2008 Lent Build in Mexico

About 200 volunteers from the United States will be working in two locations near Mexico City during the Lenten season to build 20-25 homes. Some groups will be building in the city of Amecameca and surrounding communities southeast of the city. Others will work in the municipality of Santiago de Anaya, which is northeast of Mexico City.

Lent is the 40-day period before Easter (excluding Sundays). It is a great opportunity to reflect upon our relationship with God and to put the needs of others ahead of ourselves. It is in this spirit that many people of faith have joined hands across borders to celebrate a Lenten season that is Christ-centered by serving families in need of housing.

The first Habitat Lent Build was organized in Brazil in 2007 under the theme “40 Days of Solidarity.” The theme for the 2008 Lent Build in Mexico is “Building, Uniting Celebrating.”

Building
Teams from the United States chose one of seven weeks of Lent (Feb. 6 to March 22) to work alongside partner families and local volunteers to help mix mortar, lay block and construct flooring using hand tools.

Houses will be about 526 square feet with two bedrooms and inside baths.

Uniting
Visiting and local churches are invited to pray and contribute labor and financial resources for the project.

Visiting groups provide two-thirds of the funding (about $8,000) and one-third of the labor through short-term mission teams using Habitat’s Global Village trip process. They build Monday through Friday.

Local groups provide one-third of the funding (about $4,000) and two-thirds of the labor using Habitat Mexico’s local volunteer program.

Celebrating
Churches will worship and praise God together during the arrival weekend, on Ash Wednesday, in daily devotions and during Holy Week. Good Friday is a national holiday and a day of rest in Mexico.

Join members of the Lent Build teams in daily devotions from Prayers from the Heart, a collection of 40 Scripture based meditations, written primarily by participants in the build.

The Lent Build team members will have the opportunity to engage in long-term relationships. By praying for one another and by working together to find housing solutions, they will no doubt be witnesses to life-changing ministries.

If you are interested in information about future Lent Builds, contact the Church Relations department via e-mail churchrelations@habitat.org or call (800) 422-4828, Ext. 3481 or (404) 962-3481.