A few months ago, I received a mass email from a group of friends inviting volunteers to head south of the border to build a home for a destitute Mexican family.

I was told by others, who had already done this, that I would most certainly have a great time.  Building a house is pretty cool, especially when you've never done it before.

Now, please don't think I am typing this to boast about my volunteer efforts.  The truth is that it was a four day camping vacation for me.  I was just thrilled to be camping in the salty Mexican air, campfires, Corona beer, and all that good stuff.  So this was fun for me and a 6-person family was provided a sturdy new home.  Everybody wins.  It was really awesome.

On the picture displayed to the left, I am about three days without a shower.  (There is really no place to bathe.)

But I wanted to share something with ActiveRain:  As a mortgage broker, I felt extra "connected" to this project and I think you might too.

So I thought I would write a little bit about it and maybe interest some others as well.  For over ten years now, I've worked as an Arizona-based mortgage broker.  I don't know if this is actually accurate, but let's say 50% of my clients need to buy a home (the rest are refinances).  Sometimes it's challenging.  Sometimes I have to tell people-- that I personally believe deserve a loan-- that there is just no way they are going to qualify.  I hate that.  It's not about the commission, I just really feel bad for some of my clients.

So I think more so with me, specifically due to my type of work, providing a brand new two-bedroom, at no cost to the family, was especially satisfying to my soul.

There are two organizations that I know of that build homes for the poor.  There may be many more.  There is Habitat for Humanity, which is a big-time deal and the original.  (I have a friend flying to India right now with Habitat.)  There is also Amor Ministries.  They work through your church.  All you have to do is organize a group of about 20 or 25 people from your church, contact Amor Ministries, and they'll send you on your mission-- usually in Mexico from what I understand.  Churches of every domination were at the campsite...and people from all over the country.  The guys next to us were from Seattle.  We only drove 3.5 hours from Phoenix.

Take a good look at the "homes" behind my head and shoulders.  You can see that they are simply plywood shacks, that cannot be secure and safe.  Of course, there are no streetlights or electricity in this so-called neighborhood at all.  There is no running water; not even a well.  People essentially cook for their families on hotplates powered by propane, or a campfire in the "yard."  The site is a former landfill, and surrounded by trash.  Children play in the sand and I wonder what diseases are waiting for them there.  It can't be good.  We know there is abestos and lead paint everywhere.

If you can handle your own body odor, please consider joining on for one or ten of these projects.  I promise you'll have a wonderful time and you'll go back home with a full heart.  Oh one more thing, our group was made up of all ages and both sexes.  You don't need to be super-strong to do this.  There is a lot of light duty work.

The group goes down in February and again in November.  Imagine if you organized your office, and sent down a group of Realtors.  (Only one person has to be a member of a church.)  Pictures of the brokers and agents all proudly standing in front of a bunch of different houses (over time)...well, I think that would be about the best decoration you could possibly have in your office.  Let 'em know you have a heart.  Your clients will be proud to use you.  Also, what a great way to strengthen your team skills!

Thanks for reading.

~Michael George