Casas por Cristo Trip

The trip happened between June 23rd and July 7th, although it started many months earlier as we began planning and getting students to go on the trip. Students got excited quickly about the opportunity to go to America and road trip across the US and build a house for a family in Mexico. It was such a great trip. There were so many wonderful things that happened. The students grew in community and grew in their faith journeys. Canvas also grew a little bit on this trip. It was Canvas' first mission trip and it gave us momentum for trips in the future.

We flew into Atlanta on Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday we showed the English people around Atlanta. Taking them to some of the top tourist attractions around such as The CNN Center, The World of Coke, a Braves Game, and the Camp Creek Shopping Center. Early Saturday morning after about 2.5 hours of sleep for most people (not for the drivers, don't worry moms) we took off for Mexico. We stayed Saturday night in Arlington, Texas before arriving in El Paso Sunday Night. Monday morning we crossed the border into Mexico and the building began that day. In three days we finished the house. On Thursday we crossed back into El Paso, and the next day started making our way back to Atlanta, with stops along the way in San Antonio and New Orleans, before arriving back in Atlanta on the 4th of July. We finished off the trip with festivities such as fireworks in Centennial Olympic Park, climbing Stone Mountain, and shopping at Atlantic Station.

Some highlights of the trip .....

- I knew the students were really effected by what they were seeing when we drove into Mexico and none of them were talking. As we drove past the pallet houses on bumpy dirt roads the silence really showed that they were thinking about what they were seeing. Claire and Sarah were speechless and tearing up when they saw the quality of life. Seeing their love and compassion grow for the people of Juarez even over a few days was awesome.

- When we finished building the house we had a dedication ceremony. It's a chance for Casas to share the gospel with the family and why Casas exists. They also invite the build teams to share a thought with the family. Naomi and Sarah gave the keys to the family. As they spoke to the mother and spanish it brought tears to the mothers eyes and so many of us cried tears of joy as well. It was incredible.

- We made journals for every student and throughout the trip we had specific times set aside for journaling and we gave them questions to write about. The girls absolutely loved journal time and wrote every moment of the trip down! We also gave them a psalm during one of the journal times, and a group of a few of them were talking about it, pointing to specific verses, and journaling.

- Rafa showed up on site the second day, and immediately began jumping in and helping us. Rafa had a house built for his daughter by our Casas por Cristo leader, Pete. So when Rafa heard that Pete was back in the neighborhood building another house he wanted to come and help. Rafa wanted to give back to an organization that gave so much to his family. In our discussion groups we talked repeatedly about his attitude of gratitude, service, and sacrifice. I think he was an inspiration to a lot of our students.

- Favorite all time moment was our last night. We discussed what we had gotten out of the trip and what "nuggets" we would take home. Naomi shared that she had not felt like herself all year long, and that throughout the trip this was the first time in a while that she felt like herself. Fielder said he would take home the importance and power of really giving your time and life to working toward a cause. Kim said she realized we would never know the extent of how Canvas is affecting people... she said us being in England made the students want to come to Mexico, and them coming to mexico has given a family a new house, and we will never know the extent that the house will change the family and their community.

There is so much more to say about the trip, but I think this paints a pretty good picture. Here are a few photos:

Hannah, Simish, and Mike at the World of Coke

Alli and Mike on the worksite

About to start pouring cement.

Chicken Wire!

Group photo in front of the house

Cattleman's Steakhouse in El Paso, TX

Shopping in Atlantic Station

At the pool, on the last day of the entire trip.

Canvas House Update

Before we left for the Mexico trip in June, we packed all of Canvas up into crates that are currently in storage until we move into a new place. We found a property last spring that we thought would be great in the event that we had to move. Well, as it turned out we did have to move and we are hoping to sign the official lease paperwork for the new property next week. While the new place is not as big as the old Canvas House, it is still in a great location. We hope to be spending the next 2.5 months getting the house ready for the Fall term, which begins in October. We have been affectionately calling the new building a "fixer upper" as it will require a good bit of work to be usable, but we are looking forward to it.

As difficult as it was for us to let go of the Canvas House on Tiverton Road, the possibilities of the new building have brought much hope and excitement to our team. God has consistently provided for Canvas and we fully believe that the ministry will thrive in our new space. We have felt your prayer and support in so many ways throughout the building situation, and we are so grateful to have supporters like you! More updates on the building to come as we move into the next few weeks.