Incarnation’s Mexico Mission work started in 2014. As of October 2023 we have built 20 houses in the outskirts of Tijuana, Mexico. We have been partnering with Project Mercy on this mission. For $7500 and the hard work of 20-30 volunteers we have been able to improve the living conditions for several deserving families. And we do it in one day. To learn more about the trips read any of the blog posts below. Want to get involved or find out more information, contact us at globalmission@godamong.us.
Pictures from past house builds:
October 28, 2023
On October 28th, volunteers from Incarnation Lutheran and St. Bart’s Episcopal churches traveled down to Baja, Mexico to build a new home for the Rojas Mancillas family (Sonia Marina (46), Irving Giovanni (25), Alan Ulises (16), Dylan (13), and Jesua Ivan (8)). The familyâs former home was severely damaged by rain storms last winter. Sonia (mother) is widowed and works full-time to support her sons and wants desperately to ensure her sonsâ health and education.
Thank you again to everyone from ILC that volunteered, and/or contributed funds for the building materials and donations for the families.
May 6, 2023
October 22, 2022
On October 22nd, 30 volunteers from Incarnation Lutheran and St. Bart’s Episcopal churches traveled down to Baja, Mexico to build new homes for 2 deserving families. It was a very long day of work, with everyone working beyond daylight hours, but the results were certainly worth the effort and fueled by the smiles and gratitude from the Lucio Tranquilino and Lucio Valerio families. We all felt blessed to use be able to offer our time, treasures, and talents to do God’s work!
Thank you again to everyone from ILC that volunteered, and/or contributed funds for the building materials and donations for the families.
More Photos available in shared photo album: Mexico Build #16 – 10/22/22
April 2, 2022
Mexico House Build #15 a success!
Saturday, April 2nd, 22 ILC members and friends traveled down into Mexico to build our 15th house for a family in need. It was a fun and spiritually rewarding day for all, resulting in a very nice home for the Hernadez Guitierrez family. The family, including their 3 daughters, helped paint the house and trim all day long. In addition to the volunteer builders, I want to thank everyone who donated funds for the house and/or items for the family. The “Spirit of Generosity” by our congregation for this important Global Mission work is incredible and humbling. The family was extremely appreciative and overwhelmed with their new home and our donations!
Thank you – Jake Johnson
October 16, 2021
Mexico House Build Mission – Another family helped!
On Saturday, October 16th we built a new home for the Sanchez Valasquez family in Mexico. It was a very long and hot day, but everyone worked really hard and did a great job.
The house turned out really well, both structurally and aesthetically. Everyone liked the Coral-Orange color the family picked. We were able to paint the entire inside including the ceiling for the first time. This is house #14 that ILC has funded and built, in partnership with Project Mercy, and I think we get just a little better each time. We were also able to meet Rubin Guitierez and his children, who received one of the homes we built remotely during the pandemic. Meeting Rubin and his wonderful children after they’ve lived in the home for a year, reinforced how important and life-changing this mission work is for both volunteers and recipients.
I want to commend and thank the tremendous support from our congregation for this mission work, especially while the pandemic still lingers. Despite the obstacles, ILC stepped up strong with great volunteers, financial support, donations for the family, quilts, and lots of prayers. I continue to be humbled and thankful for the generosity of ILC.
April 24, 2021
October 24, 2020
May 2, 2020
May 4, 2019
Members and friends of Incarnation Lutheran went to the outskirts of Tijuana on May 4th for our 9th House Build in Mexico with Project Mercy. Now this deserving family has a new home.
This mission was made possible by the financial support of the congregation, quilts from our Piecemakers, prayers and of course the volunteers that built the house. Thanks to everyone. It is truly an amazing project to give a family a house.
October 27, 2018
Members and friends of Incarnation went to the outskirts of Tijuana on October 27th for our 8th House Build in Mexico with Project Mercy. They built a home for the Marquez family. Now this deserving family has a new home.
This mission was made possible by the financial support of the congregation, quilts from our Piecemakers, prayers and of course the volunteers that built the house. Thanks to everyone. It is truly an amazing project to give a family a house.
For more information about Project Mercy.
May 5, 2018
3o+ members and friends of Incarnation went to the outskirts of Tijuana on May 5th for our 7th House Build in Mexico with Project Mercy. They built a home for widow Dacia, her son Andres, who both works and goes to school, and her 11 year old son, Elliott, who is autistic. The family grew when her cousin and three young children moved in with them. Now this deserving family has a new home.
