity between Americans with money to spare and the homeless Mexicans within miles has been too much for me to stand at moments.

Personal Reflection
Whenever I find myself in a position casting judgment, I try to take a step back for a more objective point of view. One of my favorite things to do is think about Jesus when a mob brought an adulteress to him and demanded that she be stoned. In this story, Jesus bends down to write something on the ground while everyone waits for his response. What he wrote is not revealed in scripture. It is my thought that the reason we don’t find out what Jesus wrote is because it is irrelevant to the reaction of the crowd. What is relevant is that he gave them time. Time to consider the hypocrisy of their outrage and demands.

I gave myself a few moments of pause this week to reflect on the way I have judged those that don’t understand or help what is going on in Puerto Penasco. I immediately looked to my living situation. Two things struck me. First, my lifestyle is not as comfortable as it once was, but globally speaking, I am living high on the hog. I eat well everyday, have far more clothes than I need, have far more bikes than I need and drive a car that is way beyond my needs. All this while I live 20 miles from Tijuana, a place where people often struggle to get a roof over their head and clean water to drink. If I look even closer, I live in an extremely diverse and impoverished area of San Diego. My apartment is on the border of City Heights and according to geographic information collected in 2005, the median household income was $19,393. The average household at that time consisted of five family members. That’s just $3,879 a year for each person to survive on.

As I look at everything that Americans are missing as they pass through Peñasco everyday, I also have to consider all of the needs I pass by in my own neighborhood. Life is complicated and full of distractions, some worth pursuing and others not. Our lives and perception of our own needs certainly get in the way of helping those around us. As Jesus calmly draws in the sand and waits for me, I need to look inside, take stock and come to a better understanding of my true needs. Removing some of the wants that I believe to be necessities in my life can certainly put me in position to better serve those around me. I know that this will be a process, and I know that I’m not ready to give up many of the things I should. Despite how daunting and discouraging striving toward these goals can be, I know where I can start.

I am going to put down my stone.

Where will you start?

“In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”

Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)

Scott and I recently had a guest from England stay with us after his group returned home from their Amor Mission Trip.  We wanted him to have a true Southern California cross-cultural experience so, we took him to Disneyland!  Taking an adult from another country on their first Disneyland experience was more fun than I could have imagined.  We bought him a ridiculous hat with mouse ears, put his name on it, took a picture of him wearing it, then promptly put it up on Facebook!

As much as I love the rides, my favorite part is the opportunity to people watch and listen.  Despite being the so-called “happiest place on earth,” one can often hear conversations that aren’t so happy.  For example, I nearly always hear a mom or dad sternly instructing a child with “We will have fun here today.  I mean it.  You are going to have fun!”

As this particular day was winding down, our group was walking to another ride when I overheard a very loud conversation.  An angry woman was yelling so loudly that I had to turn to get a glimpse of the beneficiary of such a verbal beating.

Her anger, directed at presumably her husband, seemed to stem from something trivial.  She had purchased a bottle of soda and had entrusted him to carry it.  Unfortunately, he made the mistake of opening it—which she repeated over and over again, she hadn’t given him permission to do.  She was furious because her plan to drink it at 10 p.m. was now ruined because all the carbonation had been let out at 9 p.m..

Anger manifests itself in many ways.  It can be represented by vile language, a vulgar gesture, or even a gun shot.  The woman at Disneyland reminded me that we spend needless emotional energy being angry about things that simply don’t really matter.

In The Message, Paul’s verse on anger is translated this way, “Go ahead and be angry.  You do well to be angry but don’t use your anger for fuel for revenge.  And don’t stay angry.  Don’t go to bed angry.”

I like this.  He goes on to say that there are things that should make us angry—like the exploitation taking place at the temple that caused Jesus to turn over the tables of the money changers.  Likewise, Moses was often really ticked off at the children of Israel because of their sin.

Lately, I pondered this issue of anger.  If Jesus were here today, would he be angry about the same things that set us off?  I seriously doubt he would be upset about the loss of carbonation in a coke bottle.  And, I just can’t see him driving with road rage.  What would make him angry?

I think the same things that made him angry when he walked the earth would probably make him angry today.  Conversely, I doubt that the politics of our day would move him to anger.

Rather, I agree with what Philip Yancy’s says in his book, The Jesus I Never Knew.  “If the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church, then I hardly believe the political contemporary scene is much of a threat.”  Likewise, I am reminded of what Dr. Jack Hayford said to his congregation after an election years ago: that God is sovereign and throughout history has had His way.  So, why do the temporary things of this world cause so much anger?  Let us remember that there is only one kingdom that matters.

Jesus made it very clear to the rich young ruler that he needed to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor in order to follow him.  What makes us think that we get a free pass on this?  Isn’t his promise of eternal life good enough?  Another consideration: To get what we want, people are often exploited.  How do we reconcile this when we are called to love our neighbors?

People are angry at each other.  Christians are yelling at one another and the world is watching and listening just like I did at Disneyland.  The issues have gotten so heated that prominent Christians in the United States signed a covenant of civility—committing to engage in thoughtful and kind discussions on subjects which they disagree.

I just read a story about Leonardo da Vinci that speaks to the true spirit of this.  As da Vinci was painting The Last Supper, he became angry with someone for impeding his progress and lashed out at that person.  After that incident, he went back to his painting. When he reached the point of painting the face of Jesus, he found that he could not continue without first making things right with the individual who caused his anger.  Regardless of our emotional makeup, anger affects all of us.  When we allow anger to control us, we feel poorly, knowing that we must make things right.

May we look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and be angry about what makes him angry.  So, be angry but do not sin.

If you would like to see a list of things that make Gayla angry, click here.