Prayers for Guatemala

Our summer interns Jake, Christie and Tyler are well into their second week in Guatemala and getting more and more familiar with their new home for the summer. Learning three builds in three weeks in two different countries and cultures is a lot, but we know that they are capable and that God will provide all that they need. We want to lift up their specific prayers requests this summer as they soak up all that is Guatemala! Will you join us in praying for them?!

Jake:

- For Christ's leadership through me as I lead teams

- God's direction in all things this summer

- That God would use these experiences to mold and transform my life for all He has planned

- That the families and teams would come to see Christ in new ways through their experiences

Christie:

- Strength for the long time I am away from home and for all the hard work that will be done

- That God might use me to bless teams and families every week

-Thanks for this opportunity to learn and to love

Tyler:

- God's direction for Casas' ministry as a whole

- That the families we serve may know we build for them out of love for Jesus Christ and because we care about their eternal salvation

-For God's direction in my life as I seek possibilities of long term service in Guatemala

- Safe travels for the Casas staff and teams that journey to Guatemala

-That the people of Guatemala & México may believe in God, hold onto the Word of God, and realize that anything can happen

Stepping Out... On Faith

After almost 10 years on staff with Casas por Cristo, Brittany Girle is stepping out on faith to follow where God is leading next. Read her last newsletter here and continue to follow her next steps at Confidently Wandering or leave your e-mail address in the comments to be added to her mailing list.

Team Casas Guatemala

We want you to meet Vilma and Oscar Reyes and their children Frandi (5) and Arely (8). They are 33 years old and Oscar is a truck driver.  Right now they are renting a place to live, but praying that they will soon have a home to call their own.  We want to help make this prayer a reality. The week of June 23rd we are still looking for volunteers to join us for Team Casas in San Raimundo, Guatemala.  If you've been considering organizing a trip to Guatemala, this would be a great opportunity to experience it first hand. Grab a friend and join us this summer for a week in Guatemala!

Cost: $675 (excluding airfare)

When: June 23rd-29th

Click Here for More Details

Girl On A Mission

Read the story of how one 8 year old girl from North Carolina is using her entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity to help raise money for her youth group to build a home with Casas por Cristo in Guatemala. Cecilia's story inspired us, we have no doubt it will inspire you too!!
(This story was originally written by her parents here.)

I’ll just go ahead and say it…this post is unabashed praise for my sweet little girl. Uh huh, my peacock feathers are WIDE open. At 8 (and a 1/2, she will remind you) our youngest dauther, Cecilia, has shown us just how incredibly huge her heart already is by taking on a task born in her own head, to help others.

Rewind two weeks ago to a Sunday evening youth service. We are so blessed at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, to have an amazing youth director in Steve Keaton. Our youth group is one of the largest in town and super active, mainly because of Steve and the wonderful youth volunteers. Each Sunday evening our youth group gathers and once a month, instead of the usual gathering, they have their own worship service. On this particular Sunday, I happened to be at church helping to serve dinner to the youth. So when the service started, my two older kids, who are youth members headed into the service. Not wanting to be left out, Celia joined right in. I poked my head in a couple of times amidst the kitchen cleanup and was delighted to see her standing on the front row dancing and singing praise music right beside her big brother. What a treat to see how taken she was with the whole concept.

I knew in advance that Steve encouraged the youth to come to the service because “they would have the opportunity to leave with cash” but I had no idea of what he had planned. Well of course, we had a great turnout…I mean what a fabulous way to attract kids! What the youth didn’t know is that they would be challenged. During the service, Steve spoke to the youth about the Parable of the Talents. And as they left, each was allowed to place their hand in a big box full of cash and pull out a bill. Then they were asked to take that bill and double it and bring it back to the church in a few weeks. All of the money collected would go towards sponsoring some of our youth to go to Guatemala this summer on a mission trip. In the box were 5′s, 10′s and 20′s.

Again, not seeing herself as any different from the big kids, little missy stuck her hand right in the box and pulled out a ten dollar bill. And immediately her mind was whirling and before she even got to the car she had an idea brewing. You see, recently Celia has been taking sewing classes. It has been the most wonderful experience. She is naturally gifted in this area…full of patience, detail oriented and creative. She also has a great eye for color and patterns and just does incredibly meticulous work…especially for an 8-year-old. One of their recent sewing projects was an adorable, reversible headband and she was certain she could make some and sell them to double her money.

