St. Martin of Tours Commitment to Building homes in Tijuana
St. Martin of Tours, has significantly changed the lives of 8 Tijuana families by funding and helping them construct a new home. They are poor financially, but not poor in spirit, hope and determination to do better for their families. Generally, families earn between $80 and $150 a week and live in a shack that barely protects them from the weather and without any indoor plumbing. The home we build has running water, electricity, indoor plumbing, a solid roof and walls and provides life changing protection from the weather. We have had the joy of watching these families thrive after they have proper shelter. They go on and help their neighbors achieve the same dream and donate hundreds of hours to the Build a Miracle Community.
What we are able to provide is much more than a home. The future of their children includes the guarantee of education through college. The Build a Miracle Community helps 3,000 community members weekly and what we see is community of neighbors helping neighbors. There are currently 250 scholarship students and 72 college graduates in the community. Over the years several hundred St. Martin’s parishioners have worked side by side with members of the BAM Tijuana Community helping build these homes. Father Jim Poulsen was quoted in the Southern Cross regarding this experience. “This is a great way to create community, people working together that hadn’t known each
other before.” Over the years tremendous gratitude has been expressed by those we have helped.
We are blessed to be involved and have been blessed by those we have helped.
Jerry Crouch – BAM Coordinator, coordinator at jcrouch566@cox.net
House #9 – In Progress
St. Martin of Tours is fundraising for House #9. Additional funds are needed of $9,000 to achieve the goal of $17,000. It currently takes $45 to build one square foot of the home. To make a donation, make check payable to St. Martin of Tours and add “Build A Miracle” in the memo line.
In the next few months watch for updates and the opportunity in 2025 to volunteer and experience being directly involved in helping those in need. A family will be chosen for Saint Martin’s soon. Go to www.buildamiracle.net to learn about Build A Miracle (BAM) and the criteria required before a family is eligible.
House #8
In 2023 St. Martin of Tours built a home for a deserving and qualifying family. The group was able to see firsthand the need in one of the poorestareas of Tijuana, but also experienced the hope that Build a Miracle has brought to this community. After building over 500 homes for Tijuana’s poor, Build a Miracle has created a community of hundreds of people helping others achieve the same dream.
Letter edited for space:
“I was lying down and listening to the rain and feeling rain drops on my face. As I prayed to God, I told God, my sponsors are in your hands, but I still don’t have these sponsors. You, God, have the power to move their hearts and give thanks for their lives and bless them. You can multiply what they give from their heart. I also prayed to God in other ways.”
“Even though on this night is raining, and I felt like I was in bad health, I could rest and thank Good and have trust.”
“A sense of calm came over me after I prayed. Even though I didn’t know I had sponsors, I stopped worrying and thanked God for all his blessing and no longer was bothered by being wet or the wetness in my home.” – Guadalupe
What Guadalupe didn’t know, what that we were already chosen to be her sponsors and was told that the next day.
Here is her thanks to our parish: “Thank You, St. Martin’s and friends and may God Bless your lives and
Christ multiply everything you give from your hearts, firstly, the love you show for your neighbors.”
Build A Miracle – 6th St. Martin of Tours Home!
On Saturday, September 4, 2021, six members of the St. Martin’s parish helped complete the construction of another home in the El Florido Community of Tijuana. The final day we painted the inside and outside of the home, moved in new furniture, bedding and household items. We had great community support and were pleased to work side by side with four of the families we had previously helped with a home. The Barriga family was there helping from home #2, Rafael and Teresa from home #3, Isaderica from home #4 was there helping with her children and Nadelyn from house #5 was there with her sister and mother to help. Members of the Tijuana Build a Miracle Community continue to help their neighbors, friends, and strangers with the gift
of a new home. Each family that receives this gift, goes on to donate at least 400 hours of service to this community. Most of them give much more and we h
ave enjoyed working side by side with many of the same community volunteers for over the past 6 years.
With six St. Martin’s volunteers and the help of the Tijuana BAM community, we completed painting the interior of the home in less than 2 hours. We then assembled and moved in all of the furnishings, along with bedding, towels, and household kitchen items. All of the bedding for the family was provided by one generous St. Martin’s parishioner and another parishioner provided hand-made prayer quilts for each family member.
In the early afternoon, Maribel and her two children were surprised with their newly furnished home. Maribel’s husband was unfortunately in Oaxaca visiting his ailing father. Maribel and her children were truly surprised and had no idea we were there putting the final touches on their new home. There were tears of joy and gratitude from Maribel and excitement and happiness expressed by the children.
The pictures tell more words than I can express and wish to share the thanks and blessings St. Martin’s parishioners receive from these families and this community. They are always surprised that we take time out of our lives to help them. I always need to remind them that they are part of our lives and that we feel blessed to be part of their community.
-Jerry Crouch, Coordinator
______________________________________________________________________________
Build a Miracle 5th House 2020
This year St. Martin’s parishioners made generous donations to fund a 5th St. Martin’s home for a working poor family in Tijuana. Our group of volunteers was ready to help with the building of the home, but with our “’build” scheduled to begin in late March, so we were not able to participate due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Members of the Tijuana Build a Miracle Community have proceeded with building the home, but progress is slow due to the pandemic and stay at home orders in Tijuana. The Tijuana economy has been negatively impacted and many members of the BAM community are struggling to feed their families. The Build a Miracle Organization has been providing food assistance to families in need and is feeding over 80 families a week with support from the organization. The week of 6/8/20, with Father Elmer’s support and assistance, St. Martin’s donated $3,000 to these families in need. This money will feed over 250 adults and children in this community. Additional support comes from the greater community, so currently these needs are continuing to be met. Click Here to read letters from some families explaining their economic situation since April.
Letter from the Naydelin Sanchez:
Hello, I don’t know if I should say good afternoon, good day or night. Since, I do not know when you will get this letter. I deeply regret that you were unable to come here. I would like you to meet my family and I leave it to God. My name is Naydelin and I am 16 years old. I am studying 4th semester in school, I like math, I like to read one of my favorites is (Nino Pijama de Rayas), “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” I like making pastries with my sister. I want to study plastic surgery, not only because I like it, but to help people who truly need it. I would like to thank God, because this house is my mom’s dream. I want to thank God for all of you, for taking the time, and thinking of us, for helping day after day. I hope that one day I will be able to see all of you. I hope that Christ will multiply all your blessings, thank you for giving me a roof to live under. MANY THANKS! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO ST. MARTIN OF TOURS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR ALL THE HELP THAT YOU ARE BLESSING OUR FAMILY. And the rest of the BAM family a huge THANK YOU!
St. Martin’s 4th House for the Escobar Bravo Family
Good Morning and God bless our sponsor, San Martin because God put in their hearts to bless us with a home. My family is grateful to you and also to the BAM family. Likewise, thank you for the support of the community and giving us your time. Thank you for the help from all of you for making this blessing possible. What we are receiving is because of God, and that love an happiness reside in our home; this is our wish also for you, San Martin. God fulfills the wishes in our hearts. Once again, thank you, may God bless you. Sincerely, the Escobar Bravo Family
I give thanks to God and to the San Martin Group for being our sponsors y also to the Community Center CASA BAM. I am also thankful for the house they gave us, for which we couldn’t build ourselves and have been waiting for a long time. May God bless everyone of you for being part of our dream. Also, Mrs. Juliana and to Mr Cintia whom are part of making this all possible. And, also thanks to the community. May God bless the San Martin group in a huge way for their love and great generosity and for making our dream come true. Thank you! X LOVE FROM ALL (Escobar Bravo Family) Translated by Flora Funk May, 2019.
___________________________________________________________________________________
On October 27, 2018, 11 parishioners spent the day visiting all three of the families we built a home for. It was an extraordinary day. One hour was spent at each home. The below letter was from the Espinosa Villa Family.
Welcome to our sponsors from Saint Martin, this will always be your house even though you built this for us it also belongs to all of you. Thank you for all the help that you have given us, this is very significant for us our lives have changed a lot and it’s because of your support. We have no words, we are very grateful for you. You have made our life so much better, our children today will not be cold like before when they had to go to the bathroom outside to take baths. Now, when it rains they will be able to sleep without worrying that the water will come in like before. Thanks to you they will have happier days and we hope that you also will have happier days, because God sees all the good that you do for all the families, that you do not know. Above anything else we want to wish you a very beautiful Christmas and that God will bless you with good health. People like you have made a difference and will always be a part of this family. Thank you very much and “ May God Bless You”.
