Building Hope 365 - Fall 2018
Join Us This Fall!
Project Mexico is a now offering an experience like no other. For both individual and groups, hope builders will spend a long weekend with us at the Ranch building homes, painting houses, assembling panels for family homes for the 2019 Build Season.
This is a wonderful way to live your faith, reconnect with friends and make a lasting impact.
Register today to reserve your spot and receive a PROJECT MEXICO t-shirt!
Click on the video below to learn more about building homes with Project Mexico.
The difference a few miles make
“I always feel a renewed sense of life and in my faith while here. Thank you so much!”
Homebuilding
Because of the prosperity that most of us enjoy, it is difficult to truly understand the basic and fundamental challenges that exist just beyond our borders. Only minutes south of one of California’s favorite vacation destinations, you will find Tijuana, Mexico, a city not only of considerable size and history, but of significant human poverty and hardship as well. With a population of over 1.3 million residents, it is sobering to appreciate that nearly half of them live on less than $200 (USD) per month.
Even more troubling is the difficulty that families face when finding a permanent home. The cost of land in Mexico can be very expensive ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 (USD) for a 200-300 meter parcel of land. Once families have saved enough money to pay for the mortgage on their land, they have very little left to construct a secure home. As you drive through the impoverished communities around Tijuana, you will see homes made of old garage doors, wooden pallets, tarps, tires or other materials that were, ironically enough, likely discarded from homes within the United States.
Finding the right families to build for is not an easy task. For this reason, we work closely with Mexican Social Services and other local resources to identify potential candidate families. Once selected as a candidate, the family will be carefully interviewed to determine their need based on annual income, family size, overall quality of life, employment and the potential benefit that a home will have on them. After meeting with all of the candidate families, their applications are then compiled and presented to the selection committee. Our goal is to serve those with the greatest need at the time of our evaluation.
Since 1988, Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage has been building secure, safe and weather-tight homes for some of the most impoverished families in northern Mexico. Built strictly by volunteer labor, these homes provide families economic security and hope for a brighter future. While serving these families, the volunteers discover that they have been transformed. Through their service to others, they realize that they have received much more than they had given. To date, we have hosted well over 13,000 volunteers on our 16 acre ranch as we continue to humbly bear the burdens of others in the name of Christ.
A Typical Home building Week
Day 1: The Foundation
The group leaves the orphanage property excited for their first day on-site. Once they arrive at the site, they begin with a prayer. From there, the cement floor is mixed by hand in tubs. Volunteers screed, tamp and float the concrete throughout the day. Anchor bolts are also set within the foundation to mount and attach the walls. At the end of the day, they all go home tired and dirty!
Day 2: The Walls and Chicken Wire
The trucks roll up and are unloaded. The team is divided into groups, and all are given a wall section to build. As the panel assembly races ensue and others are taught by our staff how to use a cordless screw gun for the first time, the house begins to takes shape. The walls are stood up on the anchor bolts and then squared. Then, the roof panels are attached to the walls an. The framework is ready, so now it's time to wrap the house in chicken wire, where the most important thing to remember is “keep it tight." Now it’s time to head back to the orphanage!
Day 3: Roof and Stucco Coat #1
As the day begins, the fruits of the previous day’s labor are evident. At the same time, we install plywood on the roof, windows and door. It is time to start on the first coat of stucco on the outer walls! It’s a little messy, but we are almost finished.
Day 4: The Final Coat of Stucco, Limewash and the Blessing of the Home
The final and most important day has everyone working on the final coat of stucco while at the same time, putting the last touches on the house. Finally 2 coats of Limewash paint are applied alfresco. The excitement begins to build as everyone can now see the beautiful home that was just a design only days before. Once the home is finished and the cleanup is complete, everyone joins together in prayer, and the home is blessed for its new family. Each family receives a beautiful icon, a Bible and a key to their new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I be doing during the week?
As part of a home building team, you will participate in the construction of a home for a family in need. This task will include a variety of different jobs such as, mixing cement, sawing, driving nails, painting, meeting the recipient family, and playing with the neighborhood children. You will be housed at St. Innocent Orphanage where you will have the opportunity to meet the staff who work there and the boys who live there. The evenings will be spent together talking about the missionary experience and getting to know one another. If coming during an OBT week, there will be a chance to hear speakers during the evenings.
When does the typical home building season take place?
Our home building season usually begins in May and ends in August and we normally offer 7-8 build weeks depending on several factors. We also try to schedule a spring time home building event for those who might want to participate during spring break, but this requires an interested group of at least 15 participants.
How many people can work on a home building site?