So off she went to sewing class the following Thursday with a bag of fabric we had on hand…and she walked out with finished headbands! Over the course of the next two days she made more with other fabric we purchased. By Sunday morning, she had 19 headbands in her bag that she planned to sell for $3 a piece. On the way into the service, I mentioned to Steve about her project and he took a moment during the service to tell about Celia’s entrepreneurial spirit in the name of a cause. Following the service Celia was flooded with onlookers and customers shoving cash into her precious little hands. I wish I had my camera at the time to capture the look and amazement in her eyes. She was overwhelmed…and out almost of inventory! Yep, the end of the day she had turned her $10 into $69!

So needless to say, the Odoms have turned their basement into somewhat of a mini sweatshop. What began as a one-girl operation, has turned into a family project. We have had the most wonderful time working together to support her as she makes more headbands to take to various places this week hoping to increase the amount of money she gives back to the church.

Of course, I had to take a few images of my girl hard at work and showcase some of her fabulous pieces. Yes, folks, you may be looking at the next Project Runway winner!

Love the concentration on her face!

Above, sporting one of her favorite patterns.

Some of this week’s designs are shown above…get ‘em while they’re hot!

A finished piece.

No doubt, we have all learned something from Celia’s willingness to take an idea and literally run with it…never thinking that failing was an option. She jumped right in without hesitation because she knew she had been called to help others. I’m quite sure much of her inspiration has come from watching her older sister, Lydia, as she prepares for her mission trip this summer and I am very grateful for the example she has set for both her brother and sister. It should also not go unnoticed that both of my other children have at least doubled their money to give back as well. But the extent to which Celia took this has been inspiring, to say the least. I’m constantly amazed at how much we can learn and be inspired by our children. Makes me smile!

Also, a huge shout out to Steve Keaton for coming up with such a creative way to challenge our youth! Can’t wait to see what comes of it!

Keeping Up With the de la Peñas

Read the latest from Ryan and Leanne de la Peña and follow their work with Casas por Cristo.

We are here!!! It wasn’t easy and the first week wasn’t pretty, but we survived and are excited to call El Paso home once again.  After a six day road trip full of adventures including a snowstorm, late nights driving, more bathroom stops than I can count, and some fun time spent with family and friends along the way, we drove into El Paso during the peak of a nasty sandstorm.  We are so thankful for the group of friends that showed up with lunch, groceries, toilet paper and strong arms to unload the moving truck.  However that first evening several of us started feeling ill.  By Tuesday, Ryan, Leanne and 2 year old Landon all tested positive for a nasty case of the Flu. The rest of the kids have had a variety of symptoms, but thankfully didn’t need anything other than some extra rest.  Once again we watched in amazement as friends brought more meals and even a practically new bed as we weren’t able to bring our old one with us. They made sure that our children were alive and taken care of, as Ryan and I were really wiped out by the virus.  

So here we are two weeks later, thankful to be healthy and even more thankful for all the little and big ways that God provided and protected us during our transition.  Last week Ryan jumped right into building as he and fellow staff member Jason Roth headed to Juárez with Bethel Church all the way from British Columbia, Canada. Despite the wind and rain, they succeeded in building 2 singles with only 10 people.  In March, Ryan is scheduled to build with 2 or possibly 3 more teams in Juárez.  So please pray for us as we continue to settle in and also prepare for the birth of our 7th baby in April. 

To step back for a minute, in January, Ryan was able to fly from PA to El Paso for a short weekend build with The House of God, whom we had both previously worked with many years ago.  It was a joy to be able to give the Vasquez family a home and to connect with some old friends. 

If you have previously made a pledge to support us, now is the time to start sending in your monthly support if you haven’t already. If you haven’t considered coming alongside us financially, we would ask for your prayerful consideration.  We do need to raise additional support and would love to have you as part of our team.  The easiest way to give is through Casas por Cristo staff page. You can set up to make automatic monthly payments or just a one time gift. If you prefer not to use the internet, you can also mail in donations to the office address, P.O. Box 971070 El Paso, TX 79997.  

Thank you to each of you who have given and/or committed yourselves to giving.  We are excited to get back into the swing of things here and to see how God will use us!

Summertime and the Living's Easy

But that's not what you're looking for; not every week at least!! Grab your friends, your family or your neighbors and spend a week with us this summer building a home for a family in need. We promise, there is no better way that you could spend your week! 

