Plantillas Zacarias - Mike Tuttle (Red Team)

Plantillas Zacarias

Date Build: Friday 7th - Saturday 8th - Sunday 2nd, Aug 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Maria

Age: 28 years old

FATHER: Julio

Age: 41 years old

Job: Mechanic

Salary weekly: $227 US

CHILDREN:

Victoria - 5 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope,I am originally from Veracruz and moved to Tijuana when I was 19 years old in search of work. I found a job at a small restaurant where I worked for two years. It was there that I met Julio César, and we began a relationship. Eventually, we decided to move in together and build a life of our own. Soon after, our daughter Victoria was born, and for two years everything seemed to be going well. In April 2022, we decided to purchase a piece of land with the dream of building a home for our family. However, in December of that same year, our daughter developed acute appendicitis and required emergency surgery. Later, she needed abdominal wall and stomach repair procedures, and in May she had to undergo additional surgeries. During that difficult time, we fell behind on our land payments and were no longer able to continue pursuing our dream of building a house. Because of the extensive care that our daughter required, I was unable to continue working, and Julio became the sole provider for our family. Since then, we have done our best to move forward despite the challenges, but our financial resources remain very limited. That is why we humbly ask for your support and consideration. We would be deeply grateful for the opportunity to provide a safe and stable home for our daughter and our family. Thank you very much for your time and kindness.

Martinez Lopez - NW Dream Team (Green Team)

Martinez Lopez

Date Build: Sunday 2nd - Monday 3rd, Aug 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Verenice

Age: 37 years old

Job: Various jobs

Salary weekly: $171 US

Aldo - 17 years old

Viviana - 15 years old

Daniela - 12 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, I came to Tijuana from the state of Guerrero in search of a better life for my family, but I arrived carrying the deep pain of one of the greatest losses I have ever experienced. Shortly before moving, my brother passed away after a long battle for his life. I spent everything I had trying to save him, but in the end, I had to accept that God was in control and that His plans were greater than my own. Losing my brother left me heartbroken, and although I do my best to move forward each day, it is still a pain that is difficult to overcome. I am a single mother of three children, and I also care for my 78-year-old mother. In addition, my two nieces, the daughters of my late brother, spend most of their time with us. Although I do not have legal custody because their mother has not granted it, they live with us from Monday through Saturday and only spend Sundays with their mother. I work hard to provide for my family, but our income is barely enough to cover our basic needs. We are currently living in a rented home, and thanks to God's provision through a cousin, our rent has been paid through November. While we are deeply grateful for this blessing, we do not know how we will be able to continue paying rent after that, and the uncertainty weighs heavily on us. My greatest hope is to provide my children, my mother, and my nieces with a safe, stable, and dignified home where we can live in peace and begin a new chapter filled with hope. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read our story and for considering our application. May God continue to bless you and use you to bring hope to families facing difficult circumstances like ours.

Rodriguez Loza - West Des Moines Christian Church (Blue Team)

Rodriguez Loza

Date Build: Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd, Aug 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Blanca

Age: 35 years old

FATHER: Vilmar

Age: 37 years old

Job: Factory worker

Salary weekly: $173 US

CHILDREN:

Bianca - 4 years old

Kevin - 9 years old

Ivonne - 13 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, am originally from the state of Michoacán, and I moved to Tijuana when I was 18 years old in search of a better future. I began working at a cardboard manufacturing company, where I met Wilmar, who is now my husband and is originally from the state of Chiapas. From the beginning, we shared the dream of owning a home, so we started saving with great effort. However, our plans changed when my sister and brother-in-law passed away, forcing me to leave Tijuana and use the savings we had worked so hard to build. A few years later, we returned and began again with renewed hope. The journey has not been easy, as I also experienced the loss of my mother, but despite these hardships, we never gave up on our dream. Through perseverance and hard work, we were able to save enough for the down payment on a piece of land. Today, I live with my family and also care for my sister, Éricka, who has a disability and depends on me for her daily care and well-being. We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be considered by your program, and we pray that God will continue to bless you abundantly, strengthen your ministry, and multiply your efforts as you bring hope and support to vulnerable families like ours.

Lopez Ruiz -Vine & Branch Church (Red Team)

Lopez Ruiz

Date Build: Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd, Aug 2026

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Liliana

Age: 30 years old

Job: Recepcionist

Salary weekly: $145 US

CHILDREN:

Fernanda - 8 years old

Luis - 10 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, with great respect and a heart full of faith, I would like to share the situation my family and I are currently facing. It is not easy to express everything we have experienced in recent days, but I place my complete trust in God, who faithfully brings people into our lives that reflect His love and mercy. On May 26, an electrical short circuit at a neighboring home caused a fire that completely destroyed the house you generously helped us build some time ago. Watching the flames consume the place where my children and I had built so many precious memories was incredibly painful. Even in the midst of tears and uncertainty, God has sustained us and given us the strength to move forward. I currently work nights as a receptionist to provide for my family while continuing my university studies during the day, because my greatest dream is to give my children a better future and show them that, through hard work, perseverance, and God's help, it is always possible to overcome life's challenges. These years have been filled with sacrifice and perseverance, and although the journey has often been exhausting, the Lord continually renews my strength and allows me to continue serving others in need. Through this experience, God has reminded me that we are all members of the body of Christ, called to support one another with love and compassion. I am deeply grateful for the support you once gave our family and for the loving work you continue to do for so many others. My prayer is that God will richly bless you, strengthen you, and continue using you as instruments of His love and hope for those who need it most. With sincere gratitude, faith, and hope in Christ.

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.