Perspective is a major determining factor in our perception and experiences of the world. From the perspective of life in the comfort and luxury of the US, it is easy to forget, become desensitized to or even ignore the poverty and hardships that many throughout the world experience. For many people In Juarez, Mexico, living in plywood shacks and barely scraping by is normal life. This sad reality is made even crueler by the fact that the clean, tall buildings of El Paso are situated within eyesight. So, to meet both the spiritual and material needs of these communities, VGBC partnered with Casas Por Cristo over spring break to build houses in Juarez for the Sanchez and Salas families, who local pastors selected based on need and the potential impact of a new house on their lives. On Sunday, March 24, our team of 43 volunteers set out to Juarez, and on Monday we joined with our Casas leaders Brigham and Bridget, who would lead the construction of the houses. Not long after crossing the border, we arrived at the Rose of Sharon Church, where we stayed while building. After arriving, a group went to the park and played soccer with the local kids and teens. Before leaving, we gave the local kids soccer balls with the gospel message on them, which they were overjoyed to receive. 

The house took shape on Wednesday. The concrete had dried overnight and was now ready for the walls to be put on them. After securing the walls, we went to work nailing blackboard onto the outside of the wall and putting chicken wire on top of that to hold the stucco. While this was happening, the roof was built and insulation was installed. The Sanchez family fed Devin’s team with some simple but tasty tortillas with beans, eggs, and ham, showing how generosity can go both ways. Work lasted late into the afternoon, but we still stopped at a local S-Mart to buy ice cream before returning to the Rose of Sharon church.

After the dedication ceremony, we returned to clean the Rose of Sharon church and then set out back to Colorado Springs. The return journey went smoothly and we arrived back at VGBC on Saturday afternoon. 

As Monday night’s devotion had us do, our team members asked themselves how God would use this trip to impact our own lives, and answers ranged from seeing God’s plan more clearly to a deeper understanding and compassion for the poor. Many discovered a new and better version of themselves brought out by serving others. For a large portion of the team, this was their first mission trip of the sort, and they were deeply impacted by this experience. It is safe to say that no one walked away from this trip without learning valuable and important lessons for their lives. We are grateful for another productive and wonderful trip to Juarez and look forward to future opportunities to serve others. 

Home. There’s no place like it.

For many of us, our homes are a source of comfort and security – a place filled with love and laughter where we gather with family and friends. But for many families in Juarez, Mexico, they do not have a comfortable or safe place they can call home. The mission of Casas por Cristo and the VGBC Mexico Mission team is to provide these families with homes of their own and over Spring Break, our mission team had the opportunity to do just that for Moya and Hernandez families. After more than six months of preparation, fundraising and prayer, on Sunday, March 24, our team of 41 volunteers loaded into vans and headed for Juarez. We arrived at Casas Por Cristo offices in El Paso to meet our leaders, Brigham and Zach, who escorted us over the border and on to the Rose of Sharon church where we were staying. We unpacked and right away a group headed for the local park to play basketball and soccer with some of the neighborhood kids and teens. In spite of some language barriers, we were able to laugh and connect with them.

On Tuesday we woke up early and headed to our home sites. Team Devin’s was a short car ride away from the church. Team Gordon’s was about a 15‐minute drive and upon arrival, we realized that this site would be a little more challenging due to a concrete pad on part of the site and the close proximity of a wall. Both teams worked diligently to prepare the ground for the foundation. The concrete arrived and by lunchtime, it was poured and ready to dry overnight. The teams spent the afternoon building the walls, cleaning up the site and readying for the next day.

Wednesday was the most labor‐intensive day. It started with the teams setting the walls they had built the day before and then installing the blackboard around the exterior. Hanging the chicken wire and nailing it to the blackboard followed, while others worked on installing the roof. It was a long day filled with hard work, but was a critical day to ensuring we would finish the houses on time. Wednesday was also the day of the “Glasses for Missions” eyeglass giveaway and evangelism event at the Rose of Sharon church. We gave away 54 pairs of glasses and 21 people accepted Christ! This was a huge answer to prayer and blessing to the team.

