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What a week. Changes, changes, changes! First, the book writing was put on hold. Too many events at work to get accomplished while writing a book. We didn't anticipate our summer participants not meeting our goals, we landed about 1,000 participants short, so we have to place more attention on recruiting more groups for this spring and increased fund raising. Our directors did a great job making budget cuts that will help us through the remainder of the year. As I write this I should have been on a plane with Gayla on the way to Cancun for a meeting regarding Cancun Christian University. Well, it looks like Hurricane Dean decided to invite himself to Cancun also. Currently the hurricane is projected to hit Cancun sometime this Monday. All Nations Seminary President, John Lee, was also heading to Cancun, but from Peru. He was in Peru this week at the time of the 8.0 earthquake, which currently has killed a reported 500 people. John was glad to hear that we were not insisting that he meet us in Cancun to experience a hurricane. We will rescheduling this trip sometime this fall. When Gilberto called me from Cancun yesterday he was packing his things and consolidating his non-perishable foods in case he needs to ride out the storm. We'll keep him and all our friends in the Yucatan in our prayers.   For more updates on Hurricane Dean go to my other blog: Cancun Christian University.
Amor Board Chairman, Mike Mirau, spent the best part of two days recently working together on technology issues and helping write the business plan for Cancun Christian University. Recent team member changes on the IT team made it advantageous to have Mike fly out from Dallas to spend some time with Travis Hall, Bob Brewer and myself. We reviewed the current technology and information systems of Amor, discussed present and future needs, and assessed our contingency plans. Mike spent well over 17 years as the Director of Information Technology for Interstate Batteries and has frequently provided oversight and consulting for Amor as it relates to our information system needs.  In preparation for the November Amor Board meeting, Mike and I also spent time working on the Business Plan for Cancun Christian University. For the last seven years Mike has been the President of a company called Personnelity as well as actively coaching executives leading all sizes of companies. While the Amor Board approved the Executive Summary for the University last February, the board is anticipating a consolidated business plan at the upcoming November board meeting. With Mike's expertise, we made significant inroads in the initial stages of drafting a proposal for the board. 
As its been on a lot of our minds lately, I have also been wondering why this summer our number of participants didn't meet our projections. The estimated number is that we are going to be 10% below our projections. Now on one hand, that doesn't sound like much, but in real numbers we are talking about some 1,000 fewer participants than expected. That translates into 50 few homes being built this summer for some very need families. Its this revelation that hurts the most. So what did happen this summer? We have had a lot of discussions about this lately. The answers range everything from a normal three year grow cycle that Amor goes through, to concerns about the upcoming passport requirements, and even to the effects of the immigration issues being in the news all the time. Lone Tree Director, Tim Worrel, recently commented to me that its even possible that larger churches are taking a more active role in organizing their own mission trips to facilitate projects that they have more control over. I would like to add my own thoughts in this regard considering a recent article in USA Today. The article estimates that well over 500,000 faith based volunteers have participated in the Hurricane Katria recovery. " Most donate a week or two to the recovery", the article went on to say. Now, at the height of volunteer season, one supervisor is overseeing nearly 1,000 volunteers a week. The past two years have mostly been spent just gutting homes, stripping off materials from the walls right down to the studs. This kind of short term mission endeavor has never been seen in the United States before. It has been a time when our "neighbors" were right in our very own yard, right here at home. Considering the staggering effects of this hurricane, it brings a great deal of appreciation to the fact that our fellow servants remember that its not whether you serve overseas or in your own US backyard.....its not one or the other....we still must do both. Thank goodness for the faithful servants who flew and drove to the hurricane devastated regions to face heat, humidity, mosquitos, lack of electricity, lack of privacy, and basically extremely unsanitary conditions. Thanks also to those who have traveled across familiar borders, to destinations far beyond the comforts they left behind.
I was shocked this week when I heard about a man in Zimbabwe who was killed in a fight over a "loaf of bread"! No doubt the economic and political situation is worsening by the day as inflation is pushing to 10,000% and food shortages are worsening.
But to hear that someone actually lost their life over a loaf of bread is utterly disheartening. Among other instruments, the man was actually stoned to death.
