Written by: Teddy Greenlee ’22
During the second weekend of Thanksgiving, 15 Indiana University Bloomington students embarked on a life-changing experience in Ensenada, Mexico. In just two days of building on-site, we were able to provide a home to a well-deserving family of five facing financial hardships.
The build was headed by my cousin, Jackie Lindsey, a senior at Indiana University, and myself, Teddy Greenlee ’22, a junior at the university and a proud member of Phi Kappa Psi. We coordinated with the Homes of Hope organization, a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) San Diego/Baja ministry, which has been sponsoring homes, community centers, and even skateparks in Ensenada since 1990. Their mission aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing secure housing, which can set families ahead economically by eight to ten years and promote long-term stability. Jackie and I have over fifteen years of experience due to our family’s involvement with the organization, and we wanted to share the life-changing impact with our friends and brothers in Indiana.
When it comes to the facts, over 52% of the Mexican population lives below the national poverty line. Additionally, 20% (5.4M) of homes are considered inadequate for housing, with 42% (2.2M) needing to be replaced entirely. Providing adequate shelter gives families confidence in their economic situation while improving various aspects of their lives they previously ignored, such as education, health, and spirituality. Jackie and I have seen these actions and impacts come to life, such as recipients being able to send their kids to college or explore careers and occupations abroad.
Through the independent fundraising of the fifteen participants on the build, we raised an incredible $40,645 for the trip. This money covered the building materials, a shopping trip for new clothes and appliances for the family, and food, travel, and accommodations for all the student volunteers. With the extra money fundraised, we could also buy the family a water tower with daily service and an electrical pole with solar panels for in-home electricity. After that, we still had several thousand dollars left, which we put toward helping to sponsor another build in the future.
The total trip lasted four days, with our team arriving at the San Diego airport on Friday morning. From there, we departed via bus towards Ensenada – the whole trip, including the border cross, takes about two and a half hours. When we arrived in Ensenada, we checked in at Hotel Cortez. We went out for an authentic Mexican dinner next door, where our YWAM host, Esther, informed the group of expectations and what to expect over the next three days. After eating, we called it a night to prepare for our first day on-site! Wake-up is typically around 6:30 AM, with the bus picking us up for breakfast at 7:00 AM. Breakfast is served at the YWAM Ensenada city center, where you can meet other volunteers participating in builds and builders who work full-time for Homes of Hope; about three other homes were being constructed when we went.
We were building for the family about thirty-five minutes from the base and in a more mountainous region. From downtown Ensenada, known for its destination as a cruise ship hotspot and the invention of the margarita, to the city outskirts and slums, the difference is truly remarkable. We would pass entire families living in a singular room and houses built of cardboard on our daily drive to the site; it is a truly humbling sight and reminds you of your blessing back home. The family we built for, the Zazueta Avila’s, did not fare much better. Their original home consisted of scrap metal and wood frame, patched with fishnet and duct tape, an actual shanty shack by definition. Yet, there was an overwhelming feeling of hope; the three children, Dulce (5), Juan (3), and Angel (1), all had smiles radiating from their faces, ready for their next adventure and to meet some new friends. The parents, Miguel and Rubi, were equally as jovial and prepared to get to work on the 20X20 concrete slab that now lay in the middle of their property. After gathering around to discuss safety procedures, divide into building departments, and say a prayer over the house, we began our work. It was the most productive team of builders I have worked with on a home. We were already putting the walls up by lunchtime on the first day. By the end of the day, we had the roof truces in place and plywood to support a ceiling; the painting group even started painting drywall inside.
When we arrived on the second day, we were pleasantly surprised to find that Miguel and Rubi, who could not sleep over the excitement of receiving a new house, decided to stay up and finish painting the inside. While the rest of the team finalized the house, fellow brother Ethan McLeod and I took the Zazueta Avila family shopping. Despite being my sixth build, it was the first time I had the opportunity to go on a shopping trip, and it was enormously impactful. The bus ride allowed us to get to know the family better and understand their interests and story. For example, we discovered Miguel was a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox and played baseball in his local men’s league, while Rubi loved to bake and sell her sweets in town. The three children had spunky personalities and enjoyed Disney, biking, and soccer.
During the shopping trip, we bought the family groceries, clothes, appliances, toys, and many hygiene essentials. When we returned to a completed house and had lunch waiting for us; the builders loaded the house with gifts and food from the store while we ate with the family. After fully stocking and locking up the house, we had the key-gifting ceremony and let the family go in the house themselves for the first time. We then knocked on the door, became their first house guests, and brought them a housewarming gift of a group picture and a Bible.
After completing the ceremony and giving our well-wishes to the Zazueta Avila family, we returned to campus for dinner to share our experiences and takeaways from the trip. It is a life-changing experience for those who receive a home and a wildly impactful experience for those who volunteer on the build. You quickly realize those you are building for are more alike to you than you may have ever realized. Whether it be their love of family, friends, and community or the constant drum of the local children beating the soccer balls across the dirt, we share more similarities than differences with those we are building for. I am assured all fifteen participants returned home with a new sense of gratitude and yearning to be more active in the community.
“The biggest way the Mexico build impacted me was being able to see poverty first hand. The build site was 30 minutes away from a tourist destination and was unlike anything I had ever seen. Being able to watch the lives of the family transform before our eyes was a great blessing. I think that the perspective I gained from the trip is invaluable and will benefit me for the rest of my life.”
– Joe Wind ’22
The lasting effect of participating in a Homes of Hope build cannot be merely put into words or summarized in an email; it is an impact one needs to experience and engage with personally. Seeing how the other half of the world lives is truly eye-opening, and my mission is to share that unique experience with as many as I can. That being said, I hope to make this trip a tradition of Phi Psi, and I would love the alums’ support and involvement. We are shooting for another Ensenada trip next year, but YWAM bookings look a little full and we may have to push it back until 2026. Stay tuned for more details!