Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills recently completed another Mexico mission trip to Puerto Penasco.

This time 16 members of the church made the pilgrimage to Rocky Point where the group built a small home for an impoverished family.

“We don’t believe Christianity was ever intended to be just a Sunday morning event,” said Don Lawrence, the church’s pastor.

“We believe it is a way of life. This mission trip is one of the many ways we have an opportunity to live out our faith.

“Those who go on the trip work very hard. They accomplish a lot in only three days. But the harder the work, the greater the blessings. It truly is an inspiration to participate in this activity.”

Adding to the challenge of building the home was a continual sand storm.

“In addition to trying to keep the sand out of your eyes, nose and mouth, it was a real challenge to stand the walls up in the high winds,” Lawrence said.

“Four or five guys would have to hold the walls up until we could secure them in place. But stopping the work was not an option. I was very proud of our team as they persevered and did a great job in completing the project.”

Christ’s Church works through One Mission for its Mexico Missions projects. One Mission has helped organize hundreds of church work groups to build homes for the poor in Rocky Point, Mexico.

In building the two- room facilities, the workers pour a concrete floor (all mixed by hand), frame the walls and roof, apply two coats of stucco (also mixed by hand), apply roof covering, and hang doors and windows.

“The homes are not much more than what we’d call a storage shed here in Fountain Hills,” Lawrence added.

“But for those who have been living in cardboard boxes or dwelling in old abandoned, rusted out cars or living on dirt floors in makeshift shanties, these little homes are like a castle.

“The family who now lives in this new home has been living in a dilapidated building with a dirt floor, no running water, no electricity and no phone. It’s humbling while at the same time gratifying to know that you can make such a profound difference in someone’s life.”

Christ’s Church has been building homes in Mexico for 28 years.

Lawrence estimates that with this trip they have built somewhere around 75 homes for destitute families during that time.

Those who participated in the trip this year included Gordon Pittsenbarger, Jerry and Tammie Rothermel, Charlie Fox, Maria and Sylvia Castillero, Pete and Julie Meshkowitz, Cheryl Cavanaugh, Bill Stewart, Steve Carder, David and Laurie Pittsenbarger, Scott and Joelle Julien and Lawrence.