We have opportunities for you to serve in México and Guatemala. So what are you waiting for? Check out your calendar and join us. Our México and Guatemala trips are right around the corner!

June 10th - 14th | Juárez, México

June 23rd - 29th | San Raimundo, Guatemala

June 30th - July 6th | San Raimundo, Guatemala

August 30th - September 2nd | Acuña, México

For more info check out our Team Casas page or e-mail us at questions@casasporcristo.org

A lifetime of faithfulness

In his 97th year, Harold James is an inspiration to us and a reminder that we are all called to serve God with our whole lives. May his words and faithfulness inspire you as they have us.

Keeping Up With the Roth's

Read the latest from Jason and Janette Roth and follow their work with Casas por Cristo.

"That Trip Changed My Life"

(taken from CMF International http://bit.ly/YuOB9T)

Students and staff from the Globalscope El Pozo campus ministry in Puebla, Mexico, will make the team’s sixth spring break trip March 25-27 to build houses for poor families with Casas Por Cristo, a Christian organization based in El Paso, Texas.

“Five families now have homes because of the five trips El Pozo has made,” said Kami Burns, the El Pozo team leader, “and this year’s we’re changing that number from five to seven.”

The group plans to build both a three-room and a two-room house in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. They have raised more than $6,000 toward the nearly $12,000 cost, and recruited 17 of the 30 students they will need for the project.

“Sometimes this project sounds too crazy, like these are goals we can’t accomplish,” said Kami, “but the name ‘Casas Por Cristo’ reminds me every time I say it that these houses are built by Jesus Christ, and 13 more students and $5,548 more is completely doable for the Son of God.”

The previous trips have been life-changing events not only for the families who receive the new homes, but also for the team participants, including Kami herself.

“In 2008, in my last year of school at Georgia Tech, I decided to go on Christian Campus Fellowship’s spring break trip to build houses with Casas Por Cristo in Ciudad, Juarez, Mexico, for the first time,” said Kami. She had spent time as an exchange student in El Pozo the year before and was excited about reconnecting with her friends there.

“That trip was crucial for me … I realized just how much I loved being in Mexico,” added Kami. “I wasn’t sure when I’d be back in Mexico or when I would see my Mexican friends again, but the lump in my throat when I left told me that maybe God was telling me something. That Juarez trip changed my life.”

Other students have also been powerfully affected by the trip, said Kami. Rada was a young girl with only a slight connection to El Pozo who went on the 2010 trip on a whim.

“The community she discovered on that trip connected her to El Pozo,” said Kami, “and over the course of the next year, she started an internship with us, gave her life to Christ and was baptized, and today she still works on our staff. That trip changed her life!”

Yet another student who was impacted by the trip was a graduating senior, Armando, who had been part of El Pozo for years, but went on his first trip with Casa Por Cristo in 2010.

“Amramdo fell in love with Casas Por Cristo on that trip and interned with them last summer,” said Kami. “There he was baptized and made a commitment to ministry. He interned with El Pozo this fall and is now preparing to join the Casas staff in Juarez and Acuna full time this summer. That trip changed his life!”

If you are interested in joining El Pozo on this trip contact Kami Burns. If you’d like to make it possible for more students to go, you may donate here. Prayers are also requested for the venture, said Kami.

“Since the beginning of the semester we’ve been praying at 2 p.m. every day, and asking supporters, friends and students to pray as well,” she said. “Please join us in praying for God to provide the people and the money to build two houses, and for the families who will receive them.”

"This Love Is Not For Cowards..."

We spent our weekend over President's Day in Juárez, México building a home for a family that lost their husband/father two years ago to murder.  Every person that came to construct this house into a home didn’t just show up, they fought to be here.  They drove across the country with their children and with strangers, standing in their own faith, to show this family an unconventional outpouring of love. They fought to go to a city where no one else wants to go, to give of themselves, to a family that they had never met; but one desperately in need of hope and restoration and a reminder that God has not forgotten about them. We're thankful that this Team Casas crew came together.  We're even more thankful that Berta and her family have a home and a daily reminder that God has not forgotten about them but loves them deeply.

(some scenes from our dedication and weekend build)

Are You Our Next Intern?

With summer right around the corner, and our search for interns in full swing, we asked former interns how their summer with Casas por Cristo affected their lives.  Here's what they had to say...

David Lebby:

If I were to sum up my summer into one sentence it would read, “It ruined me.” My summer had three phases: humility, discovery, joy.

