Rueda Mendez - Summit Church (Orange Team)

Date Build: Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Ornela

Age: 38 years old

Job: Hamburger Vendor

Salary weekly: $170

CHILDREN:

Mia Victoria - 7 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

My name is Ornela Rueda Méndez, and I am a single mother to a beautiful 6-year girl, Victoria Rueda Méndez. We currently rent a home, and outside of it, I have a small hamburger stand. A business I started three years ago to have enough time to take care of my daughter, as I do not have anyone to help me in this regard. When Victoria started primary school, we moved out of a shared housing situation, and I was compelled to start my own business. Thanks to God, I have been running it for three years now. However, I made the decision to save money to buy a piece of land because my greatest wish is to provide my daughter with a home of her own, a place where she feels safe and can proudly say, "This is my house." Victoria knows that I am paying for a plot of land, and she often asks when we will have our house. Unfortunately, the current economic situation has made this process very difficult. Every time I try to save money to start construction, unforeseen expenses arise, forcing me to spend what little I have managed to save. Whether it be medical expenses or car repairs. I have been renting this same place for over seven years, where I also run my business. The landlords have been very kind and supportive, as they rented the property to me even before I became pregnant. My daughter was born in this house, and because of that, they have shown us great affection by not increasing the rent. I am incredibly grateful for this blessing, but my dream remains the same: to provide my daughter with a permanent home where we can have financial stability and peace of mind. Currently, my priority is to gather the necessary funds each month to continue paying for the land. However, between rent, utility bills, and daily expenses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to start construction. Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to make any progress toward achieving this dream. Asking for help is not easy for me. However, on this occasion, I want to thank you for the work you do. While material things are not the most important in life, they are essential to living in peace. Thank you for bringing stability to vulnerable families. Right now, I feel stuck, and despite my efforts, I have not been able to move forward. My daughter Victoria would be incredibly happy with a home of her own. She understands how important this is because she sees how responsible I am with our payments. In fact, when she has lost a tooth, she has said that the money left by the "Tooth Fairy" is to help pay for the land. That kind and selfless gesture from her touched my heart deeply. My greatest wish is to provide my daughter with security and a place where she feels a true sense of belonging. If it is within your means to help us in this matter, we would be eternally grateful. If, for any reason, it is not possible, I still deeply appreciate your mission and pray that God continues to bless you so that you may help many more people. I entrust my situation to God. Thank you very much for the beautiful work you do.

Castañon Fonseca - Cardiac Casa (Red Team)

Date Build: Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Imelda

Age: 55 years old

FATHER: Baudelio

Age: 54 years old

Job: Painter

Salary weekly: $160 US

CHILDREN:

Angel Gabriel - 16 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

We are a family of three: Baudelio, Imelda and Ángel Gabriel. We have been together as a couple for 17 years. Our son, Ángel Gabriel, just turned 16 and is currently in high school. He was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six. Since then, we have incurred ongoing expenses for psychological and, currently, psychiatric consultations. We mention this because we depend on a single income, since the mother cannot work, although she would like to, since Ángel Gabriel requires constant supervision. With this income, we cover rent, utilities, school expenses, food and other necessities, which has been challenging, but we trust that God has always been with us. Right now we are going through a difficult situation. We have always lived in rented homes, and two months ago we were asked to leave our current home. We feel a lot of pressure because the last time we paid rent, we were asked when we would leave. The truth is that we have nowhere else to go and cannot afford to pay more rent. Because of our financial situation, we have not been able to build our own home because we also have to make timely payments on the land where we hope to build our home. If we are more than three days late, we are charged additional penalties. We have prayed a lot and trust in God's mercy and promises. Owning a house has always been our dream and hope. We need a house because we have no other place to live and because we believe in God's promises and know that He has something good in store for us. We greatly appreciate your attention to our situation. We will continue to pray for you and hope that our request will be blessed. May our Heavenly Father richly bless you. Thank you very much.

