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. 

 

 

On Tuesday, the building began. We woke up extra early as the concrete trucks were scheduled to show up at 9am, and the ground must be prepared before concrete can be laid. For Devin’s team, the ground was already mostly level and only a few minor adjustments were needed. The concrete truck arrived around 10, and we worked diligently to level the concrete in the frame we had created. In the afternoon, we built the walls of the house. The weather was cloudy and rained off and on, but not enough to disrupt work. This year was the first year that a bathroom would be added on the outside of the house, and we built a door into the back wall so that another team could construct the bathroom after us. Despite this slight change, we were still able to finish work incredibly early and a group went to play soccer at the park again. 

 

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.

 

Stucco and drywall were added to the house on Thursday, as well as the electrical system. We held a small VBS, where local children folded paper airplanes, played soccer with some of our team members and received bracelets with colors corresponding to the gospel message and New Testaments. The Sanchez family fed us again with some amazing burritos. The house was finished on Thursday but the dedication ceremonies were held on Friday morning. Both families were presented with keys to the house and signed copies of the Bible…relax, they were signed by the respective team members. It was an emotional time for both the families and our teams, and tears flowed freely. 

 

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.