This mission was made possible by the financial support of the congregation, quilts from our Piecemakers, prayers and of course the volunteers that built the house. Thanks to everyone. It was truly an amazing project to give a family a house.
For more infomation on our Mexico House Build projects.
October 21, 2017
On October 21, 2017, twenty-three volunteers from Incarnation Lutheran traveled down to the outskirts of Tijuana to build a house for the Ruiz-Gonzalez family, 28-year-old parents with three children, two of whom have disabilities.
At 6am, leaving the church, in the dark, the group headed south. They met up with the Project Mercy team leader and another group of builders, 2 robotics teams from San Pasquel and Poway high schools, at the McDonald’s just north of the Otay Mesa border crossing. Combined it was a big group of over 50 volunteers, and after fueling up with coffee and McMuffins, the caravan of 12 cars crossed into Mexico and arrived at the job site around 8am.
Work at the site began with a group prayer and some project instructions. It had been decided that instead of building the two houses as two groups, the groups would all work together to get both houses done. There was lots of work to do and the weather was warm but the two groups worked well together so by 6pm the houses were done, painted inside and out and filled with gifts and supplies brought down by the volunteers. The families were elated and so grateful. When one of the owners was shown where the key for her front door was, she began to cry saying, “The next time it rains, we won’t get wet.”
As the day was growing dark, the groups set off for the home. The ILC team headed for tacos in Tecate before lining up for the border crossing.
At 8:30pm, after a quick 30 minute wait to cross the border, the team from ILC was headed back to the church. It was a very long, productive and emotionally uplifting day. Thanks to everyone who participated and supported this project!
For more information on Project Mercy.
June 3, 2017
In the early hours of a Saturday morning in June, 30 volunteers from ILC and Project Mercy gathered in the parking lot of ILC to begin the day. The goal of the day: to build a house in Mexico.
The caravan of vehicles left the church at 6am and traveled south, crossing the border and arriving in the Fuentes del Valle (Valley of Fountains) colonia on the outskirts of Tijuana at 8:30am. After some brief instructions and a prayer the work began.
First up is organizing the materials, then one group starts painting trim, others work on cutting the wood and another group works on framing the walls. Before you know it the first wall is going up. The construction continues at a rapid rate but there is much to do including painting the house inside and out, putting in and framing windows and a door, building a loft and shingling the roof. By the time the house was complete it almost 6pm. A long day but with amazing results. All that was left was to present the owner with the keys to the new house and say a prayer to bless the family and the new house.
After a brief stop for tacos in Tecate, the group proceeded back over the border around 8pm and to home, exhausted but filled with a sense of accomplishment and happy to know that another deserving family was now in a new home.
For more information on Project Mercy.
October 15, 2016
On Saturday, Oct 15th, twenty+ volunteers from ILC and Project Mercy traveled to the outskirts of Tijuana to build a new house for the Gomez/Perez family.
It was such a wonderful day. The weather was perfect, our team was hard working and completed the job in eight hours. The family was so thankful for our efforts and all we gave them. The highlight of the day happened just as we were about to leave, when Pastor Luther was asked to baptize a 2 month old baby, the granddaughter of the homeowners. Making due with what we had on hand, Pastor performed the baptism with translation being done by a member of our group. It was a very memorable moment. View the video of the baptism.
Thank you to all the fantastic volunteers, who worked very hard all day and built a great home. Thanks also to the Piecemakers for the beautiful quilts. And, special thanks to the ILC congregation for the generous donations that made this project possible, as well as the prayers and words of support we took with us to Mexico.
For more information on Project Mercy
April 23, 2016
On Saturday, April 23rd, twenty volunteers from ILC and Project Mercy traveled to the outskirts of Tijuana to build a new house for a deserving family. Despite it being a long day (and longer border wait), everyone enjoyed themselves and gained a lot personally from the experience.
We built the house for the Hernandez family, which includes Mom, Dad, son (5), and daughter (4). We also brought them a new microwave oven, quilts, toys, and a few other items for their new home. The family, who helped us with the work throughout the day, was very, very appreciative of everything they had received. This was truly a life-changing day for this family, and we all felt blessed to be part of it.
Thank you to all the fantastic volunteers, who worked very hard all day and built a great home. We also want the thank the Piecemakers for the beautiful quilts. And, special thanks to the ILC congregation for the generous donations that made this project possible, as well as the prayers and words of support we took with us to Mexico.
Click here for more information on Project Mercy