Segura Ramos - Master Electronics (Yellow Team)

Date Build: Saturday 05th - Sunday 06th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Esmeralda

Age: 23 years old

FATHER: Miguel

Age: 31 years old

Job: Security Guard

Salary weekly: $185 US

CHILDREN:

Angel - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

We are the Segura Ramos family, and we would like to share our story with you. Before we owned our land, we rented a house. The house had no bathroom and no electricity, but the landlord wanted to increase the rent. One day, someone told us that we could buy a piece of land in installments. We struggled to raise the money for the deposit. As soon as we got the land, we moved in. My wife, our eight-month-old baby, and I started our new life in a small wooden room without a roof. To protect us from the sun, my husband brought a piece of plastic from his workplace. We slept on a mattress on the floor, always afraid that a poisonous animal would bite our baby or us. The damp soil attracted many scorpions, tarantulas and snakes. One day, while shaking out our clothes, a scorpion stung my finger, and on another occasion my wife was stung on the foot. We had no electricity and slept in total darkness, surrounded by dangerous animals. We asked a neighbor to share the electricity, explaining that we had a baby and feared for its safety. The nights were difficult, especially when there were strong winds. From the floor, we watched in fear as our small room shook, and the plastic roof flapped noisily, afraid the wind would tear it apart. At the time, I was working in a painting company called "Pintura Profesional de Jando". My wife and son spent their days in the heat because our plastic roof made the small room unbearably hot. One day I saw some walls for sale and negotiated to buy them in installments. With the first payment of 1,000 pesos, I took them to our land and installed wooden beams to reinforce the structure. Although we still had no roof, we slept under a tarp. When the rainy season arrived, I tried to put a protective sheet on the roof. A strong gust of wind ripped off part of the roof. I shouted desperately for my wife to grab our baby, who was sleeping on the mattress. We huddled against the door, holding each other and praying for God to protect us. Then we went to our neighbor's house for help, feeling that the wind was going to sweep us away. When the storm passed, everything was soaked: our clothes, shoes and food. Learning from the experience, we moved back to the first small room we had built, which held up better. But water still leaked in, and we had to put out buckets to catch it. The floor stayed wet, and our mattress was soaked. My baby was always sick with coughs and colds, as was my wife. In my job as a painter's assistant, we didn't get paid on rainy days. Sometimes I went weeks without an income and had to buy food on credit from a local shop, repaying my debt when I received my pay check. Later, I found a new job as a security guard. Since then, I have never missed a day of work, no matter what the weather or how sick I feel. God knows how many times I have felt unwell and still gone to work. He understands our struggles. Even now, when it rains, water leaks through the roof, and we have to put out buckets to collect it. The wind makes the whole structure creak and shake, and we fear it will collapse again. We've cemented the floor to keep out scorpions, and although we haven't seen any lately, we recently found a snake that had got in through a hole in the floor. There are lots of rats in our room, digging holes in the dirt. Sincerely, Segura Ramos family

Ramos Guzman - PV Sheepdogs (Blue Team)

Date Build: Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Elizabeth

Age: 36 years old

Job: promoter

Salary weekly: $120 US

FATHER: Oscar

Age: 37 years old

Job: gas station worker

Salary weekly: $135 US

CHILDREN:

Jonathan - 12 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hi dear team Homes of Hope, Warm greetings and blessings to you. My name is Elizabeth Guzmán Audelo, my husband is Oscar Antonio Ramos Cruz, and our son is Jonathan Fernando Valencia Guzmán. We are a family of three who dreams of having a home, but the high cost of living has made it impossible for us to build one. My husband and I have been together for six years, though we have only been married for two months. When we met, I was a single mother, and over time, we decided to start a family. For years, we lived with my mother and then rented, as we could not afford to buy land. Thanks to family efforts, we finally acquired a lot, but we lack the resources to build a house. We currently live in a small room that was once a taco stand, unable to move elsewhere due to high rental costs. Four months ago, I started working to support my husband, as his salary alone is not enough to cover rent, land payments, our son’s education, and other basic needs. We reach out to you with hope, seeking an opportunity to be considered for a housing program that will help us improve our quality of life. We sincerely appreciate your time and willingness to support families in need. God bless your lives so that you may continue to bear fruit and be a blessing.

Hernandez Zamora - Calgary West Rotary (Green Team)

Date Build: Friday 04th - Saturday 05th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Estefani

Age: 22 years old

FATHER: Alexander

Age: 22 years old

Job: plumber

Salary weekly: $150 US

CHILDREN:

Alexis - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

To whom it may concern at Homes of Hope, I send you my warmest regards. My name is Estefaní Zamora Hernández, I am 22 years old, married, and my family consists of my husband, Alexander Hernández Calixto, and our son, Alexis Tadeo Hernández Zamora. Our current situation is not ideal, but I am grateful to God that my family and I are in good health, have a roof over our heads, and food on our table. Despite our challenges, I do not lose hope and have faith that our situation will improve. We were not fortunate enough to be born in a place with access to job opportunities, so we had to leave our hometown in search of a better future. That is how we arrived in Tijuana, where we have been living for almost two years. It has been a difficult journey with many challenges, but we have always felt God's support. When I heard about Homes of Hope, I felt immense joy and hope. I dreamed of the possibility that my son would finally have a place where he wouldn’t be cold and could have his own space to play. I was happy for him, but also for my husband and myself, as I suffer from asthma, and the cold makes my condition worse. Thanks to God, my husband has a job that allows us to continue paying for our land. However, we cannot afford to build a larger and warmer home to protect ourselves from the cold. For this reason, I turn to you with the hope of accessing a housing program that will help us improve our quality of life. I have faith in God that one day we will have a dignified home, and I do not lose hope that it will become a reality. I sincerely appreciate your time and attention.

Ramirez Ramirez - VHA/ Concentrus/ TSC (Red Team)

Date Build: Saturday 05th - Sunday 06th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Agripina

Age: 42 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $130 US

FATHER: Roberto

Age: 45 years old

Job: company delivery driver

Salary weekly: $145 US

CHILDREN:

Alejandro - 17 years old

Alberto - 15 years old

Daniel - 15 years old

Carlos - 12 years old

Cesar - 10 years old

Roberto - 8 years old

Ana - 6 months old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hi dear team Homes of Hope, I send you my warmest regards. My name is Agripina Ramírez Hernández, and I currently live with my husband and children. We pay $150 per month for our land, but due to financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not been able to pay it off completely. At that time, my husband was the only one working, but unfortunately, he was laid off due to being considered vulnerable. I reach out to you with respect and hope, seeking support during this difficult time. We have learned that your organization provides housing assistance, and for this reason, I am requesting your help. In January, we suffered the loss of a family member, which led to unexpected expenses for transportation, preventing us from saving money to build a home for our children. Currently, we have only one room and a kitchen, so some family members sleep in the living room. I am responsible for seven minor children, and despite our efforts to save for an additional room, my husband's and my income barely cover our daily expenses. All of my children are attending school at different levels—high school, middle school, and elementary school—along with my six-month-old baby, which represents a significant cost in food, diapers, transportation, and other necessities. We understand that resources may be limited and that many families are facing similar or even more critical situations. However, with faith and hope, I turn to you with the request to access a housing program that can help us overcome this period of instability and allow us to have a decent home. Despite our difficulties, we have prioritized the timely payment of our land, as it represents our heritage. I sincerely appreciate your time and attention, hoping with faith for a positive response, for which my family and I would be deeply grateful. May God bless each of you and your incredible work in helping those in need.

Castellanos Morales - Calgary West Rotary (Blue Team)

Date Build: Friday 04th - Saturday 05th, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Maria

Age: 35 years old

FATHER: Jose

Age: 32 years old

Job: construction worker

Salary weekly: $200 US

CHILDREN:

Fatima - 2 years old

Jesus - 10 months old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hello dear Homes of Hope team, I hope you're fine well. Below I share a little of our history. In 2021, I had to travel to Tijuana, Baja California, in search of better job opportunities, as there were no employment possibilities in our home state, Villahermosa, Tabasco. My goal was to earn an income that would allow us to improve our quality of life. At that time, my wife, María del Carmen Morales Méndez, remained in Tabasco, three months pregnant with our first daughter. Later, we decided that she should also travel to Tijuana so we could start a new life together. When we arrived, we faced great difficulties, living in a construction site and sleeping on wooden boards. With effort, we gradually acquired the essentials, and in 2023, my wife became pregnant with our second daughter, Fátima. It was a complicated pregnancy, full of illnesses and difficulties. One night, she began experiencing severe pain and bleeding. Without financial resources, I sold the few tools I had to help her. Despite everything, our daughter was born healthy, and my wife recovered. We continued living in precarious conditions, but with effort, I managed to regain my tools and keep working. A year later, God blessed us with our second son, Jesús, although his pregnancy was also high-risk. Later, my employer allowed us to move into a small room on his property, but our resources remained limited, as our savings had been spent on basic necessities. Some time later, I found work as a construction worker in a house. The owner, seeing our situation, started giving us clothes, toys, and sweets for our daughter. One night, my wife gave her a piece of chocolate from one of the packages. Shortly after, our daughter suddenly started feeling unwell. Since we had no money for medical care, we called our pastors for spiritual support. The next day, I managed to borrow money so my wife could take our daughter to the General Hospital of Rosarito. However, due to her humble appearance, she was mistreated and neglected. Eventually, they conducted a blood test and informed us that our daughter had tested positive for drugs. Immediately, DIF and the police intervened. We were given toxicology tests, which came back negative, but an investigation was still opened. At first, tests on the sweets we had been given came back positive for drugs, leading to my arrest and interrogation. However, later, the results changed, and the sweets were declared negative, leaving us deeply confused and powerless. DIF inspected our home and determined that it was not suitable for our children. Throughout the process, we were victims of discrimination and mistreatment. Finally, at the hospital, my wife was handcuffed, and our daughter was taken away from us. For three months, we searched for our daughter without receiving any answers. Finally, we were informed that she was in a DIF shelter. During that time, all our toxicology tests continued to come back negative, proving our innocence. With great effort, we managed to buy a small plot of land and build a room, hoping to bring our daughter back home. With the support of a lawyer, we presented all the necessary evidence, and after nine months of struggle, a judge declared us innocent. Just three months ago, we were finally reunited with our daughter. Currently, I have a stable job, but we are facing significant debt due to legal and medical expenses. The house we live in is still borrowed, and with the arrival of the cold and rainy season, our living conditions become even more difficult. My greatest wish is to build a decent home for my children, where they can grow up safe and happy. My wife is fully dedicated to caring for our children. We learned about this program through a Christian church. With humility, we turn to you in the hope of being considered and receiving your valuable help. May God bless you for the wonderful work you do through Homes of Hope.

Julian Benitez - Tiburon (Yellow Team)

Date Build: Monday 31st, March - Tuesday 01st, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Zuleyma

Age: 29 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $125 US

FATHER: Kleiberth

Age: 31 years old

Job: mechanic

Salary weekly: $150 US

CHILDREN:

Mateo - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, My name is Zuleyma Benítez Hernández. My husband is Kleiberth Julián Cervantes, and our son is Mateo Julián Benítez. For a long time, I thought I would never be able to have children, but God placed wonderful people in my path, and two years ago, He blessed us with our little Mateo. My husband and I will forever be grateful to our Heavenly Father and promised to one day give our son a home. Six years ago, we moved to Tijuana from a small town near Acapulco, Guerrero. My husband and I met in 2014, dated for four years, and decided to marry in 2018. We have now been married for six years. I grew up in a humble home. My mother was a single parent with four children, and because of our financial situation, I had to start working at a young age to help support our family, which prevented me from finishing my studies. However, my mother always taught me the importance of faith in God and gratitude, even when all we had to eat were tortillas. That is why, when we moved to Tijuana in search of a better future, I brought my mother with me. I will always be grateful to her for everything she did to raise my siblings and me. My husband has only one brother, and his mother lives in southern Mexico. Unfortunately, his father passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since arriving in Tijuana, we have lived in rented spaces. At first, we rented a small room, but when our baby was born, we had to find another place because the room was damp and cold, causing Mateo to fall seriously ill. He had to be hospitalized due to a virus he contracted, but thanks to God, he recovered. After his birth, I had to stop working to breastfeed him as recommended by the doctors to help strengthen his health. This meant that my husband had to cover all expenses on his own, forcing us to move to a more affordable rental. However, we later discovered that the house was infested with bedbugs. Despite regular fumigation, the infestation remains a health hazard, especially for our baby. We wanted to move again but could not find an affordable alternative. A year ago, we decided to start paying for a piece of land. To help with expenses, I returned to work since my husband’s income alone was not enough. Thankfully, my beloved mother is still with us, and she takes care of our baby while we work. We also support her, as she can no longer work. This month marks one year since we started paying for our land, but due to high costs, we have not been able to build yet. Currently, we are buying wood little by little to build a small room, as staying in our current home is not a long-term option. On Christmas Day, while giving thanks to God for His blessings, I saw a post about your organization on my phone. I felt it was a divine sign and decided to give it a try. When I read that you would reach out to me, I was overwhelmed with emotion and cried, trusting that God had a purpose. When I received your call, my coworkers hugged me and cried with me, knowing the struggles my family and I have endured. We are deeply grateful to God for this opportunity to have a home of our own and provide our child with a safe and dignified place to grow. We will forever be thankful to God and to you for bringing joy to so many families. I hope that one day I can give back and join your mission, helping build homes for those in need. May God bless your wonderful work.

Monrroy Olivarria - Tiburon (Grey Team)

Date Build: Monday 31st, March - Tuesday 01st, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Sabine

Age: 23 years old

FATHER: Kevin

Age: 23 years old

Job: construction worker

Salary weekly: $175 US

CHILDREN:

Valentina - 5 years old

Oswaldo - 3 years old

Marta - 1 year old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, My name is Sabine Monserrat Olivarria Zúñiga. I am 23 years old and currently live with the father of my children. We have three kids, and until now, we have been living in a room rented to us by my father within his house. I am seeking your support because our living space is extremely limited. Although it is a house, we only have access to one room. The kitchen area is shared with large dogs, and it is always dirty because the animals relieve themselves there. Despite my efforts to keep it clean, the environment is not suitable for my children. Because of this, when my partner is at work, I spend most of my time at my mother-in-law’s house, as my kids do not like being in our current space and cannot play freely. The only person we could rely on for support was my mother, but sadly, she passed away from cancer three years ago when I was eight months and two weeks pregnant with my second child. On January 20th, my father asked us to vacate the room because we were unable to pay the 1,500-peso rent, as my partner is currently unemployed due to an ear condition. My mother-in-law has allowed us to stay at her house temporarily while we find a stable place to live, but due to our difficult financial situation, we are unable to afford rent at this time. For this reason, we turn to you with the hope of receiving support to have a home of our own, providing stability for our children above all else. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this assistance and for the possibility of receiving a home. Thank you very much. May God bless you.

Morales Aguirre - Tiburon (Purple Team)

Date Build: Monday 31st, March - Tuesday 01st, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Nancy

Age: 36 years old

Job: street seller

Salary weekly: $125 US

FATHER: Miguel

Age: 44 years old

Job: street seller

Salary weekly: $125 US

CHILDREN:

Melany - 9 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Good day, We would like to introduce ourselves: my name is Nancy Aguirre Arroyo, and my partner is Miguel Ángel Villalobos Román. We are both originally from the state of Guerrero, in southern Mexico, as is our daughter, Melany Citlali Morales Aguirre. We want to share with you the challenges we have faced since arriving in this beautiful city of Tijuana. Like many families, our main motivation to move forward is our daughter. However, we have encountered great difficulties, especially in securing a decent place to live. Without family in this city, we only had each other and the urgent need to find a place to sleep. At first, we rented a small trailer in very poor condition, infested with cockroaches. It was a heartbreaking situation that filled us with helplessness and tears. However, we understood that every storm passes, and with effort, we could overcome these hardships. Although these memories are painful, they have given us the strength to keep moving forward. Fortunately, we have never gone hungry, as we have always been hardworking people. In the beginning, we slept with just a couple of blankets, and although at times we felt like giving up, we never did. Thanks to our faith and hope, and through great effort and dedication, we have been able to improve our situation little by little. However, we have not yet been able to build a suitable home where our daughter can enjoy a safe and comfortable living space. It has been very difficult for us to make progress in construction since, as you may know, we are still paying for our land while also covering all the necessary expenses for our family. For this reason, we place our trust in God and in your Homes of Hope team, hoping to receive your valuable support. If for any reason this is not possible, we sincerely appreciate your time and consideration. Warm regards from the Morales Aguirre family.

Villareal Perez - Tiburon (Teal Team)

Date Build: Monday 31st, March - Tuesday 01st, April 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Mavi

Age: 30 years old

FATHER: Sergio

Age: 30 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $140 US

CHILDREN:

Adriel - 9 months old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope team, My name is Vianey, my husband’s name is Iván, and our son is Adriel. We are originally from the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. I have been living in Tijuana for the past ten years, while my husband arrived two years ago. We met here and started our family. Adriel is seven months old, and he is our first child. Thank God, he was born healthy. We currently live with my mother, who is 63 years old and a homemaker. In total, there are four of us in the household. At the moment, I am not working because I have no one to take care of my son. My mother, due to her age and health condition, is unable to do so. When Adriel was born, I decided to resign from my job to take care of him and give him the time and attention he needs. My husband works at a factory in the evening shift, from Monday to Friday, and sometimes on Saturdays when there is overtime. Sundays, his only day off, are spent running errands and doing grocery shopping. For the past two years, we have been paying for a piece of land, hoping to build our home. However, due to the expenses related to our baby, such as diapers, formula, and other necessities, along with the monthly land payments, our savings have not been enough to start construction. So far, we have managed to build the septic tank, level the land with machinery, and fence it. This is why we are seeking your support to build a house and finally move onto our land. Our greatest wish is to provide our son with a space of his own where he can grow up safely and happily. This dream holds special meaning for me because, since I arrived in Tijuana, I have never had a home of my own. For a long time, we rented, until, through great effort and hard work, I was able to save enough for the down payment on our land. However, paying both rent and the land’s monthly installment has been a challenge. Having a house would allow us to focus solely on the land payments, eliminating rent expenses and bringing greater stability to our family. Additionally, it would give us the opportunity to become independent and start a new chapter together. We trust in God and hope that, through you, our prayers will be heard. We deeply appreciate your time and any support you can offer.

Talavera Flores - Addicted to Life (Purple Team)

Date Build: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Emerita

Age: 27 years old

FATHER: Victor

Age: 27 years old

Job: junkyard worker

Salary weekly: $125 US

CHILDREN:

Dafne - 5 years old

Geraldine - 1 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope, It is a pleasure to greet you. My name is Víctor, and I am reaching out to you in the hope of receiving your support, as I do not have the financial means to own a home. My weekly salary is 2,500 pesos, which is barely enough to cover my family's basic needs. Because of this, building a house has been very difficult, especially since I have two young daughters: Dafne, who is 5 years old, and Geraldine, who is 1. Four years ago, my wife and I decided to purchase a piece of land to stop renting or relying on borrowed housing from relatives. We are currently renting a place that is affordable, but it has many issues, such as humidity and the lack of a bathroom, making it hard for us to live comfortably. After learning about your organization, we decided to apply in the hope that you would hear our needs and help us build our home. We would be deeply grateful for your support in making this dream a reality. May God bless you.

Cortez Rendon - Addicted to Life (Green Team)

Date Build: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Yuridia

Age: 36 years old

FATHER: Nestor

Age: 36 years old

Job: mechanic

Salary weekly: $225 US

CHILDREN:

Victor - 15 years old

Angel - 5 years old

Yunuen - 3 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope Team, Greetings. We are the Cortez Rendón family, consisting of my husband, Néstor Amaury Cortez Moreno, our three children: Víctor Amaury (15 years old), Ángel Yurem (5 years old), and Yunuen (3 years old), and myself, Yuridia Rendón Abarca. We emigrated to Tijuana in search of a better quality of life and financial stability, but we have faced many challenges that have prevented us from achieving our dream of owning a home and providing our children with a safe place to live. Currently, my husband is the sole provider for our family, as I dedicate myself to caring for our children and managing our household. Our situation has been further complicated by our children’s health conditions. When our son Yunuen was born, he was diagnosed with Choanal Atresia, a rare condition that prevented him from breathing properly. We had to travel to Mexico City to seek specialized medical care. He underwent multiple hospitalizations and procedures, including a tracheotomy at just eight days old and corrective surgery at two months. It was an incredibly difficult period filled with treatments, constant travel, and significant emotional and financial strain. By God's grace, he overcame his condition and is now with us. Additionally, our son Ángel Yurem was diagnosed with Level 2 Autism at four years old. We have worked tirelessly to provide him with the necessary therapies, though financial limitations only allow for sessions every 15 days. Our goal is to help him develop better social and communication skills and adapt to his surroundings as best as possible. We have done everything we can to move forward and have managed to acquire a plot of land with great effort, even taking out loans to cover the initial payment. However, high rental costs and other expenses have made it impossible for us to begin construction on our home. Receiving your support would make an immense difference for our family, as we could stop paying rent and redirect those funds toward our children’s medical and therapy needs. Our greatest wish is to provide them with a stable home where they can play freely and grow without worries. We trust that God is guiding us and has led us to you in the hope of receiving your support. We sincerely appreciate your time and the opportunity to share our story. May God bless you abundantly.

Garibay Rodriguez - Redeemer (Orange Team)

Date Build: Friday 28th - Saturday 29th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Lidia

Age: 30 years old

FATHER: Jesus

Age: 36 years old

Job: fisherman

Salary weekly: $125 US

CHILDREN:

Jesus - 12 years old

Valeria - 7 years old

Coral - 5 years old

Aaron - 5 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hi dear Homes of Hope Team. My name is Lidia Liliana Rodríguez Lepe, and I am a mother of four children. On January 23rd, we lost all our belongings in a fire that destroyed the house we lived in. We are now without a home. For this reason, I sincerely ask for your help in obtaining a house for my family. I am deeply grateful for your consideration, and with faith in God, I trust that we may receive your support. May God bless you all.

Cruz Marrufo - Addicted to Life (Blue Team)

Date Build: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Ambar

Age: 26 years old

FATHER: Idelfonso

Age: 23 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $170 US

CHILDREN:

Ambar - 8 years old

Angel - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

My name is Ámbar Marrufo, and my husband is Idelfonso Cruz. We have two children: Ambar, who is 8 years old, and Ángel, who is 2. We are very grateful to be part of this selection process for a home. We are requesting your support to provide our children with a safe and stable home. For a long time, we have had to pay very high rent or live in borrowed spaces. Currently, we are staying at my mother-in-law’s house in a room she has lent us. We have faced many hardships. A year and a half ago, we managed to acquire a piece of land, but due to our financial situation, we have been unable to build a proper home. We are still paying the monthly installments for the land, along with school expenses, milk, and diapers for our youngest child. We dream of having a home where our children can grow up in a secure and stable environment, without experiencing the difficulties we have endured. We trust that God has led us to this point, and we remain hopeful that we can achieve this goal.

Robles Roman - Bethel/Sonrise CRC MA (Orange Team)

Date Build: Tuesday 25th - Wednesday 26th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Frida

Age: 26 years old

FATHER: Jose

Age: 30 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $150 US

CHILDREN:

Estrella - 9 years old

Estefany - 7 years old

Cristopher - 6 years old

Camila - 8 months old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

My name is Frida Román. I am a mother of four and the wife of Ángel Robles. I am writing to share our situation and request support in obtaining a home. For years, my husband and I rented different houses, constantly facing the risk of being asked to leave. I worked to help with expenses, but it meant leaving my children alone for over six hours daily. Eventually, I had to quit when my eldest daughter told me strangers had been knocking on our door. Due to financial struggles, our landlord asked us to leave. My parents lent us a room, where we have lived for a year and a half, but we understand they want their space back. We tried to get a home on credit but did not qualify, so we purchased land with monthly payments of $3,680 pesos, which we are still paying. A year ago, I unexpectedly became pregnant with our fourth child. Although it was difficult at first, we are grateful for her. However, our financial situation remains challenging. My husband covers basic expenses, but we cannot build on our land or find a rental due to having four children. For this reason, we sincerely seek support from "Homes of Hope." We need a home where our children can grow in security and stability. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be considered.

Mendez Trejo - Crossing Students MA (Purple Team)

Date Build: Wednesday 19th - Thursday 20th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Judith

Age: 38 years old

Job: factory worker

Salary weekly: $110 US

CHILDREN:

Monica - 19 years old

Jenifer - 15 years old

Juan - 13 years old

Gustavo - 2 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope Team and Ministry, My name is Judith Méndez Trejo, and I am the mother of four children. Five years ago, we moved to Tijuana in search of a better future, as the father of my children was abusive. With great effort, I managed to acquire a piece of land so that my children could have a roof over their heads and a safe place to live. However, due to my limited resources, I have not been able to make much progress in building our home. I deeply appreciate the work you do, and I pray that God blesses your ministry, granting you the wisdom and resources needed to continue your mission. For my children and me, having a home would be the fulfillment of a great dream—a place where we can live in peace, security, and happiness. I ask God to touch your hearts and allow you to make this dream come true. May God bless you abundantly.

Hernandez Gonzalez - Bethel/Sonrise CRC MA (Pink Team)

Date Build: Tuesday 25th - Wednesday 26th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Andrea

Age: 29 years old

Job: manicurist and lash artist

Salary weekly: $125 US

CHILDREN:

Angel - 15 years old

Alexander - 13 years old

Emmanuel - 10 years old

Andrea - 7 years old

Owen - 3 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Dear Homes of Hope Team, My name is Andrea González Orona, I am 29 years old, and I am the mother of five children: Ángel Jesús, Alexander, Emmanuel, Andrea Camila, and Owen Dariel. I am reaching out to you with the hope of receiving your support in building a home, as I am currently living on occupied land without legal ownership. I cannot afford to pay rent because rental prices are too high. Additionally, I have had ongoing conflicts with a neighbor who constantly accuses me of being an intruder, which has led to frequent visits from the police, making my situation very difficult and unstable. Recently, I separated from my partner, a possessive person who continues to harass me, preventing me from living in peace. My greatest wish is to leave this situation behind and provide my children with a home of our own—a safe space where we can live peacefully. I have not been able to build a house due to the high costs, and my income is limited. I work applying eyelash extensions and nails, which is how I support my children. However, my job is unstable—some weeks go well, while others I do not get any clients. Currently, I earn approximately $2,500 pesos per week, which I must carefully manage to cover all family expenses. Raising my children alone has been a great challenge, as their fathers do not provide any financial support, and I bear full responsibility. My only wish is for my children to have their own place to live without the fear of being evicted. I would be deeply grateful if you could help us make this dream come true. I know that my children and I would be incredibly happy to have a safe home. Even if it is not possible to receive your support, I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be considered in this process. May God bless you today and always. Thank you very much.

Diaz Baños - The Crossing (Red Team)

Date Build: Friday 28th - Saturday 29th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Yesenia

Age: 33 years old

FATHER: Brayan

Age: 35 years old

Job: table builder

Salary weekly: $240 US

CHILDREN:

Aylin - 17 years old

Emilet - 13 years old

Antony - 7 years old

Noah - 9 months old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hello dear team Homes of Hope, We are writing to share a little bit about our family. We are a family of six members: four children: Noah, who is 9 months old; Anthony, 7 years old; Emilet, 13 years old; and Aylin, 17 years old. My husband, Brayan, and I, Yesenia. Previously, we lived in Tijuana in an informal settlement, a high-risk area, where we suffered from flea bites. Because of this, we worked hard to buy a piece of land. Thanks to God, we were able to make the down payment for the land where we now live. As soon as we could, we moved to the land in a trailer. We were very excited about the change. My husband and my uncle built the pit for the bathroom. We began looking for schools, and now our children study here. It has been difficult to build a house because my husband is the only one working to support the family. I take care of our baby and drive the other children to school. Our expenses are higher due to transportation, as the schools are far away. My oldest daughter studies in Tijuana, and when she enters university, we will have to work even harder. In March 2024, when we took my daughter to high school, we didn’t know how flooded the streets would be due to the rain. On the way, we saw several cars stuck, some of which belonged to your organization. They handed us a brochure, and we decided to sign up. This year, you contacted us, and we were very happy because we finally had hope of getting a house for our family. Our trailer has been damaged by the wind; the roof leaks, and we use a tarp that sometimes we have to remove because the wind blows it away or tears it. Inside, some parts are made of wood, and others are made of gray plastic. Sometimes my husband and I feel like we can't go on, as despite our efforts, we haven’t been able to build a better home for our children. It has been difficult, but we remain positive and motivate each other. We would like to be one of the families blessed with a home. For us, as a humble family, we are grateful for everything God gives us, and we also thank you as an organization for the happiness you bring to every family. We hope to get to know each other better.

Aleman Cota - The Crossing (Blue Team)

Date Build: Friday 28th - Saturday 29th, March 2025

FAMILY INFORMATION

MOTHER: Mariela

Age: 32 years old

FATHER: Isaias

Age: 44 years old

Job: mechanic

Salary weekly: $285 US

CHILDREN:

Mateo - 11 years old

Isamar - 10 years old

LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:

Hello dear team Homes of Hope. We are the Alemán Cota family, composed of four members: father, mother, son, and daughter. We live in Rosarito, in my parents' house. My name is Mariela, and I have been married for 11 years. Currently, only my husband works, and he is a mechanic. About two years ago, we had the opportunity to make a down payment on a piece of land, which we are paying off monthly. However, we have not been able to start building because my husband, Isaías, has two daughters from a previous marriage who are in university, and he is financially supporting them. We are currently living in a house that is lent to us, with the agreement that we can stay until our older son turns 12. He is 11 years old, and despite the time that has passed, we have not been able to start construction. For this reason, we are requesting a house, as we would like to have our own home where our children can invite their friends, have a comfortable place, and enjoy the freedom to play. Honestly, I never considered applying to this organization, as it seemed like a distant dream. However, we heard about you and decided to give it a try. Last month, we planned to apply for a loan, but we did not, as we are waiting for God's guidance. Now, we are here, hoping that this request will be considered. We deeply appreciate everything you do for families. May God bless you greatly.