Humility: I was immediately humbled by the overwhelming nature of the work and my complete and total inadequacy.

Discovery: I began to discover that my inadequacies were so pale in comparison to God's overwhelming power and will to use me.

Joy: I found the most intense joy of my life abiding in God from day to day, serving the people of Juárez, being used despite my crippling personal shortcomings.

When I say my summer in Juárez ruined me, I mean it ruined me for the ordinary nature of a life built around my own capabilities and birthed in me a persistent desire for the extreme. Things only possible through Him.

I think everyone enters a Casas internship with flaws detrimental to the role that a leader plays. It was one of my life’s greatest pleasures to watch God overcome these flaws.

Jess Hehrer:

I went into the Casas por Cristo internship with the desire to be challenged and enlightened. I had no idea that in a few short months I would leave as an entirely new person. The three months I spent working alongside the other interns and CpC staff were the hardest months of my life. I was constantly challenged spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Over the course of ninety days something crazy happened. I began to rely on the Lord more than I ever had in my entire life. I was able to witness His power, might, and grace, and I personally experienced His strength, peace, and provision. God slowly but surely changed my heart to reflect His.

Serving as an intern with Casas por Cristo has easily been the most rewarding experience in my life thus far. It opened my eyes to a community that has been forsaken by its people, but not forgotten by God. As an intern I learned to act in faith and speak with boldness. The rewards of this internship program are far more than I ever expected, and I owe Casas por Cristo everything for allowing me to participate in such an incredible opportunity.

Rachel Weller: (apprentice with Casas)

My time with Casas has taught me to pray big prayers and never put God in a box.

Jessica Selburg: (summer and winter intern with Casas)

Interning with Casas brought me out of my comfortable Christian bubble and into courageous wonderful pursuit.

Brittany Girle (full-time missionary with Casas since 2004)

I had no clue that a Spring Break trip in college would change the course of my entire life.

Justin Kirklin (full-time missionary with Casas since 2009)
My internship set the foundation for the rest of my life. I now see Jesus as my life and my treasure.

Jason Roth (full-time missionary with Casas since 2007)

Not to be melodramatic, but it did change the course of my life. I had never considered working in missions, or moving accross the country to El Paso. God has better plans than my own. 

We are still accepting applications for internships this summer.  If you are interested in giving 3 months of your life to see how God will use you CLICK HERE or contact Justin Kirklin at jkirklin@casasporcristo.org

Update from Bob & Gwen Wenberg

Keep up with our staff missionaries as they update their supporters about Casas por Cristo and their work here!

Gwen and I will be completing our eighth year with Casas the first week in June. We thank and praise God for how He has provided for our needs.

We want to thank the people of First Baptist Church for your prayers and support.

God has brought Casas through another year.  I would like to update you on some of the things that are happening in our ministry.

In 2012 we built 183 homes in Juárez and Acuña, México, and San Raimundo, Guatemala.  We are off and running this year.  There will be 40 homes built in the month of March. This is a busy month because students are celebrating Spring Break. In Guatemala there will be 8 homes built, 22 in Juárez, and 10 in Acuña.

According to the Mexican authorities there is 78% less violence in Juárez this year. I believe that it is because of these statistics that the amount of teams coming to build is increasing.

Casas’ family news. Our Casas family is increasing in size.  This is happening in more ways than one.  We have an intern and an apprentice missionary that are hoping to become full time missionaries with us when they finish their requirements for staff. Their names are Jessica Selburg and Rachel Weller. A former Casas missionary, Ryan de la Pena, is returning with his family to El Paso and is coming back on staff in the middle of February.

Three of our missionaries, the Laffan’s, the Kirklin’s, and the De la Pena’s will be having babies in the near future.

Casas Por Cristo has reached another milestone in the life of this ministry.  Brandon and Heather Culp have moved to Guatemala to become our first full time missionaries outside of the continent.

Please continue to pray for more teams to register, for the safety of our missionaries and the teams that are building. Pray for the new missionaries and their efforts to raise support so that they can become part of Casas’ family.

Gwen and I want to thank our church family for their support and encouragement as we work at Casas as missionaries.

Continue to pray for our Mexican nationals, David Quiñones and Miguel Flores, who work for us in their native country.

With all our souls we praise the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, in how he has watched over us. 

