TKA Tecate Day 6 & 7 - The Return Trip

 Thursday morning, everyone at camp woke up bright and early so we could pack up, clean up camp, and get on the road! The line at the border crossing took only 45 minutes to an hour to get through which was a huge blessing compared to past years when it has taken up to three hours to cross. After crossing the border, the caravans stopped for lunch and then headed to Ontario, CA where they checked into the hotel and finally got to take a nice warm shower. We then headed to the Ontario Mills Mall for dinner and to hang out until it was time to head back to the hotel and get some sleep. 

Today was a long day in the car, but each caravan made back to TKA without a hitch! Everyone is excited to be home and to sleep in their own beds, but overall it has been a great week and a real blessing to be able to get out of our comfort zones in order to serve people in need. 

Tecate Day 5 - Key Ceremony

 Today was the final day on the worksites, which is always a really special and emotional day. It's the final day to finish up all the jobs, including tasks like finishing up shingling the roof, installing dry wall inside, hooking up all the electrical, and putting up the final touches. It often feels like a mad dash to finish the house. But it somehow, it always happens! 

The last day is also when each worksite gets to host a Key Ceremony with the family. Each site does it a little differently, but it often includes a few juniors and seniors who say a few words of encouragement. We also are able to gift the family with a handmade door mat and a Bible signed by each person who built the house. The highlight of the whole week is to see the gratitude of the receiving family as our students welcome them to their new home. 

Check out the photos from the day here. 

TKA Tecate Day 4!

Enjoys reading from a couple students about their experiences in Tecate thus far:

Today was the first day of working on our house at Site 4. Before we left, we learned about the family we were building for, and how they were in need of our help after their previous house burned down. When we got to the site, all there was were boards of wood and a cement floor. As the day went on, we cut and nailed boards together to create frames, and it was cool to see the walls go up and start creating what looked like a house. One of the family's sons helped us build the whole day- he also laughed at us because we were bad at using the hammers. Besides all of the building, we got to see lots of dogs around the site and said hi to other families and kids. By the end of the day, we had put up most of the house frame and gathered to pray and thank God for the opportunity to help our family and give them a new home. Today, we didn't only learn about how to build a house, but also what it meant to the families and the community around us. I'm so grateful that we have the chance to come to Tecate and serve the families in need.

-Anjalia Sassone (11)

We got a lot done on Tuesday at site 6. Today we had Jose join us  and he helped us communicate. The man living in a shack next door came over at the end of the day and prayed and shared words of encouragement for us. In terms of the house, the electrical system is up, the sheet rock (dry wall) is halfway sone and the roof is almost all shingled up!

-Thomas Park (9)

Check out photos from today here. 

Tecate Day 3

 Today, Site 3 had the chance to eat lunch and get to know the family they are building the house for. Sonia and her two daughters, Karen and Iselia, and her two grandchildren have lived on the property for 15 years. 7 years ago TKA built the daughter's family a house of their own on this same lot. But 3 years ago in the middle of the night, a fire was started by arsons and it consumed several buildings, including the TKA built home. 

Their neighbors started yelling at the family to get out of the house, and miraculously, Karen woke up, grabbed her son, and rushed out of the house. 15 minutes after the fire started, Sonia arrived but the entire building was already burned to the ground. Karen and her son suffered no injuries, but she did not have time to even grab her shoes. Her family had lost everything. 

What a blessing it was to get to know the family and their story. They couldn't express enough how grateful they were for TKA to rebuild a home for their family. 

Here's a little bit from Bella Camacho (12) on worksite 7:

Here on site 7 today, day 2, there were special moments that everyone experienced in their participation of building this house for the wonderful family. Although many confessed the intensity of the beaming sun, tired limbs, and crying laborers, it was a great experience overall. 

FYI just kidding!!! No one was crying and there was not much sun today, but everyone did work hard hence the tired limbs. 

Check out some more photos from today here. 

 

 

Tecate Day 2

Today was the first day on the worksite! The students got to learn how to use chop saws, how to frame walls, and some even began painting the exterior walls. 

Each site also got to meet the families they are building the houses for, which is always really special to get to know the people we are blessing. This year the worksite crews are a bit smaller than they have been in the past, which has helped with team bonding and camaraderie.  

A couple of students wrote a little about what their first day on the site included:

Today was the first day of working and building in Tecate and Site 5 started by meeting the family: Marcos, Cristhell, Markus (5), Jiram (3), and baby on the way. We prayed over the house in Spanish and English and then started organizing, cutting, painting, and framing. By the end of the day, Site 5 finished putting up all six walls and painted almost all the siding. We also began to get to know the children and played with them while painting together. All in all, the first day was a success and Site 5 can’t wait to continue tomorrow!

                - Mary Engelkemier (9)

Site 2 has been doing lots of painting, hammering, and heavy lifting. Many of the site’s members have hammered for the first time! Everyone today has gotten to try something new and gained a new experience. We have gotten lots of work done on the first day! 

                - Anvita Kuamr (9)

Check out some pictures from the various sites here. 

Tecate or Bust!

We made it to Tecate! 

After over 9 hours in the car, all five caravans made it safely across the border without a hitch! We are settling in nicely at camp, which the A-Team worked tirelessly the past couple of days to prepare for our arrival. 

We drove up to the sweet smell of tacos awaiting us, and reports from students in various caravans is that the best part of the day was quality time with their friends, getting to know their drivers, singing, and napping. 

We're headed to bed after a long and exciting day, and we can't wait for what tomorrow will bring!