CEDILLO COTA - Metro Church (Purple Team)

CEDILLO COTA

Date Build: Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Mayra

Age: 47 years old

Job: Fleamarket seller

Salary weekly: $85 US

FATHER: Victor

Age: 37 years old

Job: Fleamarket seller

Salary weekly: $85 US

CHILDREN:

Mayra - 9 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, our family is made up of three members, and we currently live on land that does not belong to us. We stay with my daughter’s godparents, who are my husband’s relatives, in a ranch-like area where we do not have basic services such as water, electricity, or internet. When it rains, we are unable to leave because a large stream forms nearby, and we have to wait for the water level to go down before we can go anywhere. Because of this situation, we decided to buy a piece of land, which we are still paying for. We want to offer a better life to our nine-year-old daughter, who is currently in fourth grade. We work at the swap meet, but our income is not stable, which has made it very difficult to save enough money to build our home. The school is far away, we have no nearby neighbors, and I often feel afraid at night. I have passed by the houses that you build, and it has become a dream of mine to one day have a place of our own—a small yard, belongings to care for, and a home where my daughter can live surrounded by peace and love, where she can play while having things as basic as electricity and water. I do not lose faith or hope that one day we will have it. God willing, it will happen.

Arcos Hernandez - Larche New City (Pink Team)

Arcos Hernandez

Date Build: TBD

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Jessica

Age: 31 years old

Job: House cleaner

Salary weekly: $163 US

CHILDREN:

Kevin - 12 years old

Ian - 6 years old

Nathan - 4 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I was born in the town of Copalillo, Veracruz. I am a single mother of three children, one of whom has cerebral palsy. When I lived in my hometown, I worked in the fields doing whatever seasonal jobs were available, such as harvesting lemons and corn, and washing clothes for other families. My mother also lives with us. She was the first to move to Tijuana after hearing there were many job opportunities, and later I decided to follow her. However, when I arrived, I was surprised to find that we were living in a very small place, and the landlord did not want children there. Finding work was difficult because my son requires a great deal of care and attention, so my mother made the sacrifice of leaving her job in order to care for the children while I looked for work. Thanks to God, we eventually found another room to rent where children were welcome, and the owners themselves recommended me for house-cleaning jobs. They also encouraged me to take my son to the CRIT rehabilitation center, and now he receives therapy every week. I am so grateful because I have seen tremendous progress in him, and that gives me the strength and motivation to keep working hard. My children are growing up quickly—one will soon begin middle school, another will start kindergarten, and with that come even more expenses. For the past four years, I have been making payments on a piece of land, but I have not been able to build a home on it yet. That is why I am so grateful for the opportunity you are giving families like ours. May God bless you abundantly for your kindness and generosity.

Villegas Nuñez - Team Starfish (Yellow Team)

Villegas Nuñez

Date Build: Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Maria del Carmen

Age: 32 years old

Job: Sells icecream

Salary weekly: $102 US

FATHER: Jose Tomas

Age: 32 years old

Job: Dairy factory

Salary weekly: $171 US

CHILDREN:

Edwin - 8 years old

Joselin - 14 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, at present, our family depends entirely on my husband’s income, and we live in a very small house that has become increasingly deteriorated over the years. We have always worked hard to improve our situation, but my husband’s salary is only enough to cover our most basic needs, including household expenses, our children’s education, and medical appointments. On weekends, I set up a small stand selling traditional homemade ice cream to help cover unexpected expenses and provide a little extra support for our family. Little by little, we have made progress on our piece of land. We fenced it, brought in machinery to level the ground, and when we learned about your organization, we became very excited and hopeful. We trust that God will provide and bless us with a safe and dignified home where we no longer have to worry about losing our place to live if we ever face unemployment, because when a house is not your own, there is always the possibility of being asked to leave. My greatest wish is for my children to have a space they can truly call their own. Just thinking about that dream fills my eyes with tears of joy and gratitude. We promise to care for the house with all our hearts and to do everything possible to maintain it in good condition. Thank you very much for your time, consideration, and kindness.

