House Build Testimonies

 Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:27am

Youth Pastor, Matt Doan writes, "This weekend me and 80 of my favorite people from Calvary Church of Santa Ana ventured down to Mexico to build a couple of houses for 2 families we barely know but authentically love. Tonight, these two families who make about $100 a month for families of four will spend a cool February night in newer, warmer, bigger homes. Our group was filled with so much joy and unity this weekend as we banged away trying to create a house. Our High School group used to take President's weekend and go snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain. These were fun weekends filled with great adventures but you know what? Our High School students actually seem to have more fun and become more unified serving others in Mexico than they ever do snowboarding. Why is that? I think it is because serving the poor and serving others in general is something we were designed by God to do as real-life followers of Jesus. Therefore it brings joy and unity like nothing else.

Jim Sedgwick of La Cresc enta Presbyterian Church writes, "This is a short testimony on how I got involved, and the impact BCM ministry has had on my life. One night as I was driving home from my office, I heard a guy on the radio; a guy named Bob Sanders interviewing with Warren Duffy, on Live From LA, talking about house building in Mexico. I had taken some high school shop classes, but that and trying to fix a drippy faucet were the extent of my “building” experience. But something about what this guy was saying clicked with me, “Making a Difference” “Having an adventure” “Serving God”. It all sounded pretty good, and I wondered, “How could I go on a trip like this?” Well, as they say, the Lord works in mysterious ways, and God said, “I know how you can go – organize a trip!”

Well, I recently got back from helping to build my 9th and 10th homes, and am eagerly anticipating going back in July. I knew from the beginning that building and giving away a house would have a huge impact on a needy family, but I completely underestimated the impact it would have on me and the team. Lives have been changed, bonds of friendship have been formed, and souls have been saved on both sides of the border.

If you are considering participating on a building trip, I would encourage you to talk to God about something bigger. It could change your life; I know it changed mine."

Nelson Soo of La Jolla Presbyterian Church writes, "On President's Day Holiday 2008 I lead a group of 31 men on a home building trip in Tijuana, Mexico. Many of the group had never experienced working with the poor and serving the Lord in this manner. Over two days we built two homes and two latrines for needy families. We also decided to have a community cookout and grilled 120 hamburgers and 80 hot dogs. The cookout was an overwhelming success, every bit of food was consumed and it was a way of reaching out to the residents. While I was cooking the food, a thought came to me. Children were standing in line for 45 minutes just to get a burger or hot dog. Then I truly did realize how poor the people of Tijuana were. Small children waited patiently to take home a burger to their families. Seeing the smiles of the children while serving them will stay with me forever. Thank you BCM for providing this opportunity to get involved."

Jann’e and Tom Gutierrez led a team from First Christian Church of Tempe from Mesa, Arizona to build a home for a needy family and to see salvation come to the area. Their story tells of the trials they went through and how their goal was realized as a victory in Christ through faith and perseverance. They also shared their perspective of how they viewed this ministry. I hope you will be encouraged as we were.

Jann'e Gutierrez writes, "In preparing for our trip to build a home with BCM our biggest human concern was a minor detail, the construction of the home! Our team=2 0consisted of only two men, neither of whom had any construction experience, three teenage boys, five women and three teenage girls (well, one is almost a teen). Looking at the construction plans was like reading Greek! While trying not to be anxious about anything, this concern was still at the forefront of our minds as we headed out on our mission. Much to our delight, when we arrived at the site (after a perilous journey up a rugged hill) there was not only one knowledgeable and kind construction leader, but two! We knew from here... that although we had already had several unexpected obstacles such as... neither of our planned vehicles being ready on the night before departure and having to find alternative means of transportation, a two and a half hour detour in southern California due to a blizzard (of all things) closing I-8, and the rugged road to the site... that God was taking care of us and would help us get this job done through our inadequacies!

There were more attacks on our faith and trust as we drove through Tijuana on a Friday night to our bunkhouse and got a flat tire. We put on the spare and that went flat as soon as we tried to drive away. Remember, we had no time to prepare this vehicle for the journey and therefore the spare was too low on air. Our gracious guide, David Angulo, led the big van to the bunkhouse (one girl was having an asthma attack) while leaving my husband and I on the side of the road waiting for him to come back with a tire. We were 100 % reliant on God’s angels to protect us and on David to return for us! Both of which happened and we were able to put a new tire on the minivan and head in for a good night’s rest. Satan laid off of us after this point and the rest of the mission went quite smoothly (relatively speaking).

The most amazing part of the trip was what Bob Sanders referred to as the two-for-one. On Saturday Bob was visiting the neighborhood where we (and many other teams) were building homes. During our lunch break Bob invited a part of our team to participate in the sharing of the Gospel with “our family” and a neighbor. This was an amazing privilege to witness because the family accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior right there in front of our very eyes! We had never witnessed anything like this and it was so moving. BCM has an entire discipleship and follow-up program in place to teach, encourage, and nurture these baby believers. Evangelism like this was foreign to my husband and me; the house we built them is a temporary, earthly home, but the house they accepted that day was an eternal one with Jesus forever! No wonder Satan tried to stop us! This was by far, the highlight of my trip with BCM!

Tom Gutierrez writes, "I've been reflecting on the trip and three things stand out to me. First, the Lord's work will not be denied. I believe the obstacles we faced were put there by Satan to prevent the family from coming to the Lord, and were allowed by God to build the faith of our group. Satan's flaming darts were extinguished, and God's purpose was fulfilled. I believe he is building our faith for a reason...and that is to do more of his work that will require it. This mission trip did more to build my faith than anything I've ever experienced. Second, there is such an overwhelming need for Jesus in the world. The poverty is one thing, but these people had the basics. Although poor, they were not starving and freezing. The strongest need I saw with these particular people was a spiritual one. Building the house was great and needed, but it was more of the means to meeting the spiritual need. Third, although we all had an "experience" in going on this trip, and that experience can build our faith and encourage others, I reflect on the service. While there, I kept pondering Jesus saying that, "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." Jesus has blessed me so incredibly, that I loved the opportunity and privilege to serve and love him by serving this family. The message is that I need to be serving continually, not just at these types of opportunities". Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-

Cedric Crawford of Bakersfield who led a team of friend's and business associates to build a home asks the important question: "Why do we keep going back?" and gives this inspiring answer: "One day I was asked "What are you most passionate about?" Being caught off guard, it took me quite some time to respond. Actually, I didn't have a response until several hours later after the moment had passed. My passion is something that I take pleasure in doing and would do for free and not pay attention to the time it takes me to do it. It is the proverbial "labor of love". This same labor of love was poured out to us by Jesus Christ and the example he demonstrated for us here on earth. Why do we come back some may ask? It is because of that passion. What better love can we show for our fellowman than to labor as Jesus did to help our fellow man and brothers and sister in Christ.

I often reflect on the task at hand that lies before us on the next working day of building these houses. I know that members of our group are fast asleep resting for the next day’s labor and conversely I imagine the family that we're building the house for laying awake in anticipation of their new home being presented to them at no cost. Why do I come back you ask? It's because we speak that language that words can't express and our reward is the smile and feeling we get from watching that deserving family being blessed through those of us who have labored with love so that they too might have what many of us take for granted. "They will know by our deeds that the one who came before us loves them also and they too may seek to have a personal20relationship with him whose name is Jesus." This little light of mine I will surely shine.”

God is good