FUMC Chula Vista (FUMCCV) recently headed up a group of United Methodists from across the San Diego region on a mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico for home construction. The team of 65 people represented membership in 8 different United Methodist Churches including FUMCCV, Foothills, Nestor, FUMC San Diego, Linda Vista, Park Hill, St. Marks, and Hope.
FUMC Chula Vista is a part of the California-Pacific Annual Conference.
The group from FUMCCV developed this relationship with YUGO Ministries 15 years ago and has sent a team every year for 15 years. Even during the height of the Covid pandemic, FUMCCV still paid for two homes to be built. Over the course of these 15 years, about 40 homes have been constructed by the teams led by FUMCCV.
The relationship and corresponding trips continue are popular with all ages and have become and important tradition for many. This year’s team included 18 college students, 17 junior high/high school students and the remainder adults. 20 of the team members were on their first trip, which means 45 people had served on this mission team in years past, and it made such an impact on them that they are back again. In fact, many people from FUMCCV have been team members for numerous of the trips over these 15 years and plan their work/travel/school schedule so as to never miss this mission experience.
The team traveled south on Thursday, January 16th, worked through the weekend, and traveled home Monday morning. It is a daunting task each year to arrive Friday morning to an empty concrete slab with a pile of materials lying to one side. Hard work, dedication, laughter, tears, a few bumps and bruises, and three days later, a home is dedicated to a family who has worked alongside the mission team throughout the entire weekend. By the time dedication happens, lifelong relationships are developed between the team and the family, and it is hard to say goodbye to one another.
This mission experience is life-changing…and not just for the family who receives the home of their dreams. FUMCCV has already made a reservation for January 2026 (MLK Jr. weekend). If you would like to be considered for membership on next year’s team, simply reach out via email and let them know [email protected].
story by Rev. Dr. Brian Parcel, Lead Pastor at First UMC Chula Vista
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