VALLEJO VIRGEN - Rich in Hope #2 (Green Team)

VALLEJO VIRGEN

Date Build: Friday 24th - Saturday 25th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Veronica

Age: 26 years old

FATHER: Filiberto

Age: 51 years old

Job: Cellphone stand

Salary weekly: $111 US

CHILDREN:

Brandon - 13 years old

Jesus - 12 years old

Maria Isabel - 10 years old

Naomi - 5 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Our family’s story began seven years ago when we met at my workplace. He used to come there for meals, and since he worked as a taxi driver, he would often give me rides home. That’s how we got to know each other. Over time, he asked me out, and a few months later we decided to move in together. At that time, I already had my son, Jesús.

During the COVID pandemic, because of the lack of job opportunities, we moved to Colima. While we were there, I became pregnant with our daughter, Naomi. Shortly afterward, my father became seriously ill in Sinaloa, so I went there to take care of him. Meanwhile, my husband decided to return to Tijuana to work.

Soon after, he shared something very important with me. He had a son, Antony, who was in the care of DIF. In order to bring Antony home, he would also need to take custody of his siblings because they were all part of the same case. After giving it a lot of thought, I agreed, and together we welcomed Antony, María Isabel, and Brandon into our family.

In this way, our family grew by three more children. For the past five years, we have been a family of seven. I feel incredibly blessed because all of our children get along so well. Even though they are not all biological siblings, they love and treat each other as if they were.

It is because of our desire to provide them with a safe and stable future that we are asking for your support.

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to our story.

MARTINEZ PADILLA - Rich in Hope #1 (Blue Team)

MARTINEZ PADILLA

Date Build: Monday 29th - Tuesday 30th, June 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Ariana

Age: 28 years old

FATHER: Jose

Age: 34 years old

Job: Mason worker

Salary weekly: $200 US

CHILDREN:

Liam - 7 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, on January 17th of this year, there was a fire in which eight homes burned down, and ours was one of them. It was a total loss. Literally, we were left with only the clothes we were wearing, but thank God it was only material loss and not the loss of a human life. Sadly, our two cats died in the fire, and it hurt us deeply that we could not save them. We lost our home, our safe place, our car, all of our work tools—everything. That is why we are asking for your help, so that we can once again provide a home for our son. For now, we have been sleeping in a tent. Our neighbors have kindly allowed us to shower in their homes, and we cook with firewood on a temporary grill. We would be eternally grateful to God and to you if you could help us have a home again. We hold on to faith that better times will come and that God will provide. Thank you for listening to us and for your support.

Silva Quiñones - North County Youth MA (Brown Team)

Silva Quiñones

Date Build: Monday 20th - Tuesday 21st, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Alejandra

Age: 30 years old

Job: Hardware store

Salary weekly: $163 US

CHILDREN:

