Love Without Borders

Not to provide excuses for myself, but part of the reason for my long delay in entries lies in a mission trip that I was just extremely lucky to be a part of. Which leads me to my first organization which I love very much-Amor Ministries.

Amor Ministries was founded over 30 years ago by only two people. Gayla Cooper and Scott Congdon who were merely strangers who traveled to the same orphanage in Tecate, Mexico and fell in  love with helping the children, the environment at the orphanage, and each other. They were soon married and founded Amor Ministries. 

If you have any recollection of the Spanish language you will know that the name of their company is directly related to their mission and foundation: Love. This is what their organization provides day in and day out-unconditional love for one another, and the strangers that the employees and volunteers meet. Amor gathers and supports groups of volunteers from all over the United States, and leads them into Tecate and Tijuana, Mexico to build houses for families whose living conditions are less than adequate.

During this week in Mexico, trip participants are pushed to their limits and surpass their personal boundaries as they live simply in tents, without their luxuries they experience at home. They sleep on the cold ground, they mix concrete, they saw wood, they use bathrooms they never thought even existed and learn about their friends, their faith, and themselves. 

The house may be simple, and might hold some imperfections, but what happens through Amor Ministries in the span of 5 days is incredible. Going into the week participants know that by putting all of their hard work and their whole hearts into this house that they are changing the lives of the deserving families. After a concrete slab, simple walls, a sturdy roof, and two

 windows are built the tables seem to turn. At the end of the week, the door is installed, and as keys are handed over and tears roll down faces, most trip takers will agree that their lives have been changed forever. 

A new perspective is put into place when individuals learn that their hard work and faith has just saved someones live, and the magic of love is something that is not something the Mexican families needed, but everyone on the trip has received. At the end of the week, a house has become a home, a door of opportunity to a loving family has been opened. 

Amor Ministries has changed the lives of many, and has hope for the future of more volunteers who want to implement the same feelings of love and hope to families forever.

For more information please visit Amor Ministries for testimonies, photographs, and more history.