Surviving off of Lettuce and Mayonnaise

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our world and Baja California is no exception. The government of Mexico has set a 'shelter in place' order for the months of April and May. This has had a dramatic impact on the lower-class, working families, earning minimum wage, which is generally only $2 an hour. Unable to work, families are getting desperate for food.

While we cannot build homes currently, as a ministry we are still staying active to meet the needs of the community, as best as we can. In Ensenada the local  government gave us a list of families that were in need of food. While wearing masks and practicing social distancing, we go to the families homes and meet them at their door, handing over a box of food and supplies and praying for them. 

During one of our outings we planned to meet up with a man at the end of his street. Upon arriving, we noticed that he was elderly and using a cane, limping along as he came to greet us. He couldn't carry the box of food so we helped him back to his house.

As we entered the home to drop the food off and put the items in their fridge, all that it contained was a head of lettuce and a half used jar of mayonnaise. When his wife saw the box of food, tears filled her eyes. We prayed with them and shared that God is our provider, saying "God is good," and he beamed, responding,  "No, God is super good!"

During these uncertain times it's so beautiful to see the difference a box of food can make for a family. No one should have to survive off of a head of lettuce and some mayonnaise. We want as many families in Baja California as possible to know that not only does God love them, He is their provider! 

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Would you like to partner with us to bless families in need during this time?

New Year, in Remembrance

As we look forward to the new year, new possibilities and of course many more families receiving homes this year, my family and I started out with a time of remembrance. We built a Home of Hope in honor of my late and beloved father James Michael Lambert who passed away in 2015.

Three generations came together as my siblings came to join us in Mexico with their children and grandchildren to make a difference for a beautiful family.  Elda is a single mother taking care of her three daughters. Her dad Mario lives with her and helps take care of the girls. Watching him interact and play with his granddaughters was special as I remembered my dad and the times he shared with my three daughters. 

As I look back through the years, I am amazed at the beautiful impact these homes have had not only on the families receiving but on each participant, staff and donor. This time was no different and it was especially meaningful to serve alongside my family as we honored my father.  It was a tearful moment as I watched my mom hand the keys at the dedication ceremony. My dad, James, a carpet layer all his life, would have enjoyed seeing the new carport squares we put into the two bedrooms. He spent his life cheering on his eight children and investing in their success and now his legacy lives on as it grants that to these three beautiful girls. `

The Impact of a Bunk Bed

After arriving in Tijuana, the Nuñez Rea family was able to gather enough money to secure a piece of land, but didn't have anything left over to put an actual structure on it. They borrowed a tent and hoped for the best. Every day, they lived in fear of coyotes coming and hurting their family or snakes slithering in the tent and biting them at night.

They began to pray for a shelter to call home, a place that would protect them from the elements and where they could be safe together as a family. Months later, a miracle happened and they received a Home of Hope. As they entered their new home for the first time, they were surprised to find it filled with brand new furniture inside. The two teenage girls screamed out loud in surprise and delight as they saw the bunk beds. No longer would they be sleeping on the floor of a tent, in fear that some animal would come hurt them, they would be sleeping on a real bed, inside a safe and warm shelter! The bunk beds are so much more than a bed for these families, they are an act of dignity, a simple act that ushers in hope for the future these families. That is the impact of a bunk bed.

JOIN US NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, FOR GIVING TUESDAY, TO GIVE THE IMPACT OF A BUNK BED!

This year we are excited to join the global giving movement for #GivingTuesday! Each year more and more people have joined the movement to partner with their favorite charities to embrace the spirit of giving as the Christmas Season begins. This year we are inviting you to partner with us December 3, 2019 to help us reach our #GivingTuesday goals.

We recently made a much needed update and expansion to our Ensenada Campus. We will be able to host more teams, train more students and expand our mission to “engage a broken world with God’s generosity” with this update. However, in order to complete the project we need to raise the remaining funds for the dorm room bunk beds. The total cost for the bunks, mattresses and bedding that will serve all of those who come to volunteer with us each year in Ensenada is $50,000. This is our Giving Tuesday goal. Want to join us?

3 WAYS TO PARTNER ON GIVING TUESDAY:

1. Share our #givingtuesday campaign with your friends and family.

2. Give to the cause.

3. Get a team together and come serve with Homes of Hope.