Thursday was our final day at the sites and consisted mostly of stucco on the exterior and drywall and electrical work in the interior, as well as installing the door and windows and the final touches, including flowerboxes below the front window. The weather cooperated and the warm weather and sunshine helped the stucco dry. Thursday afternoon, some of the team members from each group led a short vacation Bible School event for neighborhood children not far from each site. The children were given eggs filled with candy and coloring sheets and made a bracelet with colored beads that corresponded to the story of the gospel.

Friday morning the teams packed, cleaned up and headed home. We hit a snag when border issues delayed us for more than four hours waiting to re‐enter the U.S., but we were grateful for good weather and no other issues as we made our way back to Colorado Springs. We are grateful for another wonderful trip to Juarez to serve Casas por Cristo in its mission of providing homes for families in need.

A house, something that seems so simple yet means so much. Often times we forget how lucky we are to have such a simple thing, to have our own home. However, many people in Juarez are not lucky enough to know what this feeling is, praying every single day and night for a home of their own. Not only do they want a home to call their own, but it means so much more than that. It means they have protection, safety and security from the outside. The houses we build: a concrete slab, a bunch of wood, black board, chicken wire, stucco, dry wall, and most importantly a foundation in Christ. For both of the families we built for this year, they were both single moms looking for a way to provide safety and protection for their families.

First Night at Rosa de Saron we cooked a dinner to fuel us for the next day. We sang together in worship and Todd Frisbie did an amazing job exploring the gospel and led a wonderful worship that prepared all of our hearts and minds for the task ahead.

Day 1

The roosters wanted to make sure they didn’t miss the sun, so they began crowing at 4 in the morning. Don’t worry, a good pair of ear plugs made sure that they didn’t keep us awake. Day 1 marks the beginning of a new day, of a new work week, of a new house for a family so desperately in need. We started out the day with the breakfast of champions, egg(whites) and bacon, along with some fruit, yogurt, oatmeal and cereal. After that we headed to meet our families for the day.  Team AC was building a house for a single mom with five children who did not have a home of their own, they were currently living with friends. They had a plot of land right behind their family’s home and that is where the day began. The morning was spent preparing for the concrete slab. Normally, we use a pumper truck to get the concrete into the form. Well, have you even been part of an assembly line carrying back and forth buckets of concrete? After this trip, most of us can answer yes to that question. Since the site was up a hill, it required the good old method of muscles and teamwork. The whole entire family helped us out, even the little ones were running empty buckets back down to the truck and we got some help from team Gordon. God provides in so many ways and with so many hands-on deck we were able to knock it out. Our truck was supposed to be at 11:00 am, but because it came at 3:00pm, we were able to receive help from the other team, a huge blessing and reminder that everything is done in God’s timing, not ours. The best part about day 1 was the home cooked meal our family prepared for us, and it was absolutely delicious. At the end of the day we had dinner at the church and worship together. Worship consisted of Brigham Dion doing worship and then telling us his Casas story.

Day 2

Day 3

The last and final day. The day that finishes the house that has been started in the name of Christ to spread his name across Juarez, Mexico. Like Brigham Dion our casas leader told us, day 3 is when adrenaline stops pushing you forward and character becomes the thing that fuels you. That day I was amazed at how strong the character is of every single person on our team and our casas leaders Brigham and Zach. Both teams worked so hard and we were able to dedicate two houses to two incredible families in the name of Jesus Christ. Dedication day saw a lot of happy tears and prayers. Day 3 also saw some amazing Vacation Bible School programs at both work sites. Team Gordon had three different stations set up for their kids to participate in different activities and they had a lot of kids from their neighborhood show up. Team AC had some vacation bible school time with the kids of the family and their friends. Time was spent reading from La Santa Biblia and the kids loved reading the word of God, eagerly wanting to be the next person to read a passage. After Vacation Bible School the magical word was said: ¡futbols! The kids got so excited about the soccer balls. Some of the members of team AC had the chance to play with the kids before the dedication; those kids are fast and really good at soccer. Before dedication the family of Team AC sang us some beautiful songs in Spanish, and then we surprised them with a song in Spanish as well. Day 3 saw so many things and it was such a good day full of smiles, laughter, and happy tears from both the teams and the families. To end the day, we went back to the church once again, had some dinner and worship. Keith Sennate explored the gospel with us with a message about the importance of flexibility on short term missions.

