2023 Mexico Mission Trip (Part 1)

Every year over President’s Day weekend, a group of teens and adults from StoneBridge Christian Church embarks on a mission trip to Mexico. In mid-February 2023, our team headed to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, to build homes alongside two families in desperate need of space and shelter. We partnered with Amor, as we do every year. And, as always, the experience was life-altering and faith-affirming. 

Amor Ministries is an established ministry that’s committed to helping families stay together. Part of this work is building houses that protect them from the elements and give them more space to live, grow, and play. The mission teams that travel to Mexico as part of Amor’s work don’t just provide shelter for families, though. They’re creating hope for the future. 

Each year’s trip to Mexico is a true working trip. Participants help to build homes hands-on. During their downtime, they camp in tents, deepen their relationships, and bond with the families they serve. It’s a truly unique experience, and one way that StoneBridge continues the church’s unfinished work around the world. 

Let’s take a look at the families we assisted this year in Puerto Peñasco. 

A Pastor on a Mission

Our first family owns a double lot, and they plan to build a church on their additional property in the future. The father, who left behind a criminal lifestyle to become a pastor, is committed to creating positive change in his community. He’s also in the construction business and was able to build his new home alongside our mission team.

“He knew a lot of what we were doing already,” says Lyndsey Deyoe, Multisite & Discipleship Pastor at StoneBridge, “and he gave us some tips on how to do it even better.” All three members of the family were heavily involved in the build, and together with our team, they worked so hard to make their new home a reality.

A “Double Build” For a Family of Six 

Our project for the second family was a unique one. We call it a double build project, because it’s the fusion of two house plans, with four rooms instead of two. This family has four children, so they needed the additional space to accommodate everyone in their household. 

This family had been through so much, and we felt blessed to have been part of their new beginning. The mother, originally from Puerto Peñasco, had previously taken her four children and fled an abusive marriage, leaving all her material possessions behind. Although they lived away from the city for a time, she felt that her children would have more opportunities if they returned.

Because they didn’t have a home to return to, the mother elected to stay with extended family. When they were away from Puerto Peñasco, she met her second husband. At first, she felt apprehensive about telling him the story of her past. But when he learned about everything she and the children had been through, he has cared for them as his own ever since.

Just like the first family, this family helped our team build. The wife was often on-site, and her husband joined her as often as he could outside his regular work hours. Once the build was done, as a thank-you, the family graciously cooked a meal for our team. 

Mission Team Spotlight: Jose, Jaimie, & Catalina Cogua 

Jose Cogua has been an important part of our Mexico mission team for six years now. The Cogua family has attended StoneBridge for the past decade.

A native of Colombia, Jose’s first language is Spanish. Through translation, he works to build relationships with the families our teams serve. He also has experience in the construction industry, and excels at leading our teams as they work together to build these homes.  

“I was immediately hooked because of the opportunity to serve God, helping people and getting to know people from the church,” Jose says. 

“I'm quite familiar with Latin culture, of course. It's easy for me to relate to the people in Mexico, and it's easy for me to get to know people from home and have that connection. After I did it once, I didn’t want to stop.” 

Although Jose has participated in multiple mission trips to Mexico, he typically went solo. He went on one of the trips with his son, Mateo. His wife, Jaimie, and their 12-year-old daughter, Catalina, joined him for the 2023 trip. Jaimie is also fluent in Spanish, so she joined Jose in translating between our mission team (which was split between both projects) and the families we served. 

“He asked every year if I wanted to go, but I’d always say not yet,” Jaimie says. “This year, we decided that we were going to go and take Catalina with us. We really wanted an opportunity to connect with her in that way, and we were curious as to why Jose liked going so much.” 

Jose and Jaimie were surprised at how much Catalina enjoyed working with the crew. 

“She got in and did every possible thing there was to do,” Jaimie says. “I think [the trip] reaffirmed some things in her that maybe she wasn’t sure about. 

“It’s one thing to tell your child that we enjoy a lot of privileges here [in the United States]. It’s another thing for them to go and see what other people’s life circumstances are on a regular basis, and to have that perspective.” 

According to Jaimie, the experience of interacting with the family, transforming their home, and giving them a safe place to live made a tremendous impact on her heart. Hearing their stories and seeing the difference our team was able to make for them firsthand inspired her to return next year. 

“Halfway through the trip, I remember thinking, ‘This is nice, but I think it’ll be okay for this to just be Jose’s thing. I’m happy and I don’t mind the work, but maybe this will just be his trip. But by the end of the third day, I was like, ‘Nope. I’m coming back again. This is amazing.’” 

Jose and Jaimie have continued to keep in touch with the families we served via Facebook. 

Not only do families strengthen their relationships on these tips; friendships are forged, too. Kids and adults who connect during the Mexico mission trip often form bonds that remain long after the trip is over. And, volunteers who attend once often return to Mexico year after year. 

“The perspective that you gain and the bond that's created through that experience is so unique,” Jaimie says. “It was so very special to see our kids shine in ways that we didn’t necessarily anticipate they would, and then to grow ourselves.

“It’s such a unique opportunity to really see each other in a new way and gain a new appreciation, and then to share an experience and a memory that lasts a lifetime. I think we will always be talking about our first trip to Mexico.”

Gearing Up for Mexico 2024: Are You In? 

For individuals and families considering joining the Mexico mission trip next year, Lyndsey says, “Don’t hesitate. It will change your kids. And for families, specifically, it will change your perspective of your kids. 

“You’ll get to see them serve God in new ways. It will grow your family to be able to see needs in another country, and how differently people live. Then, you can bring that home to Nebraska and live it out here as a family.” 

This year, we had a large group of kids on the trip, ranging from age 10 through high school seniors. In addition to the Cogua family, there were other parent-child teams that joined us. You’ll be hearing from one father-son team, so stay tuned for the story of their experience in Part 2. 

Are you interested in joining us for the 2024 mission trip? Participants 6th grade and up can join, and we want you to come along! Reach out to Lyndsey at ldeyoe@sb.church to learn more or sign up for the interest list here.