It can only bring more meaning to me about when Jesus said, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Mt. 7:9 I may never be able to wrap my head around such tragic consequences for such meaningless actions. But being the father of a son tears deep at me I consider that everyone is a child of someone. How could anyone kill someone over a loaf of bread? It humbles me greatly in such refection that our Heavenly Father would never give us a stone in place of a needed loaf of bread. Neither would I do such to my own son. Neither should we to anyone in need. Not even for a Samaritan. Not even for an enemy.
USA Today had an eye catching article today entitled, " Young Adults Aren't Sticking with Church." According to the author of of the suvey, Ed Stezter, "People are looking for a faith that can change them, and to be a part of changing the world." This is the missing link??? How tragic this is when you consider that this is the number one reason people keep telling us they come on mission trips with us. Its a real reminder why so many of the churches across the US that bring groups with us are growing. They are the churches that are providing opportunities to develop a living faith as well as empowering them to be a part of changing the world. What an opportunity and what a privilege it is for us to once again recognize what a pivotal and strategic position Amor has been placed to be a conduit for such a need. This also lead me to recall a conversation I recently had with two good friends of Amor, Dan and Wayne. They both have a long history with the British non profit organization called, Toc-H. They have both described the work of Toc-H as a " movement" not an " organization." It think that as we look closer as to how Amor goes forward, it becomes increasingly obvious that we as as much a "movement" in present times as Toc-H. We are, no doubt, in part, a product of the very "movement" that Toc-H has been described as. It will definitely be very interesting for us to process and understand our role and definition as a "movement" rather than an "organization." Both, in reference to who we are today, as well as how we " move" in the future!
Correct Craft President/CEO, Bill Yeargin, sent me a press release about their recent trip with Amor to Mexico: Correct Craft, Inc announced today that a team of its employees recently traveled to Mexico to spend part of their summer vacation building a new home. The team of twenty-one Correct Craft employees built the new home for a family of seven living in Tecate, Mexico. The project was coordinated by Amor Ministries, a non-profit organization operating out of San Diego, California. Over the past 27 years, Amor Ministries has coordinated the building of over 10,000 homes for needy families in Mexico. Correct Craft President/CEO Bill Yeargin, who worked with the team in Mexico, said "It was great to see so many of our employees raise the money to go and then take their time to help with this important mission. I know that while the family in Mexico will significantly benefit from this new house, the employees who traveled with us also had a life changing experience." Yeargin added “To see our Board Chairman, Ken Meloon, hand the family the keys to their new home was a very emotional and rewarding experience.” Correct Craft Board Chairman Ken Meloon added, "For many decades our company mission has been to build boats to the glory of God. To actually live out our values by helping this family was an incredible experience. I enjoyed my time working together with the Correct Craft team on this worthy cause." Celebrating 82 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a family-owned manufacturer of Nautique water ski and wakeboard boats and boats for recreational enjoyment. Correct Craft, Inc. is known for superior quality product, cutting-edge technology and innovative hull designs. To see the complete line of Nautique boats, visit www.correctcraft.com. 
Correct Craft team hands keys to recipients of their new home
There is something about being in a plane that totally relaxes me. It didn't used to always be this way. I used to be terrified of flying (that's another story in itself). But these days I do really look forward to it. I think in part its because I am less connected, for once, when I am 35,000 feet above the earth. I wish it was due to a sense of being closer to heaven, but I think it really has more to do with being further from the earth for awhile. Being that I am a seriously digitally connected individual, you might think the opposite for me. How can Scott not stand having an active cell phone connection and a wireless broadband connection? I wish I could answer that. All I know is that once I walk on a jet, I immediately feel more relaxed and look forward to the opportunity of having far less on my plate to juggle for awhile. My choices are limited, my opportunities minimal. It makes it very understandable why Jesus would head into the wilderness to get away from it all. So he could spend some un-distracted time with his heavenly Father. I often wonder how he could even manage this time alone when he knew his time was very limited on this earth. If anyone should have been in a rush to reach every person on this earth is just three years, I would have imagined it would have been him. What an amazing example of keeping life on this earth in perspective. I needn't wait for the next jet ride to find time to disconnect from the hectic pace I face everyday. I need to find alone time even when I have the ability to be "connected" in every way. Let's see, where is that bookstore/coffee shop I love in Sea Port Village? Hey Jesus! How about we meet there for coffee this Friday at noon? Awesome! Its a date!
I just spent a couple days with a wonderful friend and great supporter of Amor. We spent countless hours discussing the history of his involvement in the early 1970's with a British organization (a movement is really a better way to describe it) that had a huge influence, if not fathered Amor Ministries. I can't wait to share more about this in future writings but something that my friend Dan said I can't resist sharing. We were talking about success, business ethics, and the likes when he quoted a business person who meant a lot to him in the past. When Dan asked him what the key practice was that he believed led him and his business success, the CEO said, "I strive to make everyone a friend."
I am borrowing a practice of the San Diego Business Journal were they interview entrepreneurs and other industry leaders. I find these articles to be extremely interesting as I get to take a peek into the heart of these leaders and their businesses or organizations. SDBJ has a long list of questions and subjects they ask these leaders about. I am going to periodically blog about one of these topics. This first top is about what is Amor's "essential business philosophy". As Jesus chose Peter to be the cornerstone of the church, Amor has chosen the church to be our leading core value. Many a para-church organization actually believe they are the replacement for the church or have no interest win working with churches. Since it founding in 1980, Amor has always focused on serving the church in Mexico and well as the United States. Our Mexican local pastors meet monthly at our Mexico Ministry Planning Boards to select needy families to receive homes, to determine which churches Amor should build, and even to help Amor determine which programs most appropriately meet the needs of their local Mexican communities. Equally important is Amor's National Advisory Board which consists of church leaders, pastors, and youth leaders. Annual they participate in reviewing our community programs and give serious attention to new projects being developed. At Amor, we are very proud of our dedication to serve the poor in Mexico by working with, through, and for local churches. No one knows the needs of the local community better. Every house that Amor builds is consider a gift to a needy family from the local Mexican church. Such a home is only one way the local church shows God love in caring and appropriate ways. When a group builds a home for a family they can be assured that the home is not the end of God's amazing outpouring of his love. The local pastor will continue to follow-up with the family; ministering to them if they need; praying with them if they desire; coming to church if they decide to. I am very humbled knowing that each of us are truly a part of God's church as we serve him and glorify him by our serving hands and hearts. We serve a powerful and truly amazing God. He loves his church and we eagerly join him in doing the same.
One of the pleasures of working with work groups in Mexico is watching them have such a great time with Amor team members. Yesterday and today I had the pleasure of working with Chelsea with the Correct Craft group. Today we ended the day having built a double wide home in two days. The slab was poured by our Mexican pastors before Correct Craft arrived. Chelsea left the work site a little after three pm today and the group said they wanted to finish by 5pm. At 4pm we started the second coat of stucco. They wanted to set a record or something silly like that. I knew they would have to really work hard to do the second coat in one hour (they were exhausted already) so I poured on the enthusiasm. I coached them to move faster!! Mix harder!! Keep the stucco going!! I guess they didn't appreciate it like I thought they would and they started chanting, "Shut up Scott, we want Chelsea! Shut up Scott, we want Chelsea!". No one ever said leadership was easy....or even appreciated. I think I'll just drive across the border and craw onto my favorite couch and feel sorry for myself. Or...Maybe I'll make a t-shirt that says, "Shut up Chelsea, we want Scott!". Not really. Great job Chelsea. You won their hearts! 
One blog I am bragging about technology, the next I am dreading it. My previously wonderful Treo 700p cell phone was killed today when I was attempting a software upgrade to it. An upgrade I was instructed to do. Long story short, I am writing this blog on my backup Blackberry on top of a hill in Tecate, Mexico. The view is quite expansive over the Tecate valley, but the smell is quite poignant since I can also see the sewage treatment plant. Guess which way the wind has been lowing this week? Straight into us. The group working on this house where I am is a team from a company called Correct Craft from Orlando Florida. Twenty one hard workers are building a double wide for a family of seven. Presently they all live in a small two room shack on the side of a dirt cliff.  The father, Felipe, is carry stucco around to those who are applying the stucco to the walls as I write. Its a team effort all the way around. We have the likes of boat builders, sales people, executives, and the CEO working on this greatly needed home. Correct Craft is a great company. A company with strong ethical values. Its founder, W.C. Meloon, once said that success comes primarily from God, not from following a business formula. He concludes, " I've tried both ways, and I'd rather depend on God.".