Amaya - 3 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I am a single mother, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say a widow, although not in the legal sense. Kevin, the father of my daughter, and I were together for seven years. We had a strong relationship built on teamwork, communication, and mutual support. He lived with his mother and took care of her and the household, as they were the only two living there. He worked as a fisherman and truly loved what he did. We had many plans for our future together, the most immediate being to move in together and start our own family. We planned to gradually purchase building materials to add a second floor to his mother’s house. Although she often said the home would one day belong to him, we wanted to create a space of our own. A few months later, we discovered that I was pregnant, and we began buying furniture and preparing to live together. We were scheduled to attend a medical appointment on a Saturday because we had previously lost a pregnancy the year before, but the appointment was postponed until Monday. That Sunday, Kevin went out with his cousin, and on their way home they were involved in an accident in which he lost his life. By God’s grace, my pregnancy continued without complications, and I was able to bring my beautiful daughter into the world. We would no longer be the family we had dreamed of, but I knew it was now my responsibility to raise her with love and strength. Shortly before giving birth, my family encouraged me to have my daughter in the United States so she could obtain dual citizenship. With my savings and the gifts we received at my baby shower, I was able to go there, but later, when I tried to complete the citizenship process, the application was denied because she carried her father’s surname. When Amaya turned one year old, I decided to return to the United States to try to resolve her immigration status. I lived with relatives and later with a friend. It was a very difficult season of my life, living in a country that was not my own, not speaking the language, and enduring many hardships and humiliations. However, God was faithful, and in the end the judge ruled in our favor, allowing me to return to Mexico with a grateful heart. When I returned, my former employers welcomed me back to work at the same company. Currently, my daughter and I live with my parents, but the dream of having a home of our own remains alive in my heart, especially as my daughter is growing so quickly and needs her own space. My parents’ home is shared by several adults, and there are often disagreements and differing opinions. When my siblings come to visit, we all end up sharing the same room, leaving us with no privacy at all. My salary is not enough to pay both rent and the monthly payments on a piece of land, which is why I am reaching out to you. I am incredibly proud of my daughter. Although she is only three years old, she is already attending kindergarten and knows her alphabet and numbers. My greatest wish is to continue watching her grow and thrive in a happy, stable, and loving environment. Thank you very much for your help and consideration.

Badillo Bello - Redeemer's Fellowship (Purple Team)

Badillo Bello

Date Build: Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Hanne

Age: 24 years old

Job: Fleamarket

Salary weekly: $85 US

FATHER: Jose Angel

Age: 32 years old

Job: Construction Worker

Salary weekly: $227 US

CHILDREN:

Miriam - 7 years old

Cesar - 4 years old

Leonardo - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, my partner and I have been living together as a family for the past nine years. He currently works in construction as a laborer, and I sell clothing at the local swap meet. We met nine years ago, and shortly afterward we decided to build a life together. Not long after, I became pregnant. At the time, we were living with my grandmother, who supported us greatly throughout my pregnancy. After our daughter was born, we rented a small room of our own, and it was there that our other two children were born. However, we began facing serious financial difficulties. My husband lost his job, we fell behind on rent payments, and our three-year-old son became ill. It was a very difficult season in our lives, but thankfully my sister stepped in to help us by offering us a room in her home. Thanks to that support, we were able to save enough money for the down payment on a piece of land. We started by building a small room and eventually moved onto the property. Later, we faced another unexpected challenge when our youngest son was playing and an older child accidentally fell on him, breaking his leg. We had to take out a loan to cover his medical care, which placed even more strain on our finances. Thankfully, by God’s grace, he has recovered and is doing much better now. I share part of our story because we do not have the financial resources needed to build a proper home for our family. I place my trust completely in God and put all my faith in Him, hoping and praying for the opportunity to qualify for a house. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Madrigal García - Venture Church (Orange Team)

Madrigal García

Date Build: Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Yadira

Age: 36 years old

Job: Beauty salon

Salary weekly: $200 US

CHILDREN:

Krisvy - 16 years old

Hector - 6 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I am originally from Potrerillos, a small town in Nayarit. I have six siblings, and that is where we completed elementary school. To attend middle school, we had to walk an hour to a neighboring town because we did not have a vehicle. At the age of 14, I moved to Acaponeta so I could continue my education. I studied accounting, although unfortunately my parents could not afford to pay for all of my siblings to continue their studies. After graduating, I began working at a funeral home, where I met a young man. We started a relationship and decided to build a life together. From that relationship, my daughter Krisvy was born, but after five years I chose to separate because I believe that respect, trust, and communication are the most important foundations of a relationship. From that point on, I became completely independent. When my daughter started preschool, I took a nail technician course while working at a stationery store. After completing the course, I began working at a beauty salon, which allowed me to provide more for my daughter. In 2016, I met another man, and after three years together we decided to make plans for a future and have a child together. Our son Héctor was born from that relationship. However, while I was pregnant, I discovered that my partner was living a double life and had another woman, so I made the difficult decision to become a single mother of two children. In 2020, the pandemic changed our lives. My father became seriously ill with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. Thankfully he survived, but he was left with significant lung damage. At the same time, many jobs were lost, so my sister and I decided, with our faith firmly placed in God, to move to Rosarito, where one of my brothers had been living since 2017. Once we arrived, we both found jobs—one working during the day and the other at night—so that we could take turns caring for the children. Later, we found a more affordable place to live, which is where we currently reside. Today, one of my children is in high school and the other is in elementary school. I am making payments on a piece of land, and to cover the down payment I had to take out a loan, which I have only recently managed to finish paying off. Providing a stable home for my children has been very difficult, but my greatest desire is to have a place of our own where they can feel safe, secure, and protected. I would be eternally grateful for the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

