Monday, August 31, 2015

Team Casas

WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE
Partner with other individuals to meet the physical need of better housing in hopes of also meeting the spiritual need for Jesus Christ.

We need volunteers for the following Team Casas dates.

The deadline to register is 30 days prior to each México trip and 60 days prior for trips to other locations.

2015 Team Casas Schedule
October 9 - 12 | Juárez, México 
(Scheduled - We only need 2 more volunteers to add a 2nd house!)
December 28, 2015 - January 1, 2016 | Acuña, México 
(Scheduled - It's not too late to join the crew!)

December 28, 2015 - January 1, 2016 | Juárez, México 

(12 volunteers needed)
December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016 | San Raimundo, Guatemala 
(14 volunteers needed)
December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016 | Santiago, Dominican Republic 
(4 volunteers needed)

2016 Team Casas Schedule
February 5 - 8 | Juárez, México
March 13 - 19 | San Raimundo, Guatemala
March 13 - 19 | Santiago, Dominican Republic
June 13 - 17 | Juárez, México
June 12 - 18 | Santiago, Dominican Republic
July 3 - 9 | San Raimundo, Guatemala
October 7 - 10 | Juárez, México






Monday, August 24, 2015

Refer a Friend

WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE
 
Help us reach more families with the love of Christ!
Casas por Cristo wants to reach out to new churches and volunteer groups that may be interested in partnering with us in the future. If you know of anyone who might like to hear from us, please click the button below. As an incentive, we will send you a box of free Casas merch.

800.819.8014  |  

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Family Spotlight | San Raimundo, Guatemala | August 18, 2015

Family Spotlight
San Raimundo, Guatemala
I built Crispin's home last summer with the Christ Community Church of Milpitas youth group. I knew he was going to be profoundly affected by his home and his experience with the group even though I did not know his whole story until now. The other day, when I went to visit, I did not have anyone else with me, so I think he felt comfortable sharing his story, even though it was painful. We were both crying by the end.
Crispin grew up in a very poor family. He told me stories of sharing one egg between five siblings because they did not have enough money to eat. He and his wife were married at eighteen and fifteen, respectively, and now have four children of their own. When they were first married, they stayed with Crispin's parents because they had a roof over their heads there. That was fine for a few years, until he began to have trouble with his family, and they kicked him and his kids out of the house.
Crispin said that was the lowest point of his life. He had three kids, and no place to call home. He could barely provide food for them, and they would often eat every other day, because that is all they could afford. He had a few sheets of tin that they slept under, but they had to keep selling the tin, sheet by sheet, to have money to eat. Eventually, Crispin found himself with only a few sheets of tin left and nothing else for his family. He was at rock bottom, and could not find a way out. Someone offered him $30,000 quetzales for his oldest son, Edwin. It was unbearable for Crispin to think about selling his son to human trafficking, but he could not think of another way to provide for his family and keep them alive. He almost went through with the deal, and even met with the guy who was to buy his son in Quetzal City, but something told him to go home and be patient. 
When he got home, one of the local pastors sought him out . He told Crispin that God wanted to bless him, and that he needed to have patience. Crispin was confused by that statement, but the following week, he was approached by Pastor Gregorio, another local pastor. Gregorio told him that he needed to prepare because he was going to receive a house. 
Crispin told me that he could not believe it when he heard, and he did not believe it until the materials were dropped off at the site. His wife and kids were ecstatic, and he was filled with joy, because he knew that this was the blessing from God that the pastor was talking about.  
At the site a year ago, Crispin told me that "he could have never imagined" such a blessing in his life. He sobbed when he saw that the group bought two beds for his family to sleep in, because they had all been sleeping on the floor. He also loved working with the team. Crispin helped build the entire roof of his house. His was one of the most touching dedications I have ever witnessed. 
Crispin talks about how he loves the group that came to build for him and that he prays every day that God would take care of them and walk with them wherever they might go. He knows that they were the hands and feet of God and the medium that God used to provide for his family and save his son Edwin's life.
It is always interesting to think about how a family's life is changed by the physical gift of a roof over their heads, but it is even more incredible to see how God uses us in ways we could never have even imagined. All we did was answer His call to build that house that week. But God used our work to accomplish so much more, and we were all blessed.

Story by Christie Ritter, Summer Intern

Christie is finishing her master's degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado. She just completed her third summer internship with Casas por Cristo. 

"I love how Casas gives me a way to serve God and his people around the world in a tangible way." - Christie Ritter

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Team Casas | August 2015

 
CONSIDER JOINING US
Join other individuals to complete a home building project and help bring hope to a family in need!

We need volunteers for the following Team Casas dates.

The deadline to register is 30 days prior to each México trip and 60 days prior for trips to other locations.


2015 Team Casas Schedule

October 9 - 12 | Juárez, México (scheduled; still space for more volunteers)
December 28, 2015 - January 1, 2016 | Acuña, México (scheduled; still space for more volunteers)
December 28, 2015 - January 1, 2016 | Juárez, México (12 volunteers needed)
December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016 | San Raimundo, Guatemala (15 volunteers needed)
December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016 | Santiago, Dominican Republic (6 volunteers needed)


2016 Team Casas Schedule
February 5 - 8 | Juárez, México
March 13 - 19 | San Raimundo, Guatemala
March 13 - 19 | Santiago, Dominican Republic
June 13 - 17 | Juárez, México
June 12 - 18 | Santiago, Dominican Republic
July 3 - 9 | San Raimundo, Guatemala
October 7 - 10 | Juárez, México



800.819.8014  |  questions@casasporcristo.org   casasporcristo.org

 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Missionary Spotlight | Ryan & Leanne de la Peña & Family

Meet Ryan and Leanne de la Peña and their seven kiddos. Ryan is currently one of our Team Coordinators. He works hard to ensure our teams are organized and prepared for their trips. He joined staff back in 2003 as a resource coordinator. After a few years away, he decided to return in 2013.
Interview with Ryan

1. Tell a little bit about yourself and where you're from.

  • I was first introduced to Casas por Cristo in 2001 when I came on a trip with my home church from Colorado Springs to build a home for a family in Juárez, México. My wife and I have seven beautiful children, Aurora (11), Ethan (10), Silas (8), Eli (7), Landon (5), Elliana (3), and Israel (2). My current responsibilities include building with teams in our four locations, Juárez and Acuña, México, San Raimundo, Guatemala, Santiago, Dominican Republic, and scheduling trips as Team Coordinator. Leanne stays busy caring for our growing family and homeschooling our children. We are excited and thankful for the opportunity to use our lives to serve God in México, Guatemala, and the Dominican.
2. What made you choose to serve at Casas por Cristo?

  • After experiencing firsthand the poverty of México and seeing the need for the Gospel, I followed God's call on my life by becoming an intern. After completing 3 internships, I felt God leading me to come on staff full time in 2003.

3. How have you seen God through your ministry at Casas por Cristo?

  • I have seen God in several ways. I have seen Him through the growth and strength of the local church as a result of our Casas Teams and through the impact on the families who have received homes.

4. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

  • With a large family it has been difficult to raise enough support to sustain us. Without a strong support base it is difficult to maintain a household. Regardless, I trust God to provide for us, and my family and I will continue to serve him despite our circumstances.


Prayer Requests

  • Pray for our family as we continue to try and raise support.
  • Pray that we would raise our children in the fear and admonition of God. 
  • Pray for our ministry here at Casas and for the work I do with our teams and families.