After you have read all of these FAQs and you still have questions, just send us your questions using our question box on the right side of the web page.
How is this trip organized? The idea of building homes in Mexico was started in 1980 by the group Amor Ministries of San Diego. For several years they have been organizing the building of homes in Tijuana, Tecate, Juarez and Puerto Penasco, Mexico. They organizes the building of homes daily in Tijuana and do two trips a year to Tecate, Juarez and Puerto Penasco. The Puerto Penasco trips are held annually on Veterans Day and Presidents Day weekends. Amor is responsible for all of the organization and delivering of building materials. Church and civic organization actually build and pay for the homes. Each group is responsible for organizing its group and providing its own meals, transportation, etc.
Do we need passports? Good question. As of today, you do not need a passport to drive to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Amor feels that by February 2008 we will likely all need one for this trip. The requirement is still up in the air. This is an important issue so we will stay on it and keep you informed of the changes in the law. We would strongly suggest that you get it if you don't have it and then you won't have to worry about it. (Check out our passport information here).
Where do we stay? We camp at a campsite established by Amor Ministries. There will be more than 1,000 people with other churches and organizations at the camp from all over the country. Here is a link (the "Satellite" or "Hybrid" links show it best) to an aerial map of Puerto Penasco that shows the location of the camp and to one of the homes that was done last year.
What is at the campsite? Not much. If you looked at the link above, there is not much at the site. Each group is given a designated area for its use for parking, tents, RVs, etc. There is no drinking water or electricity at the campsite. Water is hauled to the site for bathing. Campfires are allowed.
Are there showers and bathrooms at the campsite? Yes. There are outhouses and male and female bath areas.
Where is the campsite? The site is located approximately five miles outside of town on the main highway. The entrance to the camp is down a one mile entrance road. It takes approximately 3 1/2 hours to drive there from central Phoenix.
Are tents and camping supplies provided? No. Each person and organization is responsible for its own supplies and equipment. As a group we will be providing breakfast and dinner for everyone. If you have any outdoor cooking equipment - Bring it! Each person will be responsible for his or her own sleeping bag, tent, flashlight, camp chair, etc. We will hand out a list of recommended items to bring.
Is the campsite secure during the day? Yes. Amor has employees at the campsite at all times to keep out anyone not part of the trip. Each car is checked-in at the start and given an ID tag. If you have any concerns for valuables either don't bring them or take them with you each day to the home site.
Is the campsite near the house site? The house site will be a 15-20 minute drive through town from the camp. Home sites are scattered throughout Rocky Point.
What food am I responsible for? You will be responsible for any personal snacks, bottled water, sodas and lunches at the home site. No alcohol is allowed at the campsite.
Can we bring our RV? Yes. Each group is given a designated area within the camp. We need to let them know a few weeks before how many people and RVs will be coming. Keep in mind that there is no power, water or sewer hook up.
Can we bring our dog? The campsite does not allow for pets of any kind.
Who can attend? Parishioners, friends, we welcome everyone. To complete the home in three days, we will need at least 25 people. Be prepared for three days of physical work. We are strongly suggesting that children come with at least one parent. Families are encouraged to come. It is our experience that kids quickly become bored, tired and uninterested in the work. Take that into consideration if you do plan to bring small kids. Remember also the home sites are in the poorest areas of Puerto Penasco. Around the home site there can be a lot of trash, broken glass, sharp metal, etc. It is also very easy for a child to wander off.
I don't know anything about construction can I still come? Absolutely. If you can hammer a nail, you have enough experience.There are people within our group who have built these homes before and we will have experienced people who can help guide us. And finally, Amor assigns a "project manager" to our group that will help us during the process.
Can students get service hours? It is our understanding that junior high and high school students can receive service hours for the work that they do on this trip. Please confirm that with your school.
If I bring my kids what will I need to show at the border? If you are traveling with your child and your spouse is not going, you will need to fill out an affidavit that allows you to take your child into Mexico. We will be providing that form and the other required information needed at a future meeting or check the Forms page of the site. Also, review the passport section of the website to make sure that you meet those requirements.
What tools should we bring? Bring any hand tools (hammer, saw, gloves, tool belt) that you would like. Many of the larger and specialty tools for the stucco and concrete work will be provided. Ladders, small scaffolding, etc are always helpful and come in handy. If you have any specialty hand tools bring them along. If you don't have any tools don't worry. We will have extra tools for you to use.
What tools are not allowed? No power, cordless or air tools are allowed. We are only allowed to bring one cordless drill to install the front door.
Why do they not allow for power tools? The idea is that we are building a house the same way that Jesus would - With our hands. We are not trying to build this home as fast as possible. You get a strong sense of accomplishment when you complete the home knowing that you did it with only your hands.
How do we get the supplies to build the house? All of the materials will be delivered to the home site a few days before our arrival. All of the items are purchased in Mexico by Amor.
Does the family help? Absolutely. Most families applied for their new home more than a year ago. This will be an extremely special time for them. They have been told that they will be getting a house this weekend and they will participate as much as they can. It is not uncommon to have neighbors and other family members help us.
Can we bring anything for the family? Yes. Bring clothing, food items, household goods, etc. We will get specific details about the members of the family as the weekend gets closer.
Who pays for the building material? Actually, we do. Each organization pays for the materials needed to build their home. We have a budget of $5,000 that will cover the cost of the material, tools rental and pay for all of the food items. Our hope is that anyone that goes on the trip does not pay (donate) unless they choose to.
How can people donate? Please click here to get more information on donating and to learn more on how people can contribute.
What will the weather be like? In February 2007 the weather was pretty close to perfect. We had clear comfortable days, cool nights and no wind. We really won't know until the week of the trip. We have put up a weather link on the web page.
Do we have any free time? Yes. We will try and leave the site around 3:00 PM or when the work is done for that day. At that point you can do anything you would like. Head into town. Go to the beach.
How are we arranging the travel to Rocky Point? It works best if we limit the number of cars that we bring. We will arrange carpools based upon the number of people and when people can leave. Every car traveling into Mexico will need to have Mexican insurance. The diocese also requires forms to be completed by individual drivers. The forms will be posted on the site and provided at a future meeting.
I can't go for the whole time is that OK? Come down for as long as you can.
When does it start? We can start on the project on Thursday, February 14, 2008. Because it is a three-day weekend, traffic to Rocky Point will be worse on Friday afternoon and again at the border crossing on Monday. The goal will be to finish the home by Sunday mid-afternoon.
What are the materials used in the home we are building? Traditionally in Mexico homes are built out of masonry block. For speed and ease of construction, the home that we are building is built with 2x4's on a slab foundation and then the exterior walls are finished with stucco. The roof is made of plywood, roofing paper and asphalt shingles.
What is the home like that we are building? The home is 22 feet by 11 feet and is divided into two rooms (11'x11'). There is one exit door and two windows. We do not install any drywall, insulation, plumbing or electrical.
If you have questions that were not addressed, please use the question box on the right of the page or email us.
