Homes of Hope Post Thoughts

I don’t recover well from mission trips.  Not sure why, but maybe it’s my knack for the mundane, and normalcy of life.  I like habits, discipline, and routine, so anytime that’s thrown out of whack, it seems to jack me up.  Oh well!

I just wanted to share a few post Mexico home-build thoughts.

1.  A big thank you to Matt Holcomb, Ryan Grauberger, Adam Martin, and Ryan Read for their leadership.  You men advanced the kingdom of God this past weekend.  Great servant leadership exhibited.  Lead on!!!

2. YWAM (Youth With A Mission),  great organization, mission, vision, and execution.  I look forward to serving with you in the future.

3. Took my 14-year-old daughter (Hannah) with me, and it was eye opening and life changing for her.  Hannah, I’m glad to call you my daughter!!

4. What was really neat was the family we built the house for was on site the whole time we were building, and the man we were building for helped build as well.  Imagine what was going through his mind?

5.  Everybody got to do a little bit of everything.  You could paint trim, build trusses, frame walls, put on the roof, etc….. Everyone got to take a shot at different areas.  It was truly a team effort. I was never bored, and it was cool watching everybody in intentional motion.

6.  We had a safety guy appointed to make sure people weren’t going to hurt themselves.  I was told I had to wear safety goggles.  I did!

7.  Lunch’s were sandwiches, chips, soda, and a hostess snack.  Great breather mid-day, and a time to engage the team.

8.  Took Saturday night to go get authentic Mexican taco’s.  Unbelievable!  No cow brains for me though.  Then headed to a coffee shop second to none, called Lat 21 (?). It was the coolest coffee shop off the coast I’ve ever been to.  I could spend days hanging out there.  We then wrapped up the night with the guys grabbing a few choice beverages @ plan B:)  Great stories!

9.  The rooms overlooked the coast, and it was like we were literally staying @ a nice hotel.  Accommodations were sweet!  Didn’t feel like missions, but I’m not complaining.

10. YWAM served a hot b-fast everyday for us.  There was a team from New Zealand there with us as well.  They were building a separate home.

11.  We were transported in 15 passenger vans.  Never felt unsafe.

12.  Sunday we finished the roof, trim, painting and detail work.

13.  A group of us took the family shopping for essentials, while the team back at the build site was furnishing the home.  Stove, tables, chairs, beds, etc…  It was a shocker to the family.  Loved it!

14.  Arrived back @ the home-build site.  Circled up, and everyone got to share something.  Gifted the family with a bible, plaque, and then turned the keys of the house over to the family.  They hadn’t even seen the inside of their new home yet.

15.  Once we gave them the keys, they had some time to go in and check out their new home, and furnishings.  While they were doing that we brought down the groceries, and became the first guests into their new home.

16.  We huddled up in their home & it was moving to see David (The Husband & Father) not able to gain composure because he was so moved @ what had been done for his family.  I was a wreck, and so was the team.  I’ve never been a part of something so tangible and life giving as what happened in that home on Sunday morning. It was a God moment!!

17.  Thinking about going?  Don’t think!  Just go! Love wins, and families lives will be changed forever, not to mention yours.  It will start a revolution of compassion in your soul.  The revolution begins!

18.  I must say waiting in line to cross the border is about as fun as a sharp stick in the eye.  Are van load was fun though, and it’s very entertaining to see all the venders going by your vehicle.  I think we crossed in 2 hours.  Oh, and if you’re ever in line to cross the Mexican border into the USA……get the hot fresh churros.  Nothing compares!  Unbelievable!

One word sums up a Homes of Hope Home-build weekend…….Amazing!!!!