In his service,

Bob and Gwen Wenberg

Update from Rachel Weller

Team Casas and
Spring Break Prep

This past weekend I got to help lead a Team Casas build with two other staff members. Team Casas builds happen periodically throughout the year and are for those who may not have a team to come down with. Team Casas builds are definitely a unique dynamic where most people on the team have never met anyone else before that week. However, some of my closest relationships I've made through Casas have been on these builds. Within two and a half days, strangers became family as we all worked together to build a home for Berta and her family. Berta was a single mother struggling to make ends meet since her husband was killed two years ago. It was such a blessing to be the hands and feet of Christ to provide for her in difficult times. It was also good for me to go out and build because I had forgotten some aspects of the construction process and I need to be ready to lead teams on my own by March. 

One night we got back from the worksite early so we went for a walk to try to find some hamburguesas (this is the Mexican version of a hamburger typically with ham, avacado, sliced hot dogs, and other toppings depending on who makes them). No hamburguesas were to be found but we did come across a fruit and drink stand. Jorge (one of the team members) bought a Sodasrusa (Russian soda). I can't tell you everything that went into this drink but it was so fun watching them make it. She poured tons of chili power in it so I passed on trying that one as I am not a fan of chili powder mixed with fruit.  Right next to the Sodarusa stand was a coconut and pineapple stand. The woman who owned the stand would take the coconuts off to the side and hack at them with a machete until she had made a small hole in the top. She then squeezed a bit of lime into the coconut and placed a couple straws in the hole to drink the juice out of the middle. There is nothing like walking down the dirt roads of Juarez with people drinking out of whole coconuts. It was one of the most fun expeditions I've had in Mexico by far!

 

Now I'm back in the office for the next two weeks preparing for the craziness of spring break around here. We currently are planning on building 39 houses in the month of March, which has some staff out building for 4 weeks in a row. I'm planning on leading two builds in Juarez so far with a potential third to be added this week. I definitely cannot be a procrastinator anymore with how the next couple months are looking. Thankfully, I found a little netbook on clearance two weeks ago and have been able to be super productive with writing papers and getting ahead in classes on my weekends and days off of work.   

I'm continuing to raise support to be able to officially go on staff. My awesome supporters are helping to give $575 a month out of my $2,000 per month goal and I thank everyone who has supported me financially, emotionally and spiritually thus far. Support raising is a period that can become very frustrating but I'm choosing to trust that God will continue to provide if it is His will for me to serve him with Casas por Cristo. 

If you wish to help support me in my ministry with Casas por Cristo, you can do that through our GIVE DIRECT site and choose 5472 Support: Rachel Weller in the Program area field. Checks also can be sent to PO Box 971070, El Paso, TX 79997 with my name in the Memo line.

As well as e-mail updates, I'm going to be posting stories and pictures on facebook, twitter (@rachelmweller), instagram (@rachelmweller), and will be using my blog at http://rachelweller.blogspot.com/ (I promise the blog will happen... 10 page papers come before blog posts right now)

Last but not least, I LOVE hearing from you! It has made the distance much easier seeing valentine's day cards in my mailbox, sitting in Starbucks having skype dates (we don't have internet at our apartment so I'm the awkward girl chilling in the corner of public places talking to my computer) or getting encouraging facebook messages from friends. - Rachel

Keep up with all of our staff missionaries as they update their supporters about Casas por Cristo and their work here!

Nineteen

There are 19 families that have been on our waiting list to receive a home from Casas por Cristo for more than four years. Nineteen families that each have five or more members and are waiting for a three-room home that we call a “double.” These families have made their houses out of the same cardboard that we use to pack our belongings. They pray that their homes will weather the storm and long for the one that Christ will provide one day.

These families have been waiting since 2008. Since before the drug war began. Since before all the four-year olds in the world were born. Since before some of our college interns were old enough to drive. Since before many of these families’ own children were born. They have been waiting and hoping and praying, because a prayer is all they have.

If we continue at the present rate, these families will be waiting another two years before they receive a home. Children that were 12 when their parents applied for a home will be 18 and moving on, never seeing their prayers answered. Every day we meet countless families in desperate need hoping to be added to this list, yet are denied because our list is already too long.