Why do people give to Amor? I often ask myself that one. Is it because we show the huge needs in Mexico and compel them to eradicate poverty? Are they touched by the field person who listens to them at a work site? Is it because we produce great brochures that show compelling conditions of poverty? In " MegaGifts" by Jerold Panas, the author states that "People do not give because there is a need. Countless thousands of organizations and institutions have great needs. But donors run from "needs". Large donors give to heroic, exciting programs rather than needy organizations. The case must catch the eye, warm the heart and stir the mind." Alex Spanos, owner of the San Diego Chargers stated that he never gives because there is a need. "There are lots of needs. I give because I'm interested in and I think I can make a real difference", says Spanos. As Amor embarks on many significant endeavors we must always remember that it is God who guides our steps. He leads us to the needs, and he reveals to us the solutions. I love seeing how he then provides in miraculous ways to serve those in spiritual and physical needs around us. People serve in Mexico with Amor because they know they are a part of making a real difference. As we continue to provide such opportunities, God will then provide the resources, the people, and the passion to continue making a difference. One of my favorite things in ministry is to see other people catch the vision that Amor has to show God's love in tangible ways. Our mission and our vision is extremely compelling. I truly believe that we must simply continue helping people make a difference in this world.The stories we tell and the differences we make, by the grace of God, are truly the reasons people get excited about giving support this ministry. I'm excited every day when I see how the families we build homes for are changed. I can never hear enough stories about people coming to Mexico on a mission trip whose lives are never the same. We must keep telling the stories,and we must keep helping people make a difference. Its our calling, and its why people give to Amor.
I just finished reading a book called, "Shades of Difference" by Padraig O'Malley. Its a fascinating, but very detailed read about South Africa's struggle for freedom from once imprisoned and ANC activist Mac Maharaj's perspective. What really caught my eye was the stunning statistics about aids in South Africa. "Within the next ten years, an estimated 4.4 million people will die of HIV/AIDS- more than ten percent of the current population. One in four people is HIV positive. Life expectancy, sixty-three years in 1991, is now fifty-one and will drop to below forty, perhaps as low as thirty-six years, by 2010. " If this doesn't break your heart, I don't know what would. And to think that South Africa has the best economy of any African country. They also have the most cases of aids of any African country. No doubt, we will be building homes for many families who have been drastically affected by the consequences of aids... loss of a parent, parents, or grand parents.
After 27 years of amazing history, I am finally taking on the task of writing the Amor Story. Yes, today is officially the first day that I am seriously taking on the grand opportunity of writing a book about Amor Ministries. You probably won't see much of me during the entire month of July. I have cleared my calendar and have mostly locked myself into my home office to write, write, write. I have been inspired, in part, to do this as the result of several books I have read in recent times. " Me, Myself, and Bob" is an incredible story about creator and producer Phil Vischer. In this amazing work, Phil describes the rise to success of " Veggie Tales", as well as the challenges that eventually lead to its decline. Previously, I had also read " From the Bottom Up: One Man's Crusade to Clear America's Rivers" by Chad Pregracke who tells an wonderful story about his journey from a one-man rubbish remover to an internationally renowned river campaigner. As I read Chad's book about cleaning rivers I reminisced about how we had first built homes in the Tijuana, Mexico dump in the early 1980's. I began to recall the life changing events that happened in those days. Ones similar to my recent blog about when Rocco Ferrario recorded the story of a woman having her baby on the dirt floor of her shack in the Tijuana dump. Several years later, and close to 300 homes being built, the Tijuana dump was closed down and a community was transformed. This story alone inspires we to write about the remarkable ways that God has transformed our lives for the last 27 years. Say a prayer for me as I undertake this very challenging project. I am both very excited to have this opportunity as well as being awed about the enormity of writing this story well. But then again, isn't this what Amor has always been all about, taking on things we have never done before as we continue to seek God's wondrous guidance. To Him be the Glory!!
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