Families Helping Families

Christmas 2012…..It’s almost time to go!

(PLEASE READ THIS AND PASS IT ON TO OTHERS THAT ARE GOING)
We have just returned from Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Everything is just about ready. These are you last minute instructions.

We have 3 goals for this year.

Goal #1: Raise the money for, and build three homes, while having a great time!
Locals are currently pouring the foundations for three homes in two different areas of Town. Two houses will be next to each other on the west side of Town near the cardboard mall and one house on the east side near the cemetery.

By the time we arrive, in less than two weeks, the foundations will have been completed and one row of block will have been laid. During the 4 days that we will be working, we will block up the walls, frame the roofs and the interior walls, and apply the rolled roofing.  After we leave, local workers will be hired to install windows, doors, insulation and drywall, tile and cabinets. They will be paid from the money we have all donated. If everyone either sends in what they have committed to donate, or sends in a donation if they haven’t committed, we should have just enough to complete three houses. (We are anticipating receiving approximately another $20,000 in donations.)
To make sure we are having a great time, we will work long hours, in perfect weather and meet a lot of new friends.
Wednesday morning Dec 26th before we start the work, we will all meet for a quick orientation meeting at the local LDS Church at 8:00 am.  The Church building is easy to find.  It is across the street from the TELMEX office where the large and highly visible telephone transmission tower is located Downtown.
Thursday Dec 27th meet at the job sites at 8 am and start work. At noon we will all get together for a taco lunch at the construction site of the two houses near the cardboard mall. During lunch we will present a house to a wonderful little family. You will not want to miss this. (please read further)
Thursday night is our Fiesta Night. This is optional. We will gather at the Mare Blu restaurant 7:30pm and enjoy the evening.  The cost is $15 per person including  the live Mariachi band and great food. Please let us know at the Wednesday meeting if you will attend. Every year this is a lot of fun!
Friday and Saturday the 28th and 29th met at the jobsites at 8 a.m. and we will work until we reach our building goal.

Goal #2- Giving occupancy of last year’s homes to two wonderful families.
This is a bonus. We have never done this during a Christmas week building project, but we are very excited about it. Here we go!
Fuentes Family –

Edith Fuentes has 6 children ages 19 – 6. Although her 3 young boys have helped with multiple houses ( I think “helped” is the right word) this family has no idea they will be receiving a house this year. They live in such deplorable conditions that they have nothing to bring with them to the house. In our last e-mail we shared a link so that volunteers could sign up to bring household items for this  family if they so desired. To our excitement and amazement, volunteers have signed up to bring or purchase almost every item on the list. “IF” you want to help, here is the link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apdd8H4H2OyydGc4dkxpTWFkS2JOdlUzeXh0SW1NSUE#gid=0

During the workday of Wednesday and up until noon on Thursday, anyone that wants to, can help set up the Fuentes house with the household donations. On Dec 27th at our taco lunch, we will surprise this family and present them with the house. We are not sure how this will work but we hope it will be amazing.

The Lopez Family has been in our program for years and Sr. Lopez has worked on many of the houses with us to acquire his volunteer hours necessary to qualify for a home. The family is currently living next to the railroad tracks in a little shack. They will also be moving into their new home during the week we are there. Like the Fuentes family, they have very little that they can bring with them to their new house. We did not create a list of needed items for this family because we did not want to overwhelm any of you.  But, as an optional activity, anyone that wants to, can help by purchasing and donating or having a group of volunteers go shopping to help this family. We will organize this at our Wednesday morning meeting.

Goal #3- Christmas day lunch for people living next to the Railroad Tracks.  This is Optional!

For anyone that will be in Puerto Penasco on Christmas Day, and would care to help, we are planning to provide a dinner for some of the people living in shacks along the railroad tracks. This will start at 3 pm on Christmas Day. The group from Cedar City, Utah under the direction of Robert Cox is bringing six turkeys to highlight the menu. Julio Valenzuela and Don Julio’s Restaurant will provide gravy and potatoes. We will also buy and cook hot dogs, buns and anything else we can think of to serve these wonderful people on Christmas Day and to make it memorable.

