Pay it Forward

This is the fourth in a series of stories about How I Spent My Winter Vacation.  If you're just checking in, start at the first.

I wanted to tell you about Jesus and Angie, and why they got the equivalent of winning the Mexican lottery.  They are the sweet couple that got the big house built by the Larson and Cottam crew. 
An organization called the Starfish Difference does a lot of work in Agua Prieta.  It is a small non-profit that does fundraising for needed food and materials, processes and distributes donations, and has a service club at the high school in Douglas, AZ.  They arranged and prepped the sites and helped choose the recipients.  This is where I had my biggest concerns going in, and also where I found the most satisfaction.

The lot where we built the big house is actually owned by a small Catholic church down the street.  Thank goodness, because the church let us use their bathrooms.  Recently, the church built a cute little playground.  Jesus, who has worked a little in construction, was the only person who showed up every single day and stayed late to finish each step of the process.  He and his wife have two small children, are from the neighborhood, work really hard to scrape together a living, and live with other family members in a tiny house.  When the build opportunity came up, the pastor selected Jesus and Angie because having them around would be an asset to the community.  What a statement of character!

Part of the deal with the church is that the family cannot have any felony or drug convictions, agree to continue to support the community, and cannot sell the house.  If they move, then someone else can live there.  Also, although the house was warm and inhabitable when we left, it was far from finished.  The two bedrooms were only framed in, the ceiling insulation needs to be covered, and there is not yet running water or any kitchen at all.  Jesus was there every day working alongside the crew.  He will have more sweat equity in the house as he finishes additional projects as need and resources permit.  His family and friends will help him, and in turn he will use his knowledge and experience to help others in the area as they are able to build.

Angie and her sister made us a delicious lunch on the last day. Jesus gave a little speech he must have practiced many times in English. He apologized that although the lunch was not what they would like to serve, it was the best they have.  He said in all the time he worked as a framer, he never dreamed he would frame up his own house. He thanked us for making a dream possible.  He said the house belongs to his family but also to us and to the neighborhood.

Jesus and Angie feel that this house is such a blessing.  They look forward to hosting church and neighborhood gatherings and raising their family in the house.  Eventually, their kids' friends will come over and have a safe, drug-free house to play in.  Jesus can keep an eye on the park he helped build, and the kids who play there will point to his house and say "I have mad skills.  I helped build that house."  The whole project is built on the principle that a community is stronger than a group of individuals, and that those who find goodness can pay it forward.

Maybe not everyone has the time, resources, good health, and desire to spend a week building a house.  But would you join the community that makes it possible?  If your house has heat, remember you are blessed.  If your yard has grass, then you don't live in Agua Prieta.  If you got one thing for Christmas that you don't need to survive, you have luxury.  If you have trouble deciding which coat to wear, remember those who don't even have one.  Consider donating $1 for each gift in your mountain of presents, or the equivalent of one month's heating bill.  If being safe, or warm, or fed, has a value to you, donate that.  I won't ever see the money, but I have already seen the good it does.  Join me in paying it forward by donating to the Starfish Difference Organization.
*heidi

The Starfish Difference

small time organization, big time impact

You can also see more stories and pictures of this build project at http://www.starfishdifference.com/stories.htm