Wednesday, September 7, 2011

KAYLA'S TOP 30 before I turn 30 - Celebrate Building Houses in Mexico

Have you ever been to Heaven?

No?

That's too bad. I have - so let me tell you about it.

First of all, it's in located deep in the heart of what some would call Hell. A tiny shack with a stove outside the house to cook food. Dirt floors. running water bootlegged from a neighbor. ditto on the power. Hardly

any worldly possessions. Heaven is in a little place called La Mision, Baja Mexico. There is an amazing family that lives there - Fabian and his 8 or so children. He and the two oldest sons work to provide for the rest of the family. This is the story of how I went to heaven one weekend in October.
 Despite the language barrier, the group from Legacy Vineyard Church (the group I travelled with) and the people who run the Door of Faith Orphanage (super amazing place with the coolest family atmosphere ever - where we also stayed in the visitor's area in bunkhouses and tents) we were able to construct a house in a single weekend for this family. it had a bathroom with running water, the stove was moved inside, and the family finally had a real door to their home.
The group worked like dogs all weekend from before the sun came up until sun down. On Saturday night, the roofing crew (part of the job I got to help with) was finishing up the shingles. Fabian was holding the drop light so we could see. The smell of the ocean breeze tickled my nose. The stray dog who quickly became our friend stayed close. The whole group pitched in and did an amazing job. I hope that someday, if I do get to go to heaven, that there are houses to build, hours of work to do to help others, and smiles to share with everyone. Today, I celebrate the gift of heaven, a little south of hell.

1 comment:

Adam and Shari Crawford said...

LOVE this :) I love moments like these and the opportunity to help those that truly need it...