Monday, October 31, 2016

Missionary Spotlight | The Dion Family | October 31, 2016


Meet Brigham Dion, his wife Jamie, and their beautiful girls, Caris and Calla. Brig joined staff this September as our new intern and volunteer manager. He will oversee our intern program across all our locations. He will also be laying out plans for recruiting, training, and spiritually guiding our interns before, during, and after their time serving with Casas por Cristo. We are excited to have him and his family join our Casas team.
INTERVIEW WITH BRIGHAM DION

1. Tell a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
  • I grew up in a little town in Illinois called Carthage. I grew up going to church, and when I was entering into high school I gave my life to Christ. After going on a few mission trips, I decided I wanted to serve God through mission work. I attended Ozark Christian college for a couple of years, which led to an internship with Casas por Cristo in 2006. As an intern I met my wife, Jamie, and for nine years we served in youth ministry in Illinois before coming here.
2. What made you choose to serve at Casas por Cristo?
  • My first mission trip as a student was with Casas. I love seeing the tangible gift of a house being built up coupled with a very real message of God's love and grace. As an intern, I was given some of my first leadership responsibilities and opportunities. It showed me what kind of leader I could be. Now it is my honor to be in a position to help mold and shape future leaders for God's Kingdom as they come to be interns with us.

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

  • I have seen God at work in the lives of those who have come down to build. I've had the privilege of witnessing the change that He makes in individuals' hearts and minds as they serve and then return home as different people. They've gained a new perspective and heart for God and those He loves.
  • I've seen God at work in the staff here at Casas. They are people who have answered God's call on their lives and serve Him on a daily basis. I get to serve alongside men and women who are passionate about doing God's will and reaching out into their respective communities.  
  • I've also seen God at work in those who are receiving homes. Their faith in the midst of trials and struggles humbles me. To see God's love and faithfulness validated for them as they receive a home is beyond words.

4. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
  • The biggest challenge for me so far has been the learning curve that comes with a new ministry, new build design, learning Spanish, and moving to a new location. But with new challenges comes new opportunities to grow and for faith to be increased.

5. What are some things people should be praying for on your behalf?
  • Please pray that God would use me to influence the lives of those who come to be interns with Casas. Pray that He would provide direction and that I would hear His voice.


Monday, October 24, 2016

House 5,000 | October 24, 2016

House 5,000 came with much anticipation here in the Dominican Republic. Not only was it going to mark a major milestone in Casas por Cristo's history, but it was also going to be built by an entire group of women for a single mother. As in many patriarchal societies, in the Dominican Republic, construction work isn't typically a woman's role. So when the all ladies build crew pulled up Monday morning to construct Maria and her three children a home, word spread, and the community flocked to witness the sight. Normally in our Dominican location, there are very few onlookers. We do, on the other hand, usually have high community participation, but not this time! On day one, we easily had twenty men just watching us, not trying to help, not trying to step in. They just watched in attempts to figure out what these crazy American women were up to and if they really could rise to the challenge of building a home for Maria in under four days.

From the beginning, the women's team from Northside Christian Church of New Albany knew they were going to have to push and stretch themselves past their normal limits. They would have to hold each other up and press on and into the Lord even after swing 30 on the pesky nail that just wouldn't seem to drive into the wood. And press on they did. It didn't matter that day one was a rainy and muddy mess from Hurricane Matthew. They kept their heads held high and built an incredibly beautiful and sturdy home.

House 5,000 was a momentous triumph in Casas por Cristo's history and also in the lives of the family we built for. Maria, a 46-year-old single mother of three, suffers from very poor health. She has battled cancer and always seems to have one health issue or another. The first time I went to visit Maria, she was actually in the hospital with pneumonia. Her body is still weak from cancer, and she no longer has the ability to work. Her son Henri helps provide money for the family and has sacrificed his own education to do so. The home they were living in was owned by a family member because they barely had enough money to get by.

As is the case with most builds, many of the team members' favorite moments occurred while getting to know the family. After day one, Henri helped make sure no detail was left undone. He took pride in building and helping the team in any way he could. Several other members of Maria's family also rallied around to help provide a home that Maria could finally call her own. Upon reflecting on the week, Nicole, the youngest member of our build team shared the following.

"Building a house was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. But building the house isn't even the best part. The best part for me was when we handed Maria the keys, because it made everything we had done so real and so worth it."

Through it all, Maria and her family saw a God that desperately loves them, heard their cries, and sent a group of all women to help demonstrate that great love. House 5,000 represents so much more than just 5,000 homes that have been built over the years. It represents 5,000 families whose lives have been completely changed in the name of Jesus. It represents 5,000 teams that have sacrificed time, money, and sweat in service of others for the Kingdom. It represents countless years of Casas por Cristo staff that have given up their lives to serve the people of México, Guatemala, and the Dominican.

Thank you for serving alongside Casas por Cristo. Because of your love, 5,000 families' lives have been changed for the Kingdom of God.  
- Story by Allie Crabbs, Dominican Field Coordinator

915.778.0046  |  

Monday, October 17, 2016

Dominican Republic Spotlight | October 17, 2016

Dominican Republic Spotlight

Bear with me for a moment as I proceed to attempt to explain all that happened in our Dominican Republic location last week: 226 volunteers, 7 homes, Hurricane Matthew, medical clinics, dental clinics, eye clinics, sports ministry, house 5,000, women's ministry, an all women build, trauma relief counseling, and that doesn't even take into account all of the local pastors' ministries that were strengthened and all of the man hours put in by Northside Christian Church of New Albany's staff, Centro Cristiano's staff (our ministry partner), and our very own Casas por Cristo staff. Wow, is all I can say.