This is the first time we have tried to do this activity as well, but we are very excited to share this. There will be a short Christmas message and prayer before we serve lunch. We hope that Sr. Lopez will lead the way on this but if not, Ralph will deliver the meaning of Christmas thought to the neighbors. Please email us at [email protected] if you would like to help or participate with this event.

THINGS NOT TO FORGET!

Don’t forget we will be in Mexico- nothing will go exactly as expected or planned. Keep calm and carry on.

Don’t forget to be nice. We are all volunteering and we want everyone to have a fabulously, great experience. We are also serving each other.

Be very careful. If you don’t know how to do something, please ask. I know you know this, but, Mexico does not have the same medical care as the U.S. please be very careful.

Don’t forget to wear safety glasses and bring gloves to work. The inexpensive fabric gloves with plastic dots on them, from Home Depot, are the best. Bring multiple pairs for each worker. There is NOT a Home Depot there.

Do not forget to wear good work shoes.

Don’t forget your passports.

Do not bring guns, they are against the law in Mexico. (Unless you are in the Mexican Military)

You will get dirty.

You will get thirsty.

You will need sun screen.

You will need a hat.

It will be cool in the mornings and the evenings.

You will work hard but…..

You will have a great time.

To All Friends and Volunteers:

Many great things have happened this year and we are very excited about the future of “FHF Mexico, Inc.”

We are pleased to announce three (3) important items of information:

1.              We have received official notice from the I.R.S. recognizing “FHF Mexico, Inc.” as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization declaring all donations to FHF Mexico, Inc. as tax deductible.  This letter will be posted on our website at www.fhfmexico.org.

2.              Our Mexican non-profit corporation known as “Casas Perpetuales Parker A.C.” has been formed and is now recognized by the Mexican government.  This Mexican corporation will hold legal title to the houses until final disposition is determined.  It also enabled us to open an official checking account in Mexico.

3.              Since last Christmas, we started and have completed 6 wonderful homes in Puerto Peñasco and completely remodeled and added onto an existing home for a Mexican couple who were blessed with quadruplets this summer.

2012 Christmas Project

Work Dates:  Work on Project – December 26-31, 2012

Financial and Volunteer Hours Goals

• ·                Raise $80,000
• ·                150 workers, 4 days, 8 hours per day
• ·                Complete block walls, interior framing and roof on 3 houses

Preparation Dates

November 1, 2012

Please let me know by November 1, 2012, four important items:

1.              How many workers you will have in Mexico;

2.              When you will arrive

3.              How long you will stay; and

4.              The amount of money you will contribute.  (A good suggestion would be $1,000 per person or $3,500 per family.)

There are absolutely no administrative costs expended from your donations to FHF Mexico, Inc.  The number of houses we build is determined by the amount of money raised.  Please consider donating money or accommodations even if you are unable to physically be in Rocky Point this year.

November 15, 2012

On November 15, 2012, we will determine the total donations received and the number of volunteers committed and, based on this information, enter into a contract with a local concrete contractor to prepare the footings, foundations and septic systems prior to our arrival at Christmas.  Material orders will also be placed at this time for block and framing supplies.  Unlike in years past, this year we will not make commitments and sign contracts for materials and preliminary work based on the hope that financial contributions will ultimately come in.  We will only make these commitments based on the funds we actually have as of November 15, 2012.  Those individuals that respond and commit to work and that have made a financial contribution will receive a follow-up e-mail informing them of the other groups traveling to Puerto Peñasco along with travel plans so those that want to can organize themselves and travel in groups.  This follow-up e-mail will also include a list of small tools and other items individuals can bring for working and to donate for use in future years along with any last minute information.

For those that respond and commit financially and physically to the 2012 Christmas Project, we will provide follow-up details regarding safety, travel tips, accommodations, passports, etc.

Please forward this e-mail to friends and family members that may have an interest in participating (financially, physically or both) in the project.

We look forward to your timely responses and to working with you in this great cause, this Christmas of 2012.

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail us.

