from a foundation to a house to a home...

A bit about our Mexico house-build trip... and you can see the transformation from a cement foundation to a house...to a home!

When we arrived on the site, this was what greeted us: two small pieces of property each with a reinforced poured concrete foundation, and all of the framing and wall lumber, dry wall, and other materials needed to build two houses, and two eager and ready building project managers. (oh, and a wonderful view of all of Rojo Gomez, a border town "home" to thousands of poor families in shacks with no running water) Just add our two teams of eager builders (about 50 total)...and ...the building begins!

...10:45 am Friday...

(yes, that's me...not very flattering, I know!)
It was amazing to watch these two houses being built from the ground up and a privilege to be a part of it!

I helped build the frame of our house and then spent much of the rest of the day hammering on the outside wall boards... then hanging dry wall inside!
(all new skills for me!)

Windows and a door had to be cut and the roof put on.

This is Pablo, the project manager for House #1 (our house!).

He and Hector (HM for House #2) were AMAZING!

They knew how to do every needed task and how to teach us

unskilled labor how to do them as well....

all with cheerful attitudes and smiling faces!

Me hanging dry wall...

POWER TOOLS!!! COOL!!

The inside of the house looking into the "loft" from the largest of the three rooms.

(Oops. This came before the drywall photo!)

Me demonstrating my awesome and well-honed hammering skills!

(Please pardon the lovely look...it was HOT!)

"Charlie's Angels" pose

Two of my life group buddies (Kristen and Anita) and me.
Powerful girls with tools (and toolbelts!!)!

* * * * * *

...And this is what our house looked like 6 1/2 hrs later at quitting time...

I couldn't believe it.

House #2 was just as finished right behind our house.

* * * * * *

Day 2

full of dry wall hanging, mudding, putting in the windows and doors, trim on the outside, building a ladder for the loft, tar papering and shingling the roofs, sanding the inside walls to prep for painting, gathering tires and building a stairway into the hillside out of the tires, entertaining the neighborhood kids with games and fun, wiring the houses for electricity, working together with one another and with the families as they joined in the building of their houses

* * * * * *

Day 3

Because we had large teams, we were able to finish our houses mostly on Day 2. That allowed us some extra time to paint the interior of the houses as well.

This was the happy peach color in House #1 and the ladder to the loft:

And these are the finished products,

all ready for the dedication ceremony:

We dedicated each house to its family...

and prayed over the family...

There were tears of joy and excitement...

And very very big smiles!!

This was the family of House #1--

Flavio, Luz Maria, and their two little children...

a "mural" was created for each house, and this one says:

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

~Joshua 29:15b

...and the house becomes a home...

To God be the Glory!!

God has a heart for Mexico...

While I was on our house-build mission trip in Mexico this past weekend, I was reminded of God's love for the people of Mexico.....

These hearts of love were in the fence around the pool at "The Ranch" where we stayed in Tecate--Rancho La Paloma.

And, for those of you who prefer to see non-man-made declarations of God's amazing love...

I discovered this one in the road at the work site where we were building the houses for the two families. What delight!

"...he sent the people to their homes,

joyful and glad in heart

for the good things the LORD had done..."

~2 Chronicles 7:10 (in part)

celebrate the Sabbath...serving...

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD."

~Joshua 24:15

serving the King...

"The King will reply,

'I tell you the truth,

whatever you did

for one of the least

of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.'

~Matthew 25:40

with all your heart...

Whatever you do,

work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men,

since you know that you will receive an inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

~Colossians 3:23-24

in His name...

Early tomorrow morning I am off to Mexico with a group of about 35 folks from our church. We are spending the next three days in one of the extremely poor border towns where we will be building two houses. Each of these houses is to be given to a family there in great need. Along with the houses, we also are providing various "house warming" gifts such as towels, dishes, pots and pans, and some toys for the children.

When we arrive on the site tomorrow morning, there will be a poured concrete foundation. And we will take it from there, starting with building the frames for the walls. Over the next two days, we will raise walls, put in windows, add drywall, and everything else that goes into building a house! When we leave on Sunday, each house will be wired for electricity, plumbed, painted on the outside, and finished to the point of painting on the inside. (We will leave them paint for the interior as well.)

While we are building the homes, there will be games and activities for neighborhood kids as well as folks going out to visit with others in the community. The purpose is not only to build a couple of houses but to continue to build relationship with folks who live in this little town. (our church sends several teams down throughout the year to follow up on previous families and to make connections in the community. We partner with a local ministry to serve in this area.) And, of course, we pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus whenever and however possible.

It's supposed to be very hot while we're there, so if you have a spare moment, please feel free to pray for our team--for physical stamina, for hearts to serve, for unity in the teams, for opportunities to share love, for safety, and for that the name of Jesus would be glorified!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

~Colossians 3:17