The Rio Grande spans nearly the entire length of the US/Mexico border. Although you can often view the colonias of Mexico from just across the river in America, the two are literally worlds apart. The United States provides government assistance, quality schools, adequate health care, and the chance at the "American Dream."

It’s certainly a different story across the border. The opportunities for families and individuals are limited by government and lack of opportunity.

Minimum wage hovers around $5.00 a day. With such limited income, it is almost an impossibility to secure adequate housing. Families are forced to construct makeshift homes made of cardboard, pallets, and other accessible materials. With the extreme temperatures of a desert climate, highs exceeding 100° in the summers, and nighttime lows in the 20’s and 30’s in the winter months, these shelters place the families at risk of heat and cold related health problems.

The need for insulated and secure housing is great, and the likelihood of families ever earning enough money to purchase or build a home is slight. With little to no government or social service assistance, families must look to outside assistance. Casas por Cristo was founded to not only take care of this physical need, but to address spiritual needs as well.

Click here to view images.

More so than just addressing the physical needs of the families in Juarez and Acuña, we are fully aware that there is a spiritual need as well. Although Mexcio is predominately Catholic, there is an ever increasing Protestant presence. Casas por Cristo works with the local Protestant church to help meet the needs of their communities. With so many families living in extreme poverty and inadequate housing, the pastors have found that these physical limitations hamper their ability to impress that there is a God who loves them enough to take care of their needs. We aid the local church in helping to remove some of these distracting physical barriers to allow them to have a greater opportunity to reach out for their spiritual needs.

Each family who applies for a home must apply through a local pastor. This process allows families to have a link in the Christian community long after the team that built the home has packed up and returned home. Each family is presented with a Spanish Bible and a letter urging them to seek out their local pastor, read their Bible, pray, and attend a local Christian church. Our desire in building homes is to aid the local Mexican church to better reach the members of their communities.

For additional opportunities, download our Evangelism Guide.