Morales Morales - Venture Church (Red Team)

Morales Morales

Date Build: Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Liliana

Age: 20 years old

Job: Coppel

Salary weekly: $182 US

FATHER: Julio

Age: 23 years old

Job: Forklift driver

Salary weekly: $160 US

CHILDREN:

Ian - 2 years old

Dear Homes of Hope my partner and I met in middle school. We studied together and were very good friends, and after knowing each other for three years, we made the decision to live together and rented a small room. Little by little, we saved money to buy the things we now have, which has taken great effort and has been a big achievement for us. Recently, we found out that we were going to become parents, and we were very excited to learn that our baby would be a boy. We decided to name him Ian Mateo, which means “gift from God.” We expected a natural birth and attended our monthly checkups, but when the time came, the doctors decided it needed to be a C-section. He was born on Friday, October 17, 2024. After leaving the hospital, we went to stay at my mother-in-law’s house so we could better care for the baby, but from that moment on, we decided that we wanted to have something of our own. That is why we acquired a piece of land, hoping that in the future we would no longer have to pay rent and could instead use that money for our own needs. Some friends gave us wooden pallets, which we used to build the small room where we currently live. Later, we learned about your organization and decided to seek the opportunity to provide something better for our son. We are deeply grateful to God for this opportunity, and to you as well.,

Verduzco Lopez - Ryan Fireprotection (Green Team)

Verduzco Lopez

Date Build: Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Bibiana

Age: 31 years old

FATHER: Roberto

Age: 34 years old

Job: Construction Worker

Salary weekly: $171 US

CHILDREN:

Roberto - 16 years old

Melani - 12 years old

Cristian - 8 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I am writing to share our family’s situation and respectfully request your support in helping us obtain a decent home. We are a family of five currently living in a house that has been generously loaned to us, and while we are deeply grateful for this kindness, our situation remains unstable. We live with a constant sense of uncertainty because we do not have the security or sense of belonging that comes with having a place of our own, and this especially affects our hopes for our children’s future. Every day we work hard and honestly to provide for our family, doing our best to meet our basic needs despite our limited financial resources. By God’s grace, we are able to cover essentials such as food, transportation, and our children’s education, but saving enough money to build or purchase a home has become extremely difficult. Our greatest desire is to provide our children with stability, security, and a dignified space where they can grow, study, and develop to their full potential. A home would represent much more than a roof over our heads—it would provide stability, peace of mind, and the opportunity to build a better future together as a family. We sincerely thank you for taking the time to read our request and for considering our family for this blessing.

VERA GUZMAN - Terry Hale Memorial (Blue Team)

VERA GUZMAN

Date Build: Friday 17th - Saturday 18th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Maria

Age: 38 years old

Job: Fleamarket vendor

Salary weekly: $51 US

FATHER: Cesar

Age: 31 years old

Job: Construction - Welder

Salary weekly: $182 US

CHILDREN:

Danna - 14 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, I began as a single mother, and it was not easy raising my daughter on my own for five years. When she started preschool, I met a coworker at work, and we began a relationship that has now lasted nine years. He became the father figure my daughter needed, and I am deeply grateful to him for being such an incredible father and the kind of husband every woman would wish for. We decided to combine the money we had both saved in order to purchase a piece of land, since we had already spent years renting and wanted something more stable for our family. Once we bought the land, we slowly began purchasing materials for the walls, but we have not been able to progress as much as we had hoped. Even so, we continue to have faith that we may be blessed with a Casa de Esperanza. Our current home is in very poor condition, and the tarp we use has been torn apart by the sun, wind, and rain. God is great, and we trust that we may be given this opportunity. Thank you so much for everything.