St. Martin’s 3rd House for the Espinosa-Villa Family
Our parish completed the third St. Martin’s home on June 9, 2018. Over 68 volunteers from the parish participated in the build. In addition to the home, we were able to donated money to replace a small beauty salon for Tere’. Parishioners, Jerry & Mary Jo donated a salon chair, a mirror and accessories! Other parishioners donated handmade quilts and purchased the bedding for the family. Parishioners spent the day painting the house inside and out and furnished the house with a stove, refrigerator, cabinets, dining room set, couch & beds.
To St. Martin of Tours Church 09-06-18
I am very content because it’s a very special day for my family and as for myself, I would like to thank our sponsors and all the people who worked and continue to work day after day.
We would like to thank the wonderful people that form family homes “BAM” because without them and sponsors, we would not have these moments. Thank you for allowing this house, this home for us, it is a great, great blessing and it is a home that we will always have. I would also like to thank you for my salon, now I have a place to work in comfort. I like to work and if I liked working before I will really like working now . I was working out of my sister’s patio under a canape. At this point we are now committed to you to take care of and maintain everything that you have given us and to let you know that your efforts will not go to waste, that it was worth it and it will keep this family united. May God bless and give you life and health so that you may continue to give more blessings to more families such as ourselves. Again, we give you thanks from our family. Familia: Espinoza Villa. Rafael, Tersa, Luis, Tania –Translated by Flora Funk
To: St. Martin Church Sunday 20-May-2018
We are very grateful, my family and I for allowing us to be a part of this project. Thank you for allowing us to feel this happiness, to see day after day as to how this household is being uplifted. Our children are very happy just knowing that they will each have their own bedroom. We are also very happy to have you here, sharing in this project with us and for being a part of our family. That with your help each day comes happiness. We are blessed to have such sponsors as yourselves. I would like to share a few words that someone said to me yesterday. The words she said to me “You are very lucky” I laughed and answered “I am not lucky, I am blessed with my family, for having sponsors, who came together to change our lives.” When I said goodbye to this person, I turned back to look at my house that is being built and all I could say at that moment “Thank you God for hearing me” I knew you had plans for me and my family, I never thought it would be so marvelous! I am very grateful for building my home, honestly from my family, I thank you very very much. May God Bless each of you.
ATT: Rafael, Tere, Luis, Tania Fam. Espinoza Villa
St. Martin’s 2nd House for the Ramirez-Barriga Family
On May 25, 2017, St. Martin parishioners completed a second Build A Miracle home for the Ramirez Barraga family. Read by family members and translated by Flora Funk to St. Martin volunteers
GRATEFUL
First of all, thank God for each and everyone of you from St. Martin’s Church for making this miracle possible and for extending your hearts with desire to help, for being very special people. You will live in our hearts forever. There are no words of gratefulness to express the love that you have awakened in our family. Thank you fore each grain of step, this great miracle. May God bless each of you and that this will multiply what you have given us. We love you and you will always be in our prayers. God bless each step that you take and may you always prosper in your journey.
One grateful heart from God and his instruments of God for blessings.
Att: Familia Ramirez-Barriga
St. Martin’s 1st Home for the Bartolo Family – March 13, 2016
To The St. Martin Group:
Hello, good morning. Hope that you find yourselves in good health, same as our family. Since we received our house, we have been very happy and also very appreciative. Thank all of you and God for sending us such great angels that you are. Thank you for making a reality of our dreams. now, my son says his house is very beautiful. We have begun to do many things, such as saving a little money to build a porch and fill in the yard since we now have the space. My husband will be taking his exam to enter school at the community center and my son will also be attending first grade. The baby has started to crawl and says “mama” and “papa”. We hope that you will come to visit soon and that you will join us when we Baptize the baby in November. We don’t have the date, but hope that you will be able to join us. Thank you for our home that you have given us, we are very grateful and very happy. We are so lost for words. We will always keep you in our prayers and in our hearts. We love you very much and you are always welcomed and well received in our house. Our house is your house, we hope you visit to play, laugh, and talk, even if only for a short time. God Bless St. Martin Group, with much appreciation to you from our family.
Zuniga Bartolo
Big strong hug from all of us.
Learn more about Build a Miracle