On Saturday, May 10th—Día de las Madres in Mexico—the sun was relentless. With temperatures soaring to 105 degrees, the heat in Tijuana was punishing. But even as sweat poured and muscles ached, volunteers from Incarnation Lutheran Church and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church gathered under sweltering skies to build a new home for the Roldán Zavala family.
Led by Fritz from Incarnation and JD from St. Barts, the team powered through the scorching day to build a home for the Roldán Zavala family. Project Mercy veterans Mike and his granddaughter Emma–brought steady leadership and determination. In conditions where most people would seek shade and rest, this crew chose to build.
The home was built for Gabriel and Lita Marisol Roldán Zