Back in January-March 2011 when Richard and I came for our first work project in Los Cabos, Pastor Carlos had just purchased a small, humble partially-built home. His plan was to “camp” on the property with his family of five (including his baby at the time, Joshua) and to build his first church building in front of the house. Having not much, if any, construction experience, he was crying out to the Lord for direction.
Within a few days, Richard drove up with our trusty Blazer and covered trailer, along with his expertise and a plethora of tools. I arrived a little over a week later with my ability to shop for building products (and paint when the time came). When we left in mid-March of that year, there was a humble addition added to Pastor Carlos’ house, running water, wired electricity, and the foundation and beginning of the existing church. From that leap of faith at the Lomas del Sol property, Pastor Carlos and his wife, Janet, have realized they needed more space and a home not located in back of a church in a Mexican barrio, where the needy, the bored, and the lonely are often at the door day and night.
It was just a year ago, when we came back from our Christmas break in Michigan, that we found out Pastor Carlos had bought another “fixer-upper” in that short period of time. Since that time, Pastor Carlos−as he has been able to save a little money−has been hiring brothers from the church to work on the house. Then, the blessing from Shane Crowley’s diligence in Michigan surfaced just before it was time for Shane to come. One of his material suppliers in Michigan offered a generous donation for the mission work Shane would be helping with. A good part of that blessing was gladly budgeted for Pastor Carlos’ house.
With funding, Shane and Tracey, and the brothers from Pastor Carlos’ church, who we were able to hire with the donated funds, made great progress laying the blocks for the upstairs of the families’ new home. In addition to the construction, the donated funds were also used to purchase a stove and refrigerator for the home. We were able to take Janet and her family shopping for appliances.
It may seem like very slow progress to anyone not living in Mexico, but with all factors considered, this project is moving along quickly. Pastor Carlos and his family have now been living in the home for several weeks and there is an end in sight.
The labor pool necessary for all the finishing, electrical and plumbing virtually dried up this spring/summer. We have had so much new construction in the area over the last year and a half that anyone who wants to work can be working. Pastor Carlos hired a couple of men who helped Shane and Tracey, but when Shane left, their work ethic left with him. With Pastor Carlos in such a desperate situation, Richard knew he might be the only one who could get Pastor Carlos and his family into the home. Consequently, Richard added countless hours of work on Pastor Carlos’ house to the work he was already doing, including the finishing of the latest phase of the church at Tierra y Libertad.
There are still some finishing touches that will have to wait for the workman who has committed to do the thin coat over the blocks; as well as the welder who still says he will make the front gate (which is badly needed to secure the home). However, even in this condition, Pastor Carlos, his wife Janet, and their three children Paola, Carlitos and Joshua, are thrilled to be in their new home!
We all send a huge thank you to the generous donor from West Michigan that made the majority of this project possible. Thank-you, Tom, and may God bless you and your business!
Within a few days, Richard drove up with our trusty Blazer and covered trailer, along with his expertise and a plethora of tools. I arrived a little over a week later with my ability to shop for building products (and paint when the time came). When we left in mid-March of that year, there was a humble addition added to Pastor Carlos’ house, running water, wired electricity, and the foundation and beginning of the existing church. From that leap of faith at the Lomas del Sol property, Pastor Carlos and his wife, Janet, have realized they needed more space and a home not located in back of a church in a Mexican barrio, where the needy, the bored, and the lonely are often at the door day and night.
It was just a year ago, when we came back from our Christmas break in Michigan, that we found out Pastor Carlos had bought another “fixer-upper” in that short period of time. Since that time, Pastor Carlos−as he has been able to save a little money−has been hiring brothers from the church to work on the house. Then, the blessing from Shane Crowley’s diligence in Michigan surfaced just before it was time for Shane to come. One of his material suppliers in Michigan offered a generous donation for the mission work Shane would be helping with. A good part of that blessing was gladly budgeted for Pastor Carlos’ house.
With funding, Shane and Tracey, and the brothers from Pastor Carlos’ church, who we were able to hire with the donated funds, made great progress laying the blocks for the upstairs of the families’ new home. In addition to the construction, the donated funds were also used to purchase a stove and refrigerator for the home. We were able to take Janet and her family shopping for appliances.
It may seem like very slow progress to anyone not living in Mexico, but with all factors considered, this project is moving along quickly. Pastor Carlos and his family have now been living in the home for several weeks and there is an end in sight.
The labor pool necessary for all the finishing, electrical and plumbing virtually dried up this spring/summer. We have had so much new construction in the area over the last year and a half that anyone who wants to work can be working. Pastor Carlos hired a couple of men who helped Shane and Tracey, but when Shane left, their work ethic left with him. With Pastor Carlos in such a desperate situation, Richard knew he might be the only one who could get Pastor Carlos and his family into the home. Consequently, Richard added countless hours of work on Pastor Carlos’ house to the work he was already doing, including the finishing of the latest phase of the church at Tierra y Libertad.
There are still some finishing touches that will have to wait for the workman who has committed to do the thin coat over the blocks; as well as the welder who still says he will make the front gate (which is badly needed to secure the home). However, even in this condition, Pastor Carlos, his wife Janet, and their three children Paola, Carlitos and Joshua, are thrilled to be in their new home!
We all send a huge thank you to the generous donor from West Michigan that made the majority of this project possible. Thank-you, Tom, and may God bless you and your business!
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