W. Ralph Pew

480-461-4670 (office)

602-432-2329 (cell)

[email protected]

T. Jared Parker

801-860-8686

[email protected]

Friends, Volunteers and Supporters of Families Helping Families, Rocky Point, Mexico:

Thank you very much to those who have responded and provided details on participation and financial contribution to this year’s project.  For the rest of you, please take the time to let us know if you are planning on participating physically and financially in the Christmas project.

November 15^th is fast approaching and that is the date by which Jared and I need to make final arrangements for the work in Mexico this year.  Many of you are long-time, faithful, returning participants and may be assuming that Jared and I know that you will be there.  However, please take a minute and send me an e-mail about your participation.  Many of you have called Jared and me to let us know you plan on attending in December.  Unfortunately, Jared and I do not remember every phone call and the most important communication about this is to send an e-mail to my office so that Kim Shreeve and I can keep track on our matrix of workers and money.

Thanks again for all your support and please take a minute to confirm your participation and financial contribution by responding to this e-mail address.  Even if you have sent an e-mail to Jared, please be sure and send me a copy so that Kim and I can keep track of these details.  Shortly after the 15^th of November and before Thanksgiving, we intend to let everyone know where we are with volunteers and contributions.

Gracias.  Nos veremos pronto.

Ralph

December 5, 2011

To All Friends and Volunteers:

Thanks to many of you, the 2011 Christmas house building project is well under way.  Two weeks ago, Jared and I went to Rocky Point to get things started for this year.  We determined that the lot we have is large enough to build two houses on it and we received enough early financial contributions to pay for the foundations and septic systems to be constructed.  This work has been done and should be finished by mid-December.  The lot is located about one mile east of Boulevard Dominquez;.   We have also met with the two families that will be the recipients of the houses Sergio Lopez and Abraham Martinez.

If you would like us to send you a contact containing the site location that you can save to you smart phone, just Text Jared at 801-860-8686 with your name and  the message “please text me the contact with the attached site”  and we will text it back to you, or try clicking on this URL.    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&q=31.323530,-113.502528%20%28Puerto%20Penasco%20SO,%20Mexico%29

FUNDRAISING

As of today, we have received actual donations in the amount of approximately $31,000.  Based on this contribution amount and having confidence that the rest of you will make your contributions soon, we have committed to building two (2) houses this year.  This means we need to raise at least $20,000 more within the next couple of weeks. If you haven’t already done so, please mail your contribution check toFHF MEXICO, INC., and mail it to Ralph Pew, 1744 South Val Vista Drive, Suite 217, Mesa, AZ  85204.

VOLUNTEERS

As of today, we have received confirmation from 16 families that they will be in Rocky Point between Christmas and New Year’s to work on the houses.  Of these families, there will be approximately 65 volunteers available for work.  We will need about 85 volunteer workers each day from December 27^thto December 31^st in order to complete the two (2) new houses.  Accordingly to the e-mails we have received, the following families have confirmed their participation in the project this year:  Barnes, Brady, Bishoff, Dalton, Fackrel, Finlayson, Hafen, Jacobson, Lake, Nyland, Parker, Parrish, Pew, Porter, Price and Scoresby.  If this information is inaccurate and you are committed to be in Rocky Point, please e-mail me as soon as possible.  We have two (2) families that are tentative commitments:  McAllister and Sobotka.

WHAT TO WEAR

The weather between Christmas and New Year’s is generally cool and sometimes windy.  Bring layers of clothing to work in.  It will be cool in the morning, mild to warm during the day and cool after the sun sets.  The first three days will be dirty.  We will be working with concrete and block and it is very dusty and messy.  Please bring gloves.  The fabric gloves with plastic dots on them work best.  Everyone will want to have multiple pairs.  You could easily use a pair a day per person, more if you don’t keep track of them.  They are inexpensive.  Please bring and wear safety glasses.  Dust and sand are miserable in the eyes and it is easy to prevent.  Hats are a very good idea.  We highly recommend them as well.  Don’t be fooled by the cool weather.  The sun will be bright and can cause sunburn.