ORTEGA HERNANDEZ - Miles of Hope (Orange Team)

ORTEGA HERNANDEZ

Date Build: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Vianey

Age: 24 years old

Job: Factory worker

Salary weekly: $141 US

FATHER: Carlos

Age: 24 years old

Job: Factory worker

Salary weekly: $251 US

CHILDREN:

Jared - 4 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, we are a family of three. My husband and I have been together for six years, and although we are originally from Orizaba, Veracruz, we have spent those six years living in Tijuana. Throughout that time, we have rented a home that we shared with my in-laws and other family members. Just a few months after we started our life together, I became pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy because I experienced complications and a threatened miscarriage, but thankfully our baby was born healthy and strong. For the last three years, we have worked incredibly hard to save enough money for the down payment on a piece of land. We worked overtime at the factory, sold food, clothing, and anything else we could to earn extra income. Finally, two years ago, we were able to make the down payment on our property. After that, we took out a loan to build a small wooden house, a project we began about a year ago. We spent every weekend working on it, and eventually we finished enough to move in. However, shortly after we settled there, the Santa Ana winds arrived and completely blew off our roof. We rebuilt it, but unfortunately it still leaks whenever it rains. Most of our furniture was generously donated by neighbors, including our bed, a sofa, and a table, and my husband even built some furniture himself using plywood. It has not been easy, and we have faced many challenges along the way, but we continue moving forward with determination. We have not lost our hope or our faith, and we trust that God will continue to guide us toward a better future for our family.

HERNANDEZ MONTES - Miles of Hope (Yellow Team)

HERNANDEZ MONTES

Date Build: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Ubilda

Age: 33 years old

FATHER: Alberto

Age: 36 years old

Job: Uber driver

Salary weekly: $202 US

CHILDREN:

Derek - 6 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I arrived in Tijuana in 2015, like many people from southern Mexico, with the hope of finding a good job and helping my parents financially. On my second day in the city, I found work at a factory, and that is where I met Juan. We became a couple and decided to get married in 2017. Three months later, I became pregnant, but it was a high-risk pregnancy. It turned out to be ectopic, and I had to undergo surgery in which one of my ovaries was removed, resulting in the loss of our baby. Almost two years later, I became pregnant again with our son, Derek. From a young age, we noticed that he seemed different and often lacked interest in things around him. When he started kindergarten at the age of four, his teachers suggested that he might have a developmental disability. We began searching for help, but the specialists were beyond our financial means. Thankfully, with the support of our families, we were able to have him evaluated, and he was diagnosed with Level 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder. He attended therapy for a year, and his psychologist recommended that he receive intensive support, requiring my involvement most of the time. As a result, I had to leave my job and dedicate myself fully to caring for and supporting my son. Between the cost of rent and his therapies, our financial situation became increasingly difficult, so we began looking for a piece of land with payments that fit within our limited budget in order to reduce our monthly expenses. We eventually found a property and built a small room where the wind and cold enter day and night. To help support my husband and our family, I sell sodas, candy, and snacks from home. We continue to hope and pray for a larger house, a safer and more comfortable place where our son can grow, thrive, and feel secure. Thank you for giving us this hope and opportunity.