The staff of Northside Christian Church had a dream to offer a mission trip that would resonate with the whole family. As they prayed, planned, and cast the vision over their church, the mega mission trip was born, a trip where almost anyone could get plugged in and use their gifts for the Lord. After a year of scouting trips, planning, and problem solving, the week of the mega mission trip had arrived. We were ready, not only to facilitate 226 people, but also ready with anticipation to see all the Lord had in store for his people.

From the beginning, Satan tried to stand against us as Hurricane Matthew blew through the Dominican Republic and Haiti, but thankfully the storm did not touch us. Our group was located in between the two fronts in the only sliver of white in the photo above. The group pushed on, most not even realizing the severity of the storm around them.

It was easy to see God working, not only in the Dominican communities, but also in the lives of the team members. One volunteer wrote the following.


"This was my first mission trip, and I thought I knew what to expect because I have watched my husband go on mission trips to Guatemala for the past five years. Until you go on a mission trip, you are missing out on an incredible blessing watching God work in so many different lives and in so many ways. It is an overwhelming experience with lots of emotion, cultural differences, and watching God work through us and in us."   


After a year of planning, the mega mission trip was over just as suddenly as it had begun. As a result, women and girls alike began to see and believe their worth is not what they can give but who they are in the Lord. Pastors were given the training they needed to counsel those in the midst of trauma. Seven families were given the free gift of a home and several gave their lives to Christ for the very first time. House 5,000 was built marking a momentous milestone in the history of Casas por Cristo. Countless Dominicans young and old received free medical attention, mirroring Christ's example of meeting a physical need so that a spiritual need could also be met. And the spark for service in the Kingdom of God was ignited in the hearts of the Northside team.

Please be in prayer for our Dominican pastors as they continue to walk alongside and disciple all of the people impacted by this last week. Like I said before, God is moving despite Satan's best efforts. He proved over and over that his hand was upon us. Also, please pray for the 226 Northsiders as they go back to their "normal" lives so that they can continue to live out their faith in a meaningful way.

- Story by Allie Crabbs, Dominican Field Coordinator

915.778.0046  |  

Monday, October 10, 2016

Team Casas | October 10, 2016

 
WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE
Want to build a home with us but don't have a group to serve with? Join Team Casas, and we'll partner you with a team of other individuals tomeet the physical need of better housing as a way of also meeting the spiritual need for Jesus Christ.

We need volunteers for the following Team Casas dates.

The deadline to reach the minimum number of trip participants in order to schedule a trip is 30 days prior for each México trip and 60 days prior for trips to other locations. If the trip is scheduled, new registrations will be accepted until the trip takes place.

Team Casas Schedule

MÉXICO

December 27 - 30, 2016 | Acuña | $600/person
(at least 11 volunteers still needed by November 27)
December 27 - 30, 2016 | Juárez | $550/person
(scheduled; still accepting volunteers) 
February 17 - 20, 2017 | Juárez | $650/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by January 17)
June 12 - 15, 2017 | Juárez | $650/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by May 12)
October 6 - 9, 2017 | Juárez | $650/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by September 6)
December 27 - 30, 2017 | Acuña | $650/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by November 27)
December 27 - 30, 2017 | Juárez | $650/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by November 27)

GUATEMALA

December 27, 2016 - January 1, 2017 | San Raymundo | $675/person
(at least 4 volunteers still needed by October 27)
March 12 - 17, 2017 | San Raymundo | $750/person
(at least 13 volunteers still needed by January 12)
July 2 - 7, 2017 | San Raymundo | $750/person
(at least 14 volunteers still needed by May 2)
December 27, 2017 - January 1, 2018 | San Raymundo | $750/person
(at least 14 volunteers still needed by October 27)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

December 27, 2016 - January 2, 2017 | Santiago | $700/person
(at least 7 volunteers still needed by October 27)
March 12 - 18, 2017 | Santiago | $750/person
(at least 15 volunteers still needed by January 12)
June 11 - 17, 2017 | Santiago | $750/person
(at least 15 volunteers still needed by April 11)
December 27, 2017 - January 2, 2018 | Santiago | $750/person
(at least 15 volunteers still needed by October 27)



915.778.0046  |  

Monday, October 3, 2016

Missionary Spotlight | Meet the Imhoffs | October 3, 2016

Missionary Spotlight
The Imhoff Family
Meet Josh Imhoff, his wife Katie, and their three children, Eli, Emi, and Bergan. Josh joined staff as the Project Manager just a few months ago to oversee the new building project at our headquarters in El Paso. He also leads home building projects for families in need in México, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
INTERVIEW WITH JOSH IMHOFF

1. Tell a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
  • Both Katie and I were born and raised near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I grew up in a small country town where I had plenty of time outdoors for hunting, fishing, and biking.
2. What made you choose to serve at Casas por Cristo?
  • When I came on my first trip back in 2010, I was struck by the intricate structure that Casas has. It empowered local pastors, it allowed the individual a glimpse of what God created us to do, and it met the need of a family by showing God's provision for them and His pursuit of them.
3. How have you seen God through your ministry at Casas por Cristo?
  • Since I have only been here a short while, this is an ever changing one for me. I have a newfound fulfillment in what I do, even though what I am doing now is the same thing I did prior to Casas. It has also allowed me to connect with my family in a new way.
4. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
  • Moving across the country, leaving behind my family and friends, and no longer having the businesses that I poured into for so many years have been the biggest challenges. Even though these were hard, they have turned into blessings. The sacrifice was totally worth it.
5. What are some things people should be praying for on your behalf?
  • Please pray that as we are expecting a new baby we would be able to navigate the new challenges of being away from the comforts of home. Also, please pray that our house in Sioux Falls would sell and that God would continue to provide support so we can serve. Finally, please pray that I would continue to prioritize my family and make wise decisions as we work through the new building project.