Story of a Completed Home

On February 25th, 2012, during a Casa Building trip, participants completed the foundation for the home of Santa Guadalupe Armenta Castro, and her two children, eight-year-old Miguel and two-year-old Ilce Mariel, who suffers from serious health problems and was in desperate need for a sanitary place to live. The Casa Building participants will not forget Santa Guadalupe’s eyes, as she stood in awe at so many people, both from the U.S. and from her community of El Florido, working side-by-side to create a safe space for her and her children to live. Here is a glimpse:

Through the generosity of many supporters of the efforts of CLC-USA Western Region in Tijuana, the Casa Building team was able to fundraise more than $3,000 in three weeks to build this home for the Armenta Castro family. The great solidarity that was shown by generous donors made possible this miracle home for this wonderful family.

Santa Guadalupe could not find adequate words to fully express what she was feeling, and in the midst of her tears of gratitude, she gave great thanks to God for everyone who made her home possible. She also vowed to continue her education at the community center, fostering a very positive internal change and growth that matches the external transformation of the home for her children and her. For the Casa Building participants, it was truly an honor to be a part of the process of building a home for such a deserving family, and this very humbling experience was filled with many graces, which continue to reveal themselves to participants months after the trip.

The Armenta Castro’s family will be completed on June 3rd, 2012, pending the connection of all electrical wiring and finalization of plumbing to provide the home with running water. However, the family, so eager to enjoy the great gift that has been given to them, moved in weeks before the home’s completion and could not be happier, nor more grateful, for this blessing.

Muchas gracias, everyone who had a part in this home building effort!