On my own but not really

This week was my first solo build. Man was I nervous. Got up super early and loaded my truck with my stuff and stuff I needed from Casas. Then waited for the team to get there at 6 am. I took a van and headed off to get tools from the warehouse because I was the only one that needed to go get them from central. We met back up with them at the SHOC. Then we headed to our site which was a whole 2 minutes from the SHOC. I was so nervous and I could feel my voice shaking and my throat going dry. We got the form squared and leveled and all the wood cut. I marked plates and had them build walls and a roof section. Our concrete truck was 2 hours late. After we poured, most of the team went back to the SHOC and I stayed behind with Ed and Mike to finish the slab. The family fed the three of us...I don't know what it was but it was delicious. After siesta we stood walls(and squared and leveled them) and put on blackboard. It was a very interesting day. That night we had worship and devos and I got to know my team a little bit deeper. I absolutely loved my team! They really worked well together and they were ready and willing. Next day was a little smoother for me. I felt a lot more comfortable leading. We got the roof done, chicken wire done (complete with corner beads and j-channels), insulation done, wiring pulled, windows in(after some frustration), soffit done, and the ceiling drywall in one room. That night we had worship and devos again. I really like worshiping it just brings me closer to God. Next day we finished dry wall, electrical, stucco, and put in the door. The team also taped and mudded and then painted the house. That night we invited the 5 families the church was building for over for dinner. It turned into more of a community thing. Our family couldn't make it because the Grandma had a doctor appointment and they didn't get back in time. We worshiped afterwords(have I mentioned that I love that?). It started storming so I resorted back to childish ways and played in the rain while 3 groups were at their dedications. The storm was amazing! I miss the rain. Thursday morning we got up and dedicated the house. By the time we left, everyone was crying. It was amazing to see what God can do in just a few short days. :D We crossed over and I got a little sad. So far I've been blessed with good groups and I'm sad to see them leave. Kevin and I had to cross back into Juarez to check on the fire families. A political party decided to help out and build them houses out of cinder blocks. We check on them and then headed back to meet our team for dinner. Dinner was good but it meant it was time for good byes. I don't like it. I'm hoping to keep in touch and form some bonds.

This week I was on my own, but I'm never really on my own. God is always there looking out for me. Guiding me and helping me in my times of need. I could not have made it through the week without him. I'm loving life and the work I'm doing for the Lord!

<3 Lisa

Broken

So this week was hard and yet amazing! I was added to help Alexis build a double with Crossroads Community Church from Naperville, IL. Our site had 3 hole where we needed to pour around. It is where the bathroom drained to so there needed to be ventilation. We did not have a concrete truck so pouring the slab took all afternoon on Monday. Tuesday we built walls and stood them. We put on blackboard and some chicken wire. The roof also got put on and the ply wood and tar paper got put on as well. That day we saw some black smoke in the distance and didn't think anything of it. We thought it was burning tired or garbage. Wednesday we finished all but some of the drywall and electrical. We had a man who didn't even know the family helping do the stucco. That night after the team went to bed Aubrie, Alexis, Kevin, and I went over to Miguel's house and filled a bunch of water balloons. We finished the drywall and electrical Thursday morning and painted the house white. During siesta, the team was called outside to take a group picture. We attacked them with water balloons. It was hilarious. We dedicated the house to the family that afternoon. It was amazing to see the team at work. We were staying at the SHOC and Miguel's (our Mexican rep in Juarez) wife and daughters cooked a lot of food and we had a little fiesta at the SHOC. It was sweet! We crossed back over Friday morning and went to eat at Rudy's around 10:30.
Then it was back to the property. We were informed that the smoke we saw on Tuesday was 3 Casas houses burning to the ground. I was shocked. It was decided that the interns (with some help of full time staff) would rebuild these houses. We have the money right now to build 1 1/2 houses. We went and visited the families to talk to them and tell them that God has not forgotten about them and we want to help. The city had already bulldozed 2 of the 3 houses that burnt. Here are a few pictures of what happened. http://picasaweb.google.com/sespears/InternBuild?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrAk9CGvNbrgwE&feat=email# When I walked inside the third house, I started crying. I remembered how scared I was of my house burning down and this was a reality to them. It is still making me tear up and I know when we are building for them I'm going to be a wreck. After we left the families, we scouted our sites for next week. I am excited to build again. We told the team that morning about the fires and our plan to help them. After we had returned from Mexico, we went to our Friday intern meeting and "story time" meaning testimonies from the full time staff. When we were finished we went over to visit with the team. We shared a little bit more about the families and showed some pictures. We mentioned the money and then were stopped. The leader had told one of us that morning that they would raise the rest of the money we needed to build these homes for the families. They had been challenged and they gave 2/3 of the money to us right then and there. I started crying again. Just knowing that God put on their hearts to help these families they had never met was amazing. Over half the room was crying by the end of the time. I am extremely grateful that I was able to meet and work with these people. I have been broken. God is AWESOME!