Due to the amount of work and the site size, we limit the number of participants in a group to 25. Having more than 25 people would impact the overall home building experience, as well as safety.
What personal items should I bring?
Please see our resource section (click here) on our Home Building page for a individual packing list.
Do we have to bring our own tools?
No. We provide all the necessary tools for the week. If you have preferred tools or want to donate tools for our program, this is encouraged.
What does it cost to come and build a home?
The cost to participate in a Home Building trip depends on the length of the trip. Please see our current programming for details about upcoming trips. The cost includes administration, building materials, food, tools, supplies, staffing and other costs necessary to sustain our program.
What other costs am I responsible for?
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own flights or travel from their hometown to San Diego and back. Once in San Diego, individuals and groups are responsible for their own vehicle/van rental that they will use to travel into Mexico and drive to the home building work site each day. In addition to the vehicle, rented or personal, Mexican insurance is required. You will also need to arrange for a hotel if you arrive before or plan to stay after your home building work trip. There will also be opportunities to buy food and merchandise at a local market (except for OBT trips), as well as Project Mexico merchandise. Plan to bring some cash for these opportunities, if you intend on purchasing any additional items. U.S. dollars are accepted in Mexico and smaller bills are better.
What legal documents do I need to travel into Mexico?
In order to re-enter into the United States, U.S. citizens will need a current passport. A new, less expensive passport card is now available, but it is valid only for land and sea crossings into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Due to possible long application wait times, it is wise to apply for a passport as soon as possible. Legal permanent residents must bring their green cards. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their local consulate office about requirements for re-entering the U.S. from Baja California, Mexico. Usually a passport and valid visa are required. Canadian citizens need only a passport.
Which immunizations are required for a trip into Mexico?
There are no immunizations required by the U.S. or the Mexican governments, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that ALL travelers, regardless of destination, be up to date on the following normal childhood immunizations: 1) Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR Vaccine), 2) Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTP Vaccine), 3) Polio (OPV), 4) Haemophilus Influenza type B (HbCV Vaccine), and 5) Typhoid and Hepatitis A shots are also recommended for travel into Mexico.
Can my group bring donations to the orphanage?
Donated items are always appreciated and our Needs List for the orphanage is available on our website. Unfortunately, your donations will need to be delivered to our home office in Chula Vista so that they can be properly inventoried and legally receipted. After processing, donations will typically be delivered to the orphanage within a week. We ask that you do not give any donations directly to orphanage staff or to the boys.
Is it necessary that I speak Spanish?
No, but it may help to learn some basic Spanish phrases so that you can better interact with the family you are building for, as well as our boys at the orphanage. There are plenty of Spanish language apps that you can download to develop your Spanish speaking skills before you come.
Is it safe to travel in northern Mexico?
The safety of our boys, staff members, and volunteers is our highest priority. For the past 27 years, we have worked diligently to ensure the safety of all individuals involved with our ministry. Perhaps the strongest endorsement for our commitment to safety is the fact that we have not experienced a single safety incident in our 27 year history, which spans over 11,000 volunteers and 289 homes built.
Do I really need to bring my own tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and pillow?
Yes. Unless the group leader of your group has been informed that any of these items will be provided, it is expected that each group, or individual, plan to bring all of the above items.
Will there be internet?
Internet is only provided to group leaders if there are extenuating and necessary circumstances; otherwise the expectation should be that there will be no internet use during your visit.
Will there be electricity?
There are minimal outlets available in the main group area for charging phones, for camera use and alarm clocks. We ask that phones never be left unattended while charging. For this reason, it is often preferable to leave phones at home and instead bring portable alarm clocks and cameras for the build week.
Will there be opportunities to spend time with the orphanage boys?
The boys are kept on a full schedule during the summer vacation to keep them busy and continually learning during their time off. For this reason, the boys will be available at specific times during the day, usually in groups rather than all at once, and it is best to expect spending short periods of time with them, rather than all day together. Meals are eaten with the boys and there are a few planned activities together during the week like bonfires and soccer games.
Can we give anything to the families we build for?
You are more than welcome to bring toys for the children and/or gifts for the family. Please buy these gifts at home and bring them with you as it cannot be assured there will be an opportunity for buying these gifts after your arrival.
Do I need to be Orthodox to come?
No. We welcome everyone to participate in the Project Mexico Home Building experience. Please note, that during the week, all the worship services will be in the Orthodox style and most of the participants will be Orthodox. However, over the years, many non-Orthodox have been involved with Project Mexico in all aspects of the ministry and we encourage others to join us in friendship and service.