RAMIREZ MENDOZA - Miles of Hope (Red Team)

RAMIREZ MENDOZA

Date Build: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Lucia

Age: 34 years old

FATHER: Julio Cesar

Age: 37 years old

Job: Electrician

Salary weekly: $172 US

CHILDREN:

Evelin - 15 years old

Esmeralda - 11 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, our daughters are currently attending school—one is in middle school and the other is in elementary school. We are very happy that they have been able to continue their education this far. It has required many sacrifices, but it has all been worth it. We walk more than half an hour to get them to school every day, but that has never stopped us from moving forward. We are originally from Acapulco, but we have been living in Tijuana for the past six years. At first, we rented a home, but through great effort and sacrifice we were able to purchase a piece of land where we now live. All the hard work was worth it to see part of our dream come true. At the moment, we only have a small room that leaks when it rains and a tiny kitchen. We do not have a concrete floor, and during the Santa Ana winds, a great deal of dust blows into the area where I wash dishes. I do not work because I dedicate my time to caring for our daughters, and my husband’s income is only enough to cover our daily expenses. We continue moving forward little by little, trusting in God and believing that one day our dream of having a proper home will become a reality—a house with windows and doors where our family can feel safe and secure. Thank you so much for your support and consideration.

BUCIO GUTIERREZ - Miles of Hope (Green Team)

BUCIO GUTIERREZ

Date Build: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Carmen

Age: 30 years old

Job: Beauty salon

Salary weekly: $142 US

CHILDREN:

Karen - 5 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, geetings. I am writing to you with the hope of finding support and understanding during an important time in my life. I am a single mother who is fighting to provide a better future for my daughter. I have been separated for three years and receive no financial support from her father. Because I do not have the financial means to live on my own, I moved back into my parents’ home. They kindly gave us a room where my daughter and I can stay. A year ago, my employer’s father generously donated a piece of land to me so that I could begin building a life without having to pay rent. I am incredibly grateful for such a kind and generous gift, but unfortunately I have not been able to build even a small room on the property. When I heard about your organization, it gave me great hope that one day we might have a place of our own. My dream is for my daughter to have her own space where she can do her homework, play, and grow up safely, and where we can share special moments together as a family. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity you are giving us. May God bless you today, tomorrow, and always.

BRAVO VELAZQUEZ - Miles of Hope (Blue Team)

BRAVO VELAZQUEZ

Date Build: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Jania

Age: 33 years old

FATHER: Juventino

Age: 35 years old

Job: Construction Worker

Salary weekly: $142 US

CHILDREN:

Elaina - 3 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, may God be with you and each member of your family. I would like to respectfully ask for your support because we have very limited resources to improve our home. Whenever it rains, water leaks into our house, and because we do not have proper flooring, mud covers everything we have inside. Water comes through both the roof and the walls. Five years ago, we started our family. We both come from humble backgrounds and decided to move to Tijuana so we could help support our parents. We rented a place to live, but one night we were suddenly forced to leave without any warning. It was very difficult to find another place we could afford. Later, our daughter was born, and life became even more complicated. She would not breastfeed and barely ate anything, so we decided to move in with our parents. We are not sure if it was because of the change in climate or something else, but she became very sick and would vomit constantly. Eventually, we learned that she was allergic to milk, and the doctors recommended soy formula. The wages there were lower, so we decided to return to Tijuana. Shortly afterward, my wife’s mother became ill, and because of the expenses related to our baby’s care, we were unable to help as much as we wanted. Sadly, she later passed away, and I still feel guilty for not being able to do more for her. In 2024, our rent was increased again, and because my job does not provide benefits such as Infonavit or access to housing loans, we decided to purchase a piece of land. Once we obtained it, and facing yet another rent increase, I borrowed money from a lender and purchased plywood and wooden pallets so that we could build a small home with our own hands. Between the loan payments, the land payments, and our daily living expenses, we barely have enough to get by from day to day. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in your interviews and application process. May God bless you abundantly.