People ask our ministry all the time, “What are your greatest needs?” Right now our answer is…

Sandra Almanza

Maria Cristina Reyes Hernandez

Ricardo Aguirre Hernandez

Santa Carrasco Aburto

Rocio Landa Martinez

Roselia Garcia Valdez

Luis Manuel Hernandez

Jaime Cueto Escanuelas

Emilia Mancinas Lopez

Maria Luisa Ramirez Macario

Jose Manuel Flores Leos Gabriela Espino

Marlit Ortiz Reyes

Maria de Jesus Rodriguez Tena

Amalia Gomez Ramos

Alberto Carlos Garcia Vazquez

Graciela Sierra Cana

Pedro Valenzuela Moralez

Francisco Trejo Juan Paulo

Perla Valverde Solis

...and their families are our greatest needs.

These are not just names. Together they represent over a hundred men, women and children in houses that are not fit to be called homes. They are mothers and fathers that want to provide for their children but can’t. These individuals have spoken up on behalf of their families and asked their local church for help; for our help. Theirs are some of the countless prayers around the world, crying out to God in need. Their prayers are not just open ended words spoken into the night sky, these prayers represent names, faces and lives that have now been brought into your life and ours.

Without teams stepping up to build these homes, these families will continue to wait and wonder. 

Will you help us change their future? 

Will you organize a team to build their home and answer their prayers?

Register Today

Need: 18-25 people per team

Where: Juárez, México

Cost: $7000 per home

Check out our full Beyond Building magazine here

HOME 4000

On May 18, 2012 we dedicated Home 4000 for Sandra Gutierrez, Alfredo Perez and their six children. Their family had been anxiously waiting and praying for this dream to come true since April 2008. In celebration of 4000 homes, this build was funded entirely by our supporters and built by our staff, pastors and interns. Home 4000 was truly an example of what has made the previous 3999 homes possible – God’s provision, partnership and YOU!

Check out our full Beyond Building magazine here

Everyday Mission

Are you changed? Really changed?

Did the trip that you took for that one week change your life? Is it still changing your life months or years later?

It did change you. It made you feel alive. It taught you about abandonment and selflessness and maybe even helped you see for the first time what really is important in life. It reestablished the belief that life, true life, is not found in things, but in relationships and in Christ. It is in giving ourselves away that we find ourselves. It is the way that we are created. And for one week, you were reminded of that truth. But how do you bring that home? How do you keep it going?

One of the biggest struggles with a short-term mission trip, is so often we don’t know how to transfer what we learned and experienced on our trip, back into our lives when we return home. We don’t know how to bottle it up and bring it back to our everyday lives.

But what if we did live every day like we were on a mission trip? What if we lived every day with intention?

You planned your trip for months. You packed bags, raised money and traveled to a new country to share the love of Christ and serve a family that you had never met before. For one week, you left your life, your job, your school, your spouse, your friends or your family behind to simply GO.

What if you lived with that same intentionality the rest of your life? What if you got up each day knowing that your main goal, regardless of the form in which it presents itself, (classroom, office, construction, etc.) was to work at whatever is set before you, with everything in you, sharing His love in the process? What if you were as aware of every action that you took, as you were when you were building that home; knowing that your example, whether good or bad, will be the example of Christ himself to those around you?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men." Col 3:23

What if you woke up and went about your day with the same selfless purpose that you do on a mission trip? What if you put yourself aside and set out with others in mind, thinking of what you can give, rather than what you can receive?

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” Phil 2:3

What if you were as adamant about sharing what you have seen Christ do in your life daily, as when you were preparing for or returning home from your mission trip?

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3

In Bob Goff’s book, Love Does, he says this...

Jesus’ disciples never said they were on a mission trip. I think they knew love already had a name and they didn’t need a program or anything else to define it. We don’t either. The kind of adventure Jesus has invited us on doesn’t require an application or prerequisites. It’s just about deciding to take up the offer made by a father who wants us to come.

We are offered this opportunity every day; to serve, to love, to give, to share Christ in the same way that we do on our mission trips. It doesn’t take an airplane or leaving your life behind to find it. It just takes a choice to live it.

Don’t let this be a trip that changes 4 days of your life. Let it be one that changes the next 40 years.

So, let me ask you again, “Are you changed? 

Really changed?”

Live every day on a mission.

Check out our full Beyond Building magazine here

Opportunities to Serve

Every week of the year we have opportunities for you to be involved in our work in México and Guatemala.  However, we know that you don't always have the time or the commitment from others to create a team and organize a build on your own.  For that reason, we want you to know of other opportunities that you have to serve with us throughout the year.

We have trips scheduled in every city in which we build, specifically over long weekends or holidays, so that you can come as an individual and build with a team that we organize. We cover the details of food, transportation and everything else that you need.  All you have to do is get to where we are.  Those trips are called Team Casas. We want you to know our schedule for 2013 so that you can plan to join us throughout the year!