Words cannot describe how thankful each and every one of us is for the support we receive from the congregation here at Vista Grande Baptist Church. Without the support of this congregation we would not have been able to build two houses for two amazing families. Thank you for supporting us and allowing us to travel to Juarez, Mexico with Casas Por Cristo not only to build homes, but also to spread the name of our savior Jesus Christ. This mission trip is a life changing experience for every single person who embarks on it. ¡Gracias para su ayuda! Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”. 

A sunrise, something so beautiful; one of God’s prettiest creations. A sunrise, something so simple, yet so amazing. The sunrise our first morning in Mexico was so beautiful, people were peering through the church fence to get a glimpse of God’s beautiful creation in Juarez, Mexico. Often times in life we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget to take moments to appreciate the unending beauty of God’s creation. There are no words to describe how beautiful God’s creations are and Juarez, Mexico is one of the best places to take away all the distractions and show us the beauty of God’s creation, even in a place that has seen so much sadness.

The team that went to Juarez this year was absolutely amazing and we touched so many lives. Not only did we get to go to the park and play with the kids the first day, getting our butts kicked in soccer, but we also got to build relationships with so many people. We did an amazing VBS with some local kids and we were able to give them little stuffed animals. Words cannot describe the joy on these children’s faces when they got their stuffed animal; they had never had anything like it before. Back at Rosa de Sharon we were able to give out stuffed animals to the children of that church as well. One kid was so happy about his stuffed animal he could not stop hugging it and had tears of joy coming out of his eyes. Juarez, Mexico is a place that has stolen a piece of my heart, as well as many others. It is a place where God truly touches your heart; a place where you are able to do his work and spread his word; a place that needs us.

 City lights seen in the darkness, the sound of roosters greeting a new day, a new day for God’s work to be done, these were the feelings, sounds and sights of México. Everyday in México was a new day: a day for new challenges, a day for new lessons, and a day for new prayers.

Day 1- we drove to the job site, full of energy and life, feeling ready for whatever comes our way while doing God’s work. When we arrived at the house the homeowner, Gerardo, was already outside ready to greet us. Day 1 was filled with hard work, sweat, big hearts, and some sunburns. With the concrete looking good after much frustration and God’s gift of a surprise visit and help from one of the Casas leaders, most of the walls and roof pieces built, we headed home to Rosa de Sharon.Day 2- Early morning arrival to the job site was greeted by freshly made pastries and smiles from the homeowner and his pastor. With God’s love, and some sugar, flowing through our bodies, we set to work. 

Day 2 was a long day, filled with lessons and prayers. God was at work on the hearts of all present, teaching lessons of patience and understanding. The roof went up, the walls went up, and despite the crazy wind the day’s work was left with chicken wire starting to go up as the sun began to set.

Day 3-

We had a long day ahead of us. God gave us a great gift- half of the other team came to help us half way through the day. What a great scene, so many people smiling and laughing, working on this house for this family, for God. Maybe the best part? Homemade burritos for lunch and a late afternoon snack. Day 3 saw 12 hours of work, a beautiful morning sunrise, a light night sky, and so much love. We dedicated the house, sang a song, and prayed. When the family got the house, they knew it was from God, a gift to them. They were so grateful for the group of gringos that God had sent to them. The end of day 3 saw smiles, faces plastered with sand, stucco covered clothes, and hearts full of love. Three days to build a house; only done because of the strength and love God provided for us on this trip.

México is a time for us to come and give to those in need, those that have to little yet still keep on smiling. Galatians 6:9-10 describes it perfectly “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the faith”. One of the best parts of this trip? The love the homeowner and his family had for Jesus. How strong his love was, and how thankful he was for us, for VGBC being sent to his family in Juarez, México. Everyday he would pray with us in the morning, thanking the Lord, praying for our safety and strength. This family was so grateful, and we were grateful to meet them and help them. We were thankful to do God’s work in Juarez, to spread his love to his people, the lives changed by his love. Amor por Juarez. The thing that sums it up best? The song Dios de Esta Ciudad, God of this city. In Spanish “Grandes cosas vienen ya, grandes cosas Dios hara en este pueblo” in English “For greater things are yet to come, and greater things are yet to be done in this city.”