Aguilar Arellano - Friends & Family Mission (Red Team)

Aguilar Arellano

Date Build: Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Gisela

Age: 38 years old

Job: Babysitter

Salary weekly: $228 US

CHILDREN:

Gustavo - 13 years old

Martin - 6 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, my name is Gisela, and the dream that my husband and I share is to one day have a home of our own. We met in 2003 when we were both 15 years old, and in 2005 we were blessed with our first child while we were only 17. Today, he is 20 years old, building a family of his own and expecting his first baby. Later, when we were 24, our son Gustavo was born. He is now 13 years old and is a dedicated student who is loving, charismatic, and hardworking. Our youngest son, Martín, was born when we were 31 and is the joy of our family—playful, affectionate, and full of energy. Throughout the 17 years we have been together, we have lived in many different houses, but none of them have ever been our own. My husband has always worked hard to provide for our family and make sure we never go without. In 2020, we decided to purchase a piece of land with the dream of building a home, and for two years we faithfully made monthly payments, only to discover that it had all been a fraud. Our dreams were shattered, and we lost both time and money trying to recover our investment through legal action, receiving only a small portion of it back. Even through that disappointment, God never abandoned us. My husband changed jobs and was given the opportunity to live in a room without paying rent, which allowed us to begin making payments on another piece of land. This time, we made sure everything was done properly with legal documentation and professional guidance. We have now been paying for this property for more than a year, and our hope continues to grow. When we saw your post on Facebook and later received your call, I felt like shouting the news to the world because we were overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Our greatest desire is to provide a safe home where our children can grow and play freely. Because we currently live near a workshop, we worry about their safety around machinery and equipment. I dream of having a place where I can plant flowers and trees, sit outside in the sunshine, and enjoy a peaceful home with my family. God has always been present in our lives, and we have prayed earnestly for this opportunity. I truly believe that God is using people like you to demonstrate His love and faithfulness to families like ours. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your time, your kindness, and for considering our story.

Lopez Hernandez - Friends & Family Mission (Green Team)

Lopez Hernandez

Date Build: Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Rosa

Age: 36 years old

Job: Assmbly factory

Salary weekly: $183 US

FATHER: Carlos

Age: 25 years old

Job: Construction Worker

Salary weekly: $227 US

CHILDREN:

Carlos - 16 years old

Elizabeth - 13 years old

Lian - 5 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, 12 years ago, I separated from the father of my two oldest children. He struggled with alcoholism, and after our separation, he disappeared from our lives completely. I was left alone to raise two young children, one four years old and the other only two. Later, I met my current partner. Since we were both paying rent separately, we decided to move in together to reduce expenses and invest in a piece of land. When I became pregnant with my third child, I received maternity benefits, and we used that money as the down payment on our land. Afterward, we spent eighteen months saving every penny we could in hopes of building a small house on our property. However, during that time my mother called to tell me that my father had become seriously ill and wanted to see me. Instead of using our savings to build the house, I traveled to be with him. Thank God, he recovered and is doing much better, but our dream of building a home was put on hold. So far, we have only been able to build a septic pit and a bathroom on the property. We continue to live in a rental home, but in March the owner informed us that we must move out. Since then, we have been unable to find another place to rent that fits within our budget. That is why having a home of our own has become such an urgent need for our family. If you would consider blessing us with a house, it would mean so much to us and would be an incredible blessing for our children and our future. Thank you very much for your time, attention, and consideration.

Orozco Panuco -Friends & Family Mission (Blue Team)

Orozco Panuco

Date Build: Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th, July 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Elizabeth

Age: 47 years old

Job: House cleaner

Salary weekly: $160 US

CHILDREN:

Fernanda - 13 years old

Dulce 20 years Old Selene 22 years Old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, 8 years ago, we arrived in Baja California filled with fear, but also with many dreams and a strong desire to build a better life. As with any journey, we faced many challenges, but with God’s help we found the strength to overcome them. We arrived with only two suitcases of clothes and our five-year-old daughter because we could not afford tickets for our entire family. Our other two daughters remained in Durango to continue their studies. My husband began working as a construction laborer, and a cousin allowed us to stay in a small room. We wanted to move out as soon as possible because we did not know her very well and did not want to be a burden. Some friends told us about an employer who was willing to let us live in a house, and that is how we eventually settled in Rosarito. Unfortunately, through that job my husband met people who introduced him to drugs, and he developed an addiction. With the money we had managed to save, we were able to bring our other two daughters to live with us, but shortly afterward the police arrested my husband for possessing methamphetamine and he was jailed. In order to move forward and provide for my family, I started working at a supermarket while also saving money for the down payment on a piece of land. Living with my husband’s addiction has been extremely difficult. Eventually, I had to leave my job because of the mistreatment I suffered, and now my daughters, who are 17 and 18 years old, help support our household. Due to high blood pressure, I can no longer work full-time, so I earn what I can by selling items at the local swap meet. My husband occasionally gives us money, but most of the time he is dealing with problems related to his addiction. He has been arrested for theft, crossed into the United States and was later deported, and continues to live a very unstable life. It has been a painful and exhausting journey, but we continue to trust in God. We would be deeply grateful if you could help us obtain a home, a safe place where we can live with peace and stability. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

MARTINEZ SILVA - Plum Creek Church (Red Church)

MARTINEZ SILVA

Date Build: Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th, June 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Alejandra

Age: 36 years old

Job: Construction worker

Salary weekly: $170 US

CHILDREN:

Aliset - 19 years old

Dayan -13 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, I am a single mother from Mexico City. My life journey has not been easy, but God allowed me to go through difficult experiences so that I could truly know Him and understand that I was never alone—that He was always with me. I know that God exists, that He is good and merciful, and that He touches the hearts of many people to help others. I came to Tijuana because of work-related matters in 2022. At that time, I was living in Mexico City with my husband, but we had problems and he invited me to come for only three months. We left my children with my mother, believing that everything would go well and that I would return to Mexico City with enough money to pay the rent we owed. We made many plans, such as renting a home and bringing our children to live with us, but none of that happened. My husband began drinking heavily and spent everything he earned. A year later, we were forced to leave the camp where we had been living, and we were only able to take our clothes and backpacks with us. There, we met some construction workers for whom we had previously painted and detailed houses. They kindly gave us work cleaning their home and allowed us to stay there because they often traveled to San Diego. They gave my husband the keys to the house so he could take care of it, and shortly after, I brought my daughter to live with us. However, soon after that, my husband spoke to me and told me that he no longer wanted me there and that he was not obligated to support me, and that he was saving his money to leave for the United States. We continued living in that same house, but the way we were treated became unbearable. He would leave us locked outside, hide food from us, and do many hurtful things. It became a very desperate situation. Somehow, I managed to save enough money to send my daughter back to Mexico to live with my mother. We cried so much because we did not want to be separated, but I did not have enough money to leave with her, so she left in tears. When I returned to the house afterward, the woman told me I had one week to leave. I was still crying, with no money and no one I truly knew. She eventually put all my belongings out on the street. In desperation, I called a coworker from work who had often invited me to attend a Christian church with her. She came to pick me up and comforted me, but she also did not know what to do with me—alone, without my children, abandoned by my husband, without money or friends. That night she took me to a small shack near her home made out of wooden sticks, and I spent the night there. In that place, God showed me that I was not alone as I had believed, and that these hard times would eventually pass. Later, a kind woman rented me a small house near my work, and after many prayers I was able to bring my children back to Tijuana. My daughter began working, and together we saved money for an entire year to make the down payment on a piece of land. It took great sacrifice and effort, but we achieved it. I also met a man who is now my boyfriend, and he helped us with the down payment as well. Since then, we have continued paying for the land where we hope to someday build a small wooden room and live there together. It was during this time that I heard about your organization, so I submitted my information, and now here I am sharing my story with you. Thank you for taking the time to read my letters. I know that God never gives us more than we can bear. Ephesians 3:20