House Building

One of the most rewarding activities that your group can participate in is the construction of a home for a needy family in our community. If this interests you, please review the information below to understand the process from start to finish. We would love to partner with you in providing a home to a deserving family!

Goals
Step 1: Sight/Family Selection
Step 2: Family’s Responsibilities
Step 3: Pairing a Family with a US Group
Step 4: US Group’s Responsibilities
Step 5: Project Start
Step 6: Project Closing

Goals:

  1. Building homes to assist local families in their efforts to care for their families and thus keeping families together.
  2. Assist visiting groups in their efforts to serve in Baja and have a fulfilling experience in giving back. It’s important to us that the groups leave here excited about missions, service, and giving out to others, as we believe we are all called to do.
  3. Outreach to the community by using Christ’s example of service to others. These projects are very public and open the doors share the gospel and show Christ’s love to others.

Step 1: Site/family selection

A small committee from our church in La Mision selects one of the many potential families in need of a house. We are looking for families with a desire to get ahead on their own and a willingness to work, not just those looking for a free house. Church membership is not a prerequisite. Priorities are given to families with children, specifically single moms, but occasionally new couples starting out are helped also. The orphanage and church make it very clear to the families that we can’t promise a house, it depends on God's provision and the visiting groups partnering with us.

Step 2: Family’s responsibilities

The family is responsible for buying the home lot (either outright or through payments) and then building the foundation and slab ( typically 20”x30”). The family is also responsible for all utilities (septic tank, water, power etc.) Occasionally we can find other groups and/or builders from our local church to assist with labor and some materials. The family is also responsible for all finish work not completed by the visiting group.

Step 3: Pairing a family with a visiting group

Once the family has completed the slab, Door of Faith schedules the group and starts coordinating materials, group housing, etc. Most groups stay at Door of Faith during the house construction project. If a visiting group has a date in mind before the slab is ready, we will help the family to have everything ready in time for the group's arrival.

All efforts will be made to provide the group with details about the family before they arrive.

Step 4: Visiting group’s responsibilities

We will e-mail a rough house-plan to the group, they will put together a materials list and e-mail it back to us, we will get local prices for the items. This list varies a lot depending on items the groups might get donated (windows, doors, etc). At the groups discretion we can have any or all of the materials on site when they arrive. All materials purchased in Mexico must be pre-paid. If all items are purchased locally the cost is approx. $5,000 depending on exchange rate, time of year, and variable wood prices in Baja.

If the group wishes to bring materials from the US, we can explain the process for transporting materials across the border.

Minimally we hope the groups provide the basic “shell” of a home: framing, windows, doors, roof, exterior sheeting (T1-11). The standard floor plan is 600sq ft. /three bedroom, one bath. Electric, drywall, plumbing, and all additional interior finish work are at the discretion of the group. Depending on size and skill level of the group we recommend minimally a long weekend to finish the project, a week is preferable. The groups are responsible for any and all tools needed, if for some reason power is not available at the sight, a generator can be provided.

Step 5: Project Start

The group provides all labor and oversight at the job site, whenever possible the family will be present and helping with the visiting group to build the house. Door of Faith will have someone available for translation, questions, and to generally host the group.

Step 6: Project Closing

At the completion of the job we strongly encourage a small ceremony to dedicate the home including the family, the visiting group, and some representatives from the local church. The time is spent presenting the keys to the family, praying over the family and house. These traditionally have been very moving experiences for all involved.

We at Door of Faith, working together with our local church, have been building homes here in La Mision for many years. We’ve seen many lives changed through these projects: the lives of the families getting the houses, the lives of the groups assisting, and lives in our town. We consider it a privilege to play a small role in facilitating these projects. If you would like reference from other groups that have experienced these projects please let us know.