The 2014 Mexico Mission trip was an incredible blessing for both the family we built for and for our team.  This year we built for the Meza family. The family consisted of a grandmother, her two daughters, and their husbands and children. The job site was about 2 blocks from where the family lived. We built them a “double” which consisted of three rooms. The 1st day we leveled the ground, poured the foundation and built the walls. On the 2nd day we put up the walls, the insulation, the black board and some of the dry wall and chicken wire. The 3rd day on the site consisted of stuccoing, and finishing the roof and the dry wall. It is a lot of hard work and it could be very difficult at times, but everyone worked together as a team.

On the 3rd day we also dedicated the house to the family and gave them a Bible in Spanish. The family was in tears, extremely thankful for the house and the light of Christ. While we were working, we had a gentleman named Ricardo help us with the stucco (he was amazing at it and he had never done it before and his English was great) and he told us that he was looking for a job. Well, he didn’t get a job but he had said that he and his wife had wanted to be Christians. Ricardo came to know Christ and we told him where the church we were staying at was, the Rose of Sharon, so he and his wife could attend. When the team wasn’t on the job site, you could often find us at the park playing soccer with the kids. While we were there we handed out soccer balls, toy cars, and copies of the New Testament. Language was definitely not a barrier, a group of the boys that we played soccer with came to a church service with us!

Some of our team went and visited the family we built for last year as well. Navigating Juarez was not easy but it was totally worth it.  It was amazing to see how God was working in their lives and through Andres’ church. Seeing God work no matter where you are and what language you speak is indescribable. Building a house down in Mexico is an experience that opens your eyes. The house we built for the Meza family was only three rooms, about 33 x 14 feet.  As Americans we are so used to big houses and being able to watch TV or use the internet every day. Coming back to America we all feel like royalty staying in a nice hotel and eating food from a restaurant. It humbles you.  The team would like to thank the church for your support; we couldn’t have done it without your support and prayers. God has provided a lot for us and we are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be his hands and feet.

Thank you for your love and support

Rachel McManus

Mexico was a blessing as always. God had his hand in this trip the whole time. From God calling people to go to Mexico, to getting the insurance that we needed the day before we went. The family had been waiting three years for their house to be built. The previous team wasn’t able to make it and the family heard that we weren’t sure if we were coming. Most teams show up on Monday to start work, so the family thought for sure that we were not coming. They were really disappointed, until Tuesday and the answer to their prayers showed up.

The father is a pastor who recently opened a church. He has a wife, two girls and a boy. The family also has animals. The family almost lost their son, but they prayed to God and He healed their boy.  They have a dog, a kitty and a rooster. We built a “double” for them.  And we had so many people that we had a lot of time to spend with the family. The first day we lay the foundation and built the walls. The second day we put the walls up and insulated them. We put chicken wire around the house, we wired it for electricity, and put the roof on, put the windows in, the doors on and they even got a ceiling fan. Everything is done except for the drywall and the stucco which we did on the third day. On the third day the house is complete. It’s hard work and it can be trying at times but everybody works together as a team.

There is a funny story we’ll always remember. The first day when we were laying the foundation, the rooster kept running across the concrete. He must’ve run across it 3 times. The next day the family cooked us a meal (which is very rare because they don’t have a lot but they were very appreciative of what we were doing there) and guess what we were eating, that’s right chicken. We didn’t see the rooster all day that day. On the third day we were so happy to see that the rooster was alive.

The second day we got to play freeze tag with the children and talk to the

adults. It was a lot of fun. The third day when we finish the work we dedicate the house to God. It is a really humbling and emotional experience. When you see the poverty in the city and the little that they have and that they are so grateful for what

they do have. The house that we built for them is about 30 feet by 25 feet. When I come back home I feel like a king. The little that I have doesn’t compare to what they really don’t have. The Mexican people have a big need not just with the poverty but also a need to know Christ. The city of Juarez is getting to know who Christ is and what he is about because of the many people that continue to go show the love of Christ.

Thank you for your love and support

Nate Doyle