by Joe Colliate
This past Christmas I wanted to build a house in Mexico for a poor family. Why? Because last year when I did this with my church I saw how happy and loving the family was as we built their little house in Tijuana. The Christian Science society I attend was a sponsor for this mission trip.
When we got to the building site high on a hill overlooking San Diego, California, I met the youngest member of the family, Isaac. He calls himself Zak. I asked him what he got for Christmas. He said, “Nothing, because my parents don’t have any money.” And so I felt like that was why we were there, so that we could build a house for him and his family for Christmas. It was our Christmas present to them.
This family of six was living in a kind of a wooden box on a dirt floor with no windows. I thought it was horrible that they could see the million dollar homes just across the border, but they lived only in space the size of my kitchen. I thought this was really bad. So I liked the idea of correcting this unfairness.
The family was right there building with us the whole time. It took us two days to build the little house. The family also made us delicious lunch—homemade tortillas on a open fire grill, grilled chicken, and this vegetable-fruit drink. Zak walked around the construction site and served each of us on a wooden tray. There were 26 volunteers all together coming from as far as Australia and ranging from 12 year olds to grandmas.
This experience taught me a couple of things. I learned that everyone can work together no matter how old you are or where you come from or how rich or poor you are. I learned that this Mexican family was poor and did not have a very good house before we got there, but they did have Love, God, and care and a close family. That makes me feel they weren’t really poor at all.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Joe, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful gift of giving to others! The joyful and unselfish work that you and your church friends are doing is a very inspirational example for us all! People around the world will read your good report and be motivated to ask themselves how they too can reach out more to help others.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
This is wonderful!!! Thank you for telling us what you’ve done and how you see it. I especially love your last line.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
great that your church was able to work on this stuff together. thanks for sharing.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
What a wonderful Christmas gift you and your church gave. Thanks for being a light in your community, and thanks for sharing.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your story Joe! I love how your church took its “Superstructure of Truth and Love” outward and blessed this family. So awesome.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I am very proud of you and your church for helping those that needed help!
You may have just found out that there really is a Santa in all of us!
The Spirit of giving.
Hug your family for me!
I Love you.
Uncle Dee
January 24th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Hi Joe, what a wonderful gift of love and spirit that you gave to this family at Christmas time. I know they will always remember you and thank you and your Church for the home they now share.
Much Love and Hugs,
January 25th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
What Church or Society was this part of! What a progressive idea!
January 25th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Great job Joe! That’s a real generous thing you did for that family. Good job with the writing of the article also.
January 25th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
You know what Joe? You just gave me something too. I got to read your mind with these words and your heart-felt experience allowed me to experience it with you. Thank you so much for sharing your gift. Okay now, gotta go, my glasses are getting all fogged up. Your a good boy and what a good man you’re going to be someday. See you this summer!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Joe,
Thanks for writing this up. I think we can all do more selfless things like you did. You’ve inspired me.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Beautiful article, Joe! We are so proud of you and the rest of our team for letting your light shine so brightly! You are our hero! Love from your Sunday School class, Christian Science Society of San Juan Capistrano
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:31 am
Joe, I just “happened” across your article tonight — and wow, it was so neat to read all your precious thoughts about that precious family. They must be thinking about you and thanking God for you every day in their pretty new house!
Talk to you tomorrow at church, okay? Am looking forward to the video you and your group are presenting after church, showing us the Christmas you gave to Zak and his parents and siblings.
You go, Joe!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Oops, I got the date wrong. It’s NEXT Sunday you’re giving the presentation on your home-building mission. I’ll be there!
You rock, Joe!