7 Years old with a bright future ahead

"I love Homes of Hope, because for my family, it wasn't just a home, it gave us the opportunity to develop."

Hello, my name is Mike and this is my story. On September 28, 2003 my parents received a Home of Hope. I was 7 years old and the oldest of my three siblings. We had moved to Tijuana from Southern Mexico with the intention of going to the United States of America as a family, but my parents decided not to risk crossing illegally, so we began to settle into life in Tijuana.

We were able to buy land but the living conditions were extremely difficult: our house was made of tarps, making the nights very cold, and we had no water or electricity. Despite all of this, we were happy to be together as a family. After a few months of living this way, my mother heard about Homes of Hope and a miracle happened, we were approved to receive a home!

Even though I was young at the time, I will never forget the moment of dedication and the moment when we first entered our new house with the smell of fresh paint. There was such a sense of a beautiful new beginning. God had moved on our behalf and provided a home for us through the generosity of the team.

I am currently 23 years old and am now full time staff with YWAM San Diego/ Baja. I have been able to help to build more than 30 Homes of Hope and counting. This past weekend, 16 years exactly from the day my family and I received a Home of Hope, I had the opportunity to build a house for another beautiful family- a single mother Blanca, and her two children, Axel and Erick.

Axel is 7 years old, the same age I was when I received my house. I never imagined that I would be here, 16 years later doing the very thing that changed my life, for other families. The feeling of being on the other side of the story is something I can't describe and I am thankful each day for the privilege of serving in Homes of Hope!