There are many stories to tell and many families that need help. If you have been challenged or would like to help us build houses. You can donate online or you can send a check to Casas por Cristo. https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1005 Here is the website. To help us, make sure you put in the comment box INTERN BUILD. or you could send a check to Casas at PO Box 971070, El Paso, TX 79997. In the memo it should say INTERN BUILD or it will go into the general fund for Casas.

This ministry has really touched my heart.

<3 Lisa

Life as I know it

It seems like a long time since I blogged but it's been busy around here. Since last time, I've been apart of blessing 5 families with a home in the name of Jesus.

May 24 and 25 we were taught how to lead in building a single! As interns(with staff help), we finished the house in 2 days. We dedicated on that Wednesday. It was beautiful! I just love seeing the joy the families have.

Well the 28th of May the interns loaded up to help a local church with low numbers start building a house. We built for a Mexican couple. In one day, we poured the slab, built and stood walls, got all of the black board on, got the first row of chicken wire on, and build and put on the roof sections as well as put the plywood on the roof. That is crazy fast!! I didn't get to help much because the day before I fell of a curb and hurt my ankle and it was bothering me most of the day. I tried to help as much as I could.

Saturday and Sunday was another house. We built with a group of men from Cypress. We built for Mario and his wife who live with their children and their grandchildren. Lots of people in that house. They were scheduled to do 2 houses but didn't have enough people so the interns helped. We built and finished the houses in two days! It was great! We crossed back over that night to sleep because the next day we had to be up for a staff/intern build. This is where we go with a staff member and a team and we help lead the house.

This next week was amazing! I was with Justin, Caleb, and Shane and our team was from Ransom Church which is in South Dakota. The house went up quick and the team even had time to tape and mud and paint the house (all of which they brought themselves). It was a great learning experience and the group was great too! We built for Rosa and her 3 kids (Diana, Miguel, and Erick). Words cannot express how much I love doing this.

Now to the most recent build. Aubrie and I led by ourselves! We were super nervous but we did a great job! We built with a church from Indiana so it was close to home. lol It was a stressful week but we got through it and now a family of 5 have a house! The parents are both 26 and they have three young children. The grandmother was very emotional and almost made me cry.

I know this is not very detailed but it is as detailed as I can get right now. It has just been crazy. and I fell off a step again so now I am wearing an ankle brace everywhere I go. Hopefully after the build this week I can get in to see a doctor. I have so many stories to share! Tomorrow I'm off to Juarez to build again!

Hope you all aren't missing me too much!!!

<3 Lisa

p.s. The pictures are in order like the blog! :) enjoy until I can get the rest of my pictures up!

Crazy

So these last two weeks have been super crazy! I've built a single with interns, half a house on Friday, a house on Saturday/Sunday, and I just got back from a build with a team Monday through today. It has been amazing though I LOVE IT!! I really don't have a lot of time right now, I'll try to update more tomorrow or when ever I have time. There is so much to write an so little time!

Love and Miss you all!!!

Lisa