Today is the last day of "school" for the kids here in Tempe, AZ at Bethany Community Church as we prepare for departure for Rocky Point, Mexico on Sunday morning.  Emily and Dillon have been graciously enrolled for free all week at Bethany Learning Center during their "Wild West Week".  They have had a bicycle rodeo, ridden ponies, and had a great time.  Thank you to all the teachers and staff at BLC for making this week so special for them.

Sunday we depart with Bethany High School Ministries for build week 1 of 2 in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) MX.  We will be assisting with the build/completion of 3 homes over 2 weeks for a couple of homeless families.  The home design (originally created by Amor Ministries) is a very simple 20' x10' wood framed structure covered in stucco.  Our version has 3 windows and a locking door, offering these families a security they have never known before in their cardboard and pallet constructed home. The homes are constructed solely by hand, using no power tools or air tools.  Just hammers, hand saws, hand trowels, and sweat of a team of roughly 15 teens and adults.  (see photo courtesy of Amor of a prior group's build) The idea is that if the tools are left behind, you have given the family (who will work with us) the ability to replicate the home for others.  Its the classic adage of teaching a man to fish…

We'll take lots of photos and videos this week, so watch for the uploads after we return.  In the meantime, please be praying for these families and for our team that this experience will deepen not only our compassion for others that have needs we can scarcely imagine, but that it will strengthen our passion to make a difference with our lives.  (see the "Passion" challenge!)