TOOLS

It would be very helpful if each family could bring the following small tools/equipment and be willing to leave these items for use on future projects:

• ·       Two hammers
• ·       Two inexpensive aluminum 24-inch levels.
• ·       One roofing wacker-tacker with two boxes of staples
• ·       Two 2 or 2 ½ gallon plastic buckets with metal handles
• ·       One 5-gallon plastic bucket
• ·       One large and one medium diamond shaped mortar trowel
• ·       2-3 inexpensive tape measures
• ·       Several construction crayons/pencils

We are also in need of a few larger items:

• ·       Wheelbarrows with solid tires
• ·       6-foot step ladders

Please contact either Ralph or Jared and let us know if you can obtain or donate any of these larger items (used would be fine).  If you cannot transport them to Rocky Point, we have trucks and trailers coming down that can carry the items.  Jared and Ralph are making another trip to Rocky Point Thursday afternoon, December 15^th, and could transport these larger items if you can deliver them to Ralph’s house before then (1757 East Indigo Street, Mesa, AZ  85203).

ACCOMMODATIONS

We have arranged for discounted “owner” rates at the Las Palomas Golf and Beach Resort.  If you have not already made your housing arrangements, please contact Jared Parker or you can call Ivan in reservations at Las Palomas direct. (+52 (638) 108 1000). Tell him you are with the Parker Pew group that is building the Christmas houses, and that you want to book your room at the “owners rates”. Ocean view are less than ocean front.

FOOD AND WATER

Each family is responsible for their own food and water.  There are lots of Mexican taco stands and other places to eat and snack for lunch located near the site.  The work site is about 15 minutes from the Las Palomas Resort and the RV park on Sandy Beach.  Three grocery stores are close by.  Families can make their own dinners or many families enjoy going out to dinner and experiencing the quaint authentic Mexican restaurants in Rocky Point.  You will want to bring drinks, water and snacks to the job site for your family each day.

RESTAURANTS

Here are some ideas of places to eat in Rocky Point:

• ·        Don Julio’s:                 Traditional Mexican food.  It is in the old Hacienda Las Fuentes location.
• ·        Mare Blu:                     Italian food, along with steak and seafood, located at the reef.
• ·        Mary’s Seafood:          Casual, located on the Malecon.
• ·        Lukas Chicken:           Casual, inexpensive, always good.
• ·        Taco Brissa:                Great tacos and papa rellenos.  Inexpensive and good.
• ·        Xochitl’s:                      Great breakfasts and tortilla soup, located at Choya Bay.
• ·        Rossi’s:                       Reasonable for breakfast, lunch and early dinner, located at corner of Constitution and No-reelection.
• ·        Flavios:                        Mexican food, located on the Malecon.
• ·        Street hot dogs:           Look for the “chili dogo” or the bacon wrapped dog with Pico, lime or jalapeno mayo.
• ·        Friendly Dolphin:         Mexican food with great old Mexico décor, located on the Malecon.
• ·        Ramon’s:                     Mexican food cooked Chef Ramon.
• ·        Fresh street tamales and tortillas can be found around the corner from Rossi’s on Constitution

BATHROOMS

For the convenience of all volunteers, there are gas stations/convenience stores within short driving distance from the job site that have bathrooms.

MEXICAN FIESTA

The Fiesta is going to be Wednesday evening, December 28^th.  We are finalizing plans for the location.  The cost will be between $10 to $15 per person.  There will be food, live music, dancing and lots of fun.  This Fiesta is always the highlight of the week providing a chance to mingle with fellow volunteers, enjoy good food and music.  We will need to get a commitment and collect the money from those who will attend the Fiesta when we meet on Tuesday morning to start the project.  This way, we will make sure that there is enough money to buy the food and pay for the mariachi band.

TEE SHIRTS

Tee shirt orders will be finalized December 10^th. The shirts are long sleeve tees and are $15 each.  Contact Jared Parker for any other questions you have about tee shirts. We can get youth and adult sizes.

DEVOTIONAL/SAFETY MEETING

Prior to commencing work on Tuesday, December 27^th, we will all meet together for a short devotional, safety instructions and work crew assignments.  We will meet at 8 a.m. at the LDS church building in downtown Rocky Point.  The building is located directly north of the cell tower for the phone company in downtown Rocky Point.

We will keep you notified of further information as it becomes available.

Thanks to all.

W. Ralph Pew

480-461-4670 (office)

602-432-2329 (mobile)

[email protected]

T. Jared Parker

801-860-8686

[email protected]

FHF MEXICO, INC. (“FHF”)
PUERTO PEÑASCO, MEXICO,

CHRISTMAS 2011

To All Friends and Volunteers:

Thank you to everyone that volunteered labor and donated money in the FHF homebuilding over the past several years in Puerto Peñasco. It has been an incredible effort by committed volunteers. Great works have been accomplished and lasting friendships created. We are essentially starting this year’s project with a zero cash balance. Consequently, fund raising is the most critical priority. We are pleased to announce three (3) important items of information:

1. All the houses that have been built over the past several years are now completely finished.

2. We have filed all the legal documents necessary to form a new non-profit tax-exempt corporation known as “FHF Mexico, Inc.”

3. By the end of October, our Mexican non-profit corporation known as “Casas Perpetuales” will be formed and this Mexican corporation will hold legal title to the houses until final disposition is determined.

Safety

Because of news reports concerning violence in Mexico, we receive inquiries each year as to the safety of traveling to and spending time in Rocky Point to work on this project. In more than eight (8) years of this Christmas endeavor, our volunteers have not experienced any violence or threats to their safety. Many of us travel to Rocky Point multiple times during the year and have not had any problems. Random acts of violence could occur any time and any place in the United States and/or Mexico. Many of the volunteers have coordinated their travel schedules so that they can travel in groups from Lukeville, Arizona to Rocky Point. We will attempt to facilitate this as we received confirmations as to when people are traveling to Rocky Point. Use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and travel during daylight hours seem to be good guidelines to follow.

2011 Christmas Project!

This year, if we receive $85,000 in contributions and 80-90 (5-day) commitments for volunteer labor, we can build two (2) new houses and complete the shell framework of a home that can be used in the interim for storage purposes.

To insure a successful effort, we want to let everyone know the proposed schedule, dates for work and donation goals. At the same time we need to find out from all of you the number of volunteers and amount of financial contributions we can expect.

To buy the land and build one house requires approximately $32,000 and 1200 volunteer man/woman hours. That is about 25 to 30 people working full time, for 5 days during the Christmas holiday to block up a home, frame the roof and interior walls, and apply the roofing material. The balance of the donated money will finish the house over the next couple of months. The sacrifice in time and money made by those participating in the work project is worth every minute and every dollar spent in helping others and experiencing the satisfaction of giving in a tangible way. Many lives have been changed. The families in Mexico have safe and durable housing, and families from the United States make lasting friendships, feel the joy of charity, and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Important dates and deadlines and other information for 2011

November 1, 2011

Please let us know by November 1, 2011, four important items:

1. How many workers you will have in Mexico;
2. When you will arrive;
3. How long you will stay; and
4. The amount of money you will contribute.

A good suggestion would be $1,000 per person or $3,500 per family, but any donation of time, money, or accommodations, is very much appreciated. Remember, every penny donated goes directly to purchase material (brick, mortar, windows, etc) for these houses. There are absolutely no administrative costs expended from your donations and FHF Mexico, Inc. The number of houses we build is determined by the amount of money raised. Please consider donating money or accommodations even if you are unable to physically be in Rocky Point this year.

In the past, some individuals have sent out letters to family and friends soliciting contributions and others have created fund raising projects. Many have made contributions by donating what they would have spent on Christmas and making the financial contribution and labor their Christmas gift to others.

We are ready to begin purchasing materials and contracting for the foundation and septic work to be completed. Please don’t wait until the last minute to donate or commit to help because this makes it very difficult for us to coordinate the work of the project. This year Jared and I would like to have all the money contributed and in the bank account by November 15, 2011. We will then go to Rocky Point and purchase all the building supplies and materials and store them for the project so that we will not have to scramble every day during the work project to make sure we have materials and equipment to work with.

