HOMES OF HOPE HOUSE BUILD

prov·i·dence - "The doctrine of divine providence, therefore had reference to that preservation, care and government which God exercises over all things He has created, in order that they may accomplish the ends for which they were created." ISBE

Alejandro, Aracelis, Hernan

 I can't help but look back to the night of October 11th 2008 in Kona Hawaii where the dream of doing an Ironman began and how it would all culminate in the building of a house for a wonderful family in Mexico this past weekend. When I started my  Ironman journey it was important to me that it wasn't just self serving or that this whole idea of becoming an "Ironman" didn't take precedence over family, ministry, or friends. I will never forget the words of my counselor/teacher Ron Davis, "Greg, what makes you think God can't use this Ironman for his glory?" As it turns out God did use it in the most amazing way. Thanks to the generous donations of my supporters I raised nearly $4,000.00 through the Janus Ironman Charity Challenge to build a home for a family that was so deserving. This family, Alejandro, Aracelis and their son Hernan operate an orphanage for over 30 children in Tijuana including 18 infants and toddlers three of which have special needs. This family lived at the orphanage which meant they had no time for themselves. They were so grateful to have a place of refuge where they can now re-energize themselves for the daily struggles of running an orphanage in Baja Mexico. This also frees up space so the orphanage can take in more children. It was such a privilege to build a home for this family who makes sacrifices daily to meet the basic needs of little ones who are were not seeing those needs being met. Some of these children have been abandoned by their mother or father, some are children born to a drug addicted mother, others have seen their father leave and the mother forced to finding work can no longer care for her child or children. It's all a bit overwhelming to hear from Aracelis about the struggles and anger that these children are trying to cope with and escape.

Raising the wall

The house build itself was nothing short of miraculous.Unlike previous years of rain, this year we had perfect build weather with sunny skies and temps. in the low 70's. We also had a very strong team with plenty of building experience. It didn't hurt having kids from the orphanage help with the painting! With God's grace we finished building the home by noon on Sunday. Amazing! I have to say that without a doubt this was the nicest house we have ever built.

If you want to build like an Ironman you've got to eat like one!

Hernan and Aracelis

Hernan and his amigos

Truss this!

To my generous sponsors, I want you to know that Alejandro and Aracelis are so deserving of your gift and they so appreciate what you have sacrificed for them. They are so loving, so caring and willing to give of themselves every day for the well being of the orphans. Through your support of this family you have helped indirectly to make the lives of each and every orphan that they care for just a little better.

You want it cut in centimeters?

Thank you for supporting my Ironman Homes of Hope quest and impacting the lives of so many in such a wonderful way. This wonderful journey and God's providence in all things has touched me so deeply and forever changed me...I hope you feel the same. To use the words of Aracelis and Alejandro, "Que Dios bendiga sus vida grandemente" "May God bless your life greatly"

The Team

New bedroom

Kids helping paint

Dining room table

I want to share some unedited video with all of you. These are two very powerful clips that you must watch. One is the dedication of the house with Aracelis and Alejandro thanking us. The other is an interview with Aracelis asking her about the orphanage. The last video was taken at the orphanage with the infants. Please watch and enjoy the videos below. 

HOMES OF HOPE

 I've posted about my Ironman training but I haven't posted about why I'm doing an Ironman. Sure I want to experience the personal achievement of finishing an Ironman, but there is a ministry that I have had the privilege to serve with for the past four years that has touched my heart. It's called Homes of Hope. Homes of Hope is a non-profit organization that builds homes for impoverished peoples of Mexico and Jamaica. My goal is to raise enough money to build a home for a family that is currently living in what I like to call a "garage door shack" with a dirt floor. If you feel led to do so, please sponsor me as I try complete my first Ironman with the goal of raising $5,100.00. Just click on the tab above which will direct you to my donation page.

I love Mexico. As I child and teenager I made many trips to Baja with my Grandparents and Father mostly to go fishing and SCUBA diving. What attracts me to Mexico is the simplicity of life. I'm not talking about life in the big cities of Tijuana or Ensenada, but life in the suburbs or "colonias" as they are called in Mexico. There you know all of your neighbors and they are your close friends because you rely on each other for support and help. Parents work extremely hard to earn maybe $200 a week. Going to the store takes planning because you don't have a car. Life is hard but they are proud to have saved enough money to buy a small piece of land that they can call their own.  A little girl is happy to be playing with a doll, her only doll, that has one arm missing. Her brother plays with a soccer ball that doesn't hold air very well. They will never go to Disneyland or have a Wii or a Facebook account, but they have a simple joy and laughter that you don't see with kids here in Orange County. When I'm in Mexico spending time with these families, I feel like I've forgotten what's important in life. I've become so entrenched in the worldly desires of life and culture in Orange County that I've forgotten how blessed I am to be able to take a hot shower for as long as I want or to simply flush a toilet. Why when I'm in my comfortable home using a computer to download my favorite music and transfer it on to my IPod or when I DVR my favorite TVshow because I'm going out to dinner to eat sushi...why do I often feel like my life is boring and I need more?

Going to Mexico and working side by side with a family to build them a simple home has brought all of these questions and many more to the for front of my life. Why has God given me so much and yet I spend most of my time squandering what he has given me to satisfy my own desires instead of using it to make a difference in the lives of other people? I'm not sure that I know the answer to this. I'm not saying that we shouldn't enjoy what God has given us and there is certainly nothing wrong with going out to eat sushi (unless you just don't like it).

Homes of Hope has allowed me to gain a different perspective of  life and the lives of others who I would not have otherwise had any care or concern for. Working side by side with a family you have just met to make a dream come true for them has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life. An overwhelming feeling of joy, love, and sadness always accompanies these projects. Joy when you see how radically you have changed the life of a family. Love expressed to you from the family for what you you have done for them and sadness when you have to leave them behind because you have formed this unspeakable bond between one another.

I want to thank all of you who have sponsored me and contributed to Homes of Hope and I encourage each and every one of you to invite radical change in to your lives. From a life of succumbing to the desires of what culture and the world tells me I need leaving me empty, to a perspective of I've been given so much, how can I make a difference in

the lives of others that will truly leave a lasting legacy for generations.

As Jackie Robinson once said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives"