Do you remember the day you were handed the keys to your first home? The excitement, the anticipation, the dream come true feeling, a place to call home, a place to entertain, a place of rest, a place of safety.
Imagine living with your family in one room, on a dirt floor, with walls made from a variety of scraps found along the roadside and a roof created by a tarp or more scraps of wood which means a leaky roof during the rainy season. No kitchen, no bathroom, and possibly only one bed for the entire family to sleep in.
This is what we see each and every day here in Mexico. Families who are hard working, families who love their children, families who laugh , play games and enjoy eating meals together but their living conditions are difficult.
So, when the weekends arrive here in San Antonio Del Mar and our campus fills with those that have come to build a home for the most neediest families my heart beats just a little faster knowing one more mom will have a home to call her own, a home to clean, a home to raise her children in, prepare her family meals in, invite her friends and family over for a celebration, a safe, warm and secure place they will call home.
After two days of painting, hammering and preparing the home for the new family it is time for our tradition – gathering together in a circle where we begin passing the house key to one another, sharing words of love and encouragement . Even our children are given opportunity to share words of gratitude to the family for allowing us to be part of their family for these two special days.
The tears flow easily from their eyes and our eyes knowing we have blessed them but really they have blessed us allowing us the opportunity to spend two days with them working side by side building their home, meeting their family and hearing their story is life changing not only for us as parents but for our children.
Each time I see a set of house keys I can’t help but think that there is another family in need, another mom who dreams of her own house key being handed to her one day. Then I begin to wonder who will come help us build, who will be the next to pass the key to a family and make a difference with just one key.
Will it be your family? Your company? Your church? Your kids Soccer club?
Anyone can come build a home and make a difference it just takes 2 days and one key .
For more information about Homes of Hope click here
A Home of Hope for the Ochoa Family from Shane Kalai on Vimeo.