Please send your financial contributions for the house building project as close to November 1, 2011 as you can. Checks should be made payable to “FHF Mexico, Inc.” and mailed to Ralph Pew, Pew & Lake, PLC, 1744 South Val Vista Drive, Suite 217, Mesa, Arizona 85204. Those of you living in the Salt Lake City area, who would like to, can hand deliver or drop off donations to Jared Parker, 1955 Laird Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108 Because we have recently formed a new Arizona non-profit corporation known as FHF Mexico, Inc., your donation may be tax deductible. We are working on processing the qualified exemption application with the IRS and, while we await final determination from the IRS, there is a remote chance that the IRS may not grant us tax-exempt status. WE have been advised that it is extremely unlikely that this will happen, but the risk does exist. We will keep your information on file and provide you with our IRS determination letter (501(c)(3) status) when received.

Each year we make a nice, good quality, long sleeve t-shirt for participants. Everyone loves them and wears them proudly. Please e-mail your order and sizes to [email protected] and mail your check for the shirts to his address above. The price is $15 per shirt. Once again, don’t wait. If you want the shirts, please order and pay for them now.

November 15, 2011

At this time, we will determine the total donations received and the number of volunteers committed and, based on this information, enter into a contract with a local concrete contractor to prepare the footings, foundations and septic prior to our arrival at Christmas. Material orders will also be placed at this time for block and framing supplies. Unlike in years past, this year we will not make commitments and sign contracts for materials and preliminary work based on the hope that financial contributions will ultimately come in. We will only make these commitments based on the funds we actually have as of November 15, 2011. Those individuals that respond and commit to work and that have made a financial contribution will receive a follow-up e-mail informing them of the other groups traveling to Puerto Peñasco along with travel plans so those that want to can organize themselves and travel in groups. This follow-up e-mail will also include a list of small tools and other items individuals can bring for working and to donate for use in future years along with any last minute information.

December 25, 2011, Sunday, Christmas

Volunteers will begin arriving in Rocky Point on Christmas Day and Monday, December 26th.

December 27, 2011 Tuesday

Construction will begin on Tuesday, December 27th and continue through Saturday, December 31, 2011. Work starts at about 8 am each day and goes until around 4:30 p.m. We will all meet together Tuesday, December 27th, at 8 a.m. in the LDS Church building in Rocky Point for work project assignments and safety instructions. The follow-up e-mail will contain directions to the church building.

December 28, 2011 Wednesday

“Welcome Party” and get to know you fiesta beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the La Familia restaurant. Our follow-up e-mail will provide directions. The food is always great, we will have a lot of fun and there will be a live mariachi band with dancing.
We estimate that the cost for the food and entertainment will be $15-$20 per person. It would be very convenient and helpful in buying the food and paying for the band if those of you that want to attend the “Welcome Party” could let us know how many people from your group will be attending the party and bring cash for payment to our kick-off meeting on Tuesday morning, December 27, 2011.

December 31, 2011 Saturday

Depending on the interest and remaining energy, we could plan a New Years Eve Party? We’ll gauge interest in this as the week progresses.

Accommodations

Volunteers typically secure accommodations in beach front homes in Las Conchas, Cholla Bay or in one of the resort condominium projects along Sandy Beach. In the past, it has been very fun to have as many volunteers stay in one location as possible. Generally, most volunteers have been very pleased with the accommodations at “Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort.” The website for Las Palomas is [email protected] and if you want to find other housing options, try http://www.seasidemexico.com. This company manages homes and condos in Rocky Point. For those that want to stay at Las Palomas, please indicate that when you notify us by November 1, 2011 of your intent to participate in the project and contact Jared Parker at [email protected] and (801) 860-8686 and he will coordinate with Las Palomas a group rate.

Passports, ID, or Passport cards

Passports work the best for re-entering the United States from Mexico. A passport card is also an option. Please check cbp.gov for additional information, and get your documentation soon! Do not wait on this one. Passports are easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain. If you start now, you will have your passport in time for the project.

Come and join us in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico this Christmas season. We personally promise you it will be a Christmas your whole family will remember. Rick Finlayson summed it up best, after supervising the construction of one of the homes in a previous year:

“I have been reflecting on the experience my family had working with you in Mexico this past Christmas for quite some time. We have decided to make this a family tradition. This past Christmas was the most memorable on so many fronts. The great feelings of service and the gratitude felt for the abilities we have been given to help those in need along with new friendships developed with so many wonderful people. Thank you for including us and affording us such a wonderful experience.”

Please forward this e-mail to friends and family members that may have an interest in participating (financially, physically or both) in the project.

We look forward to your timely responses and to working with you in this great cause, this Christmas of 2011.

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail us.

W. Ralph Pew
480-461-4670 (office)
602-432-2329 (mobile)
[email protected]

T. Jared Parker
801-860-8686
[email protected]

We had about a hundred people on three projects. The two new houses and the carrillo house. The roof on the Carrillo house is about half done. The two new ones are up about 7 rows of block. We should finish blocking tomorrow. Everyone is safe and having a great time. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees. We meet for an hour to get oriented and the worked from 9 to 5 . We have an incredible group.

FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES (“FHF”)
PUERTO PEÑASCO, MEXICO

CHRISTMAS 2010

Final Details and Information

Dear Volunteers and Contributors:

Thank you for your generous financial contributions and agreement to participate in the project this year. Because of your generosity and prompt delivery of financial contributions and, based on commitments that have been made, we will achieve our fund-raising goal and have enough funds to complete the two (2) houses along with other projects that will be listed below. Thank you. You have all done a great job.

PROJECT STATUS

Two New Houses: The floors have been poured, the septic systems have been built and the corner blocks will be put in place so that we can begin construction promptly Monday morning.

Carillo House: The masonry on the Carillo house has been finished and we will have a crew there to frame the interior, put the roof on and install doors and windows.

Michiua House: The Michiua house is ready for a roof, interior framing, doors and windows.

Meza House: The Meza house has been completed with paint, finish electrical and plumbing.

Paulina House: The Paulina house has been completed with paint, finish electrical and plumbing.

Lopez/Gomez: We delivered $1,800 worth of lumber to this family and they have built a roof on the new home that has been constructed after their house burned a few weeks ago.

GROUP TRAVEL FROM THE PHOENIX AREA ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2010

For those who are leaving the Phoenix area on Sunday, December 26th, there are families that want to caravan together and travel as a group. Several families will be flying in from Salt Lake City and obtaining rental cars and a few families from the Mesa area want to travel together. The best way to make this happen is for everyone to meet on the fringe of the Walmart Supercenter parking lot located at the northeast corner of Dysart Road and the I-10 Freeway. Those arriving from Salt Lake will have time to pick up their rental cars, drive to this area and pick up whatever food supplies they need at Walmart and maybe even a bite to eat for lunch at the In-N-Out Burger. Those coming from the Mesa area or anywhere east of Dysart would travel west on the I-10 as if you were going to California and exit the I-10 at Dysart. On the northeast corner of Dysart and the freeway, is an In-N-Out Burger and just east of that is the Walmart Supercenter. We will meet in the fringe area of the parking lot at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 26, 2010. By this time, the folks from Salt Lake will have had time to pick up what they need and, if we are all there together at 1:30 p.m., we can then travel west on the 10 to the 85 and the south on the 85 all the way to Lukeville. If you have any questions about the time or the location for the meeting to join the caravan, please call Ralph Pew at 602-432-2329. If we all travel together, we can cross the border together later that afternoon and arrive in Rocky Point together as a group. Prior to leaving the Dysart and I-10 area, we will discuss procedures for crossing the border at Lukeville.

ORIENTATION-SAFTY INSTRUCTION-WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND DEVOTIONAL MEETING

We will begin our project with an organizational and devotional meeting at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010. The meeting will be held in the conference center assembly room on the second floor of the convention building in Phase II of the Las Palomas Resort. For those of you staying at Las Palomas, this on the second floor just above the lobby where you will be checking in to make your room arrangements. For everyone’s benefit, attached to this e-mail is a map of Rocky Point that shows very clearly how to find your way to the Las Palomas Resort and to the project site. As you can see from the map, Boulevard Benito Juarez is the main boulevard coming in and out of Rocky Point. If you are going south into Rocky Point, turn right on the second signalized intersection and that road will cross the railroad tracks and then come to a round-about. Follow that round-about around the golf course and you can then easily follow the signs to the Las Palomas Resort. If you are coming from the Las Conchas area or anywhere east of Benito Juarez, you can take Boulevard Fremont to the main road and then turn left on Calle 13 and go the back way into the resort area. Tell the security staff at the gate that you are attending the meeting in Phase II. After passing the gate, stay to the right and go to the Phase II lobby, then up the stairs to the second floor assembly room. If any of you have questions as to how to find the Las Palomas Resort for attending this meeting, please call Ralph Pew at 602-432-2329. We are meeting at the Las Palomas convention assembly room because it is close to the project site and because the LDS building in downtown Rocky Point will be undergoing some remodeling at the time. Please be on time to this orientation meeting so that we can begin work on the site between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday morning.

PROJECT SITE

The two (2) new houses will be built in the small neighborhood just north of what many call the “cardboard mall.” This is the tourist commercial area on the road to Cholla Bay. The project site is shown in red on the attached map and is located just west of the railroad tracks at the far north end of this neighborhood. Just turn north on any one of the first three streets west of the tracks and drive to the end of whichever small neighborhood street you are on and you will see the project. Those working on the Carillo and Michiua houses will be given separate instructions at the meeting on Monday morning.

TOOLS

We now have enough commitments for ladders and wheelbarrows from those who have e-mailed us to let us know that they can bring them. If you have not told us that you can bring wheelbarrows and ladders, please do not worry about that. We will have enough on site because we purchased a few new ladders and Julio is purchasing used wheelbarrows in Rocky Point so that we should have enough for the project. There is also no need to bring additional buckets. We have plenty of buckets on site.

PAINT

Another reminder: If you are traveling through the Phoenix area, please call Ralph Pew at 602-432-2329 to make arrangements to pick up a 5-gallon bucket of paint. If everyone takes a bucket of paint to Rocky Point, we will be able to deliver the (25) 5-gallon buckets that are in Ralph’s backyard.

T-SHIRTS

The t-shirts have been ordered and delivered and Jared Parker will have them available in Rocky Point. Unfortunately, the final cost for the t-shirts was $2.50 more per shirt than estimated. If you have ordered t-shirts, please find Jared Parker during the project and pay him the difference in the t-shirt cost.

FIESTA

We are planning a fun family evening on Tuesday, December 28th. There will be authentic Mexican food, along with a live mariachi band and lots of fun getting to know everyone on the project and enjoying the evening together. We are still working on a location for the Fiesta because of the unavailability of the church building and we will let everyone know either Monday or Tuesday during the project where the Fiesta will be. Please plan on attending. This is a wonderful time to be together and to meet friends from other parts of the country and to enjoy a very pleasant evening with many of the local members of the LDS church that will be preparing the food for the event.

FIRST AID

Thanks to Dr. Bryce Barker and Dr. Rob Price, we will have emergency medical aid available on site.

A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE AND CAUTION

Please remember to obtain Mexican car insurance before leaving the states. There are plenty of places to purchase this insurance to Ajo or in Why.

Please be cautious and careful in observing the speed limits in the border town of Sonoita. Remember the speed limits are posted in kilometers and, in many instances, it will feel as if you are crawling along at a snail’s pace.

A must read if you are coming to Mexico this year for the 2010 Project

Dear Volunteers,

Status:

We just returned from two days of preparation work in Puerto Penasco.  We are excited to report that we have made arrangements and paid for the foundations and septic systems for two new houses this year.  While we were inspecting the job site of on Tuesday morning, a fire erupted in the neighborhood.  The people in the small wooden structure escaped without injury but the house was destroyed.  We are following up with this family to ascertain their needs and rebuilding their home may be one of our projects.  Information on the families we are helping will be sent later.  We also met the Carrillo Family.  During the last year, another group from Families Helping Families started a home for them but was unable to finish the roof.  We should have enough volunteers to complete the Carrillo home this year along with the other two we will begin at Christmas.  We can always use more help in the construction.