Five years ago, I went on my first mission trip. Our church partners with an organization called
"Casas por Cristo". I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As the time to leave came closer, I began to doubt if I should go. I wondered if I could really make a difference. After all, I did not have building skills, I thought I might just be in the way. I was not in good physical shape - overweight, and not used to extreme heat. I could not speak Spanish, so I had no idea how I would even communicate with the people there.
But I had made a commitment to my church, and to my daughter, so I loaded up and went anyway.
And there is where I learned that "God does not call the equipped, but equips the called". Somehow I learned to hammer in nails... and take out bent nails. I discovered that sheetrock is very heavy, and that you cut it with a box knife. When me and Natalia were asked to wire the house, I was terrified - I couldn't do that - I had never wired anything, but a drill was put into my hands and a box of electrical wire with a few instructions. No one but myself questioned whether or not I could do it. With a lot of smiles and hand gestures, all of us connected with the Mexican family members. Now there is a little house in Juarez Mexico that a family lives in with their children, and they call it home.
Last week my family and I returned to Mexico, but this time in Acuña, to build my third house, (it was my daughter's sixth build). I still don't have many building skills, I am still overweight, and God still equipped me to do His work. The only thing that has changed is my language skills. I have been feverishly studying and practicing Spanish for the past year, so I could communicate better and learn more about the family that we were building for. This year, my new friends, Raul and Maria, and their 5 month old baby Jerith received a house, not from me, or my group, but from the One that they had prayed to. Raul works hard, and is also the youth pastor and sound engineer at his church. Their pastor came every day to help our group build the house. It was so fun to get to talk to Pastor Roberto - he likes to talk and was very patient with my Spanish skills.
From that first mission trip, I learned so much, and each time I learn more. I am not afraid to go to Mexico or any other place. I am not afraid I will not be equipped or valuable to the cause. I even bought the Casas por Cristo shirt that says:
This LOVE is not for COWARDS
Home from Mexico, where there are two new houses built for two families that needed them. I always have mixed feelings coming home from a mission trip. I love my country and enjoy the pleasures and abundance we have here. I also enjoy living in this area where we have a sense of security. 
Many people wonder how we choose the people we build for. There is a board of Pastors in each community that Casas por Cristo builds in. Those pastors together look at applications and advise the staff of Casas Por Cristo. Sometimes people are on the list for a long time. There are certain requirements, like they must legally own the land. When we go to build, we do not know of what faith (if any) the family practices. Our mission is to show the love of Christ through our actions of love. The houses are little, and basic structures, with a concrete floor, 2-3 rooms, wired for electric, but no plumbing. Walls are insulated and drywalled, but the drywall is not finished out by the volunteers. The houses have blackboard on the out side walls, covered by chicken wire (to hold on the stucco) and then stucco (cement mixture). The family must finish out painting the outside and drywall. The roof is insulated and covered with black paper and rolls of green roofing. This type of house is appreciated, it keeps their family warm, and dry, even though it was built by mostly unskilled volunteers. Many times, the families, neighbors, or pastors, will help on a worksite, and or feed the volunteers a meal - which is expensive when you are talking about feeding 25 people.