2013 Team Casas Schedule

February 15th-18th | Juárez, México

  June 10th - 14th | Juárez, México

  June 23rd - 29th | San Raimundo, Guatemala

  June 30th - July 6th | San Raimundo, Guatemala

  August 30th - September 2nd | Acuña, México

  October 14th-17th | Juárez, México

  December 27th - 30th | Acuña, México

  December 29, 2013 - January 4, 2014 | San Raimundo, Guatemala

We also provide opportunities throughout the year for internships.  This is for anyone that has come on a build with us and wants to take it a step further by learning to lead teams and build homes in México or Guatemala.  Right now we are still looking for interns for Summer 2013! For more information, check out the link below.

Intern

When: May-August 2013

What: Leading teams, building homes and office responsibilities

Where: San Raimundo, Guatemala or Juárez & Acuña, México

Who: Anyone 20yrs or older that has been on at least one Casas build

Application Deadline: April 1st, 2013

Check out our full Beyond Building magazine here

Thank You God, Thank You God, Thank You...

Words that I have uttered over and over again in my life. Words that I have uttered after witnessing God do the impossible in someone else’s life. Words that I have uttered in response to Him answering the earnest cries of my heart. Words that I have uttered when I have realized that God has always been right there with me. He has not abandoned me. In fact, He’s been there through it all and pulled me through even when I didn’t know that I needed Him to. However, these words fall so far short of what I actually want to say to Him.

How can I ever truly thank Him for His incredible faithfulness to the ministry of Casas por Cristo? In October we entered our 20th year of ministry and in September of 2013 we will officially celebrate the completion of those 20 years (watch for details throughout the coming year). One thing that I have been able to look back and see throughout those years is God’s amazing faithfulness.

God has been faithful to us by providing us with YOU! Throughout our history, you, our supporters, have been right here with us. You helped a struggling little family ministry get off the ground and begin to realize her vision of changing people’s lives here in the desert surrounding Juárez, México. You have sent your sacrificial support. You have come and built homes and relationships with families in need. You have covered us with your prayers.

When we shared with you our desire to expand this ministry into Acuña, México, you were right there alongside us. You provided the funds so that we could begin ministering with new pastors, to new families, in a new city. You came and built the first homes with us. You listened to God’s call on your heart and YOU were faithful.

When we shared with you our huge goal of expanding this ministry to another country, you didn’t balk. Once again, you were right there along the way. You prayed with us as we sought discernment on which country to expand to. And when we chose to grow into Guatemala, you made it happen. Your prayers paved the way. Your gifts provided the resources, the building materials and the tools that we needed. When we needed to secure vehicles in order to be able to get out and minister with these families, once again you were there to answer the call.

God provided YOU!

Along the way, God has been faithful to us as we have continued to minister in Juárez. In fact, He has been more than faithful. Throughout the turbulent drug war that has been raging, God has allowed us to continue spreading His hope, His love, His mercy and His grace with a community that most of the world has given up on. Over the past four years we have facilitated over 12,000 volunteers crossing into México without any adverse affects from the drug cartels. Our people have been safe and the families that we minister to have been more receptive to the Gospel than ever before. Families have seen strangers leave the “safety” of their homes to step into the “hopelessness” of their world and shine the love of Jesus into their lives. How could they not respond to Jesus after that?

The homicide rates topped 3,600 in 2010 and the media coverage was intense. However, God has been faithful and we have seen peace returning to Juárez. At the end of September, the homicide rate was below 600 — rates that are more in line with those before 2008.

I want to do something that I haven’t done in four years. I want to boldly invite you to come back to Juárez. This community that so many have given up on is ripe for the Harvest. God has prepared these people to be very open to His message of love and grace that He chooses to share through YOU.

God has been so faithful to us over the years, and He has done so through each one of you reading this article. Your prayers…your support…your involvement…your commitment have kept us going. So I say, “Thank You,” and once again, I find my words to be lacking.

You are going to read some articles and some stories in this issue of Beyond Building that scream of God’s faithfulness. In the process, I pray that you will feel encouraged…that you will feel appreciated…that you will feel challenged…and that you will feel motivated. And that maybe as a result, you will join with my inadequate words and cry out….

“Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you...”

David Robertson

Executive Director

Casas por Cristo

Check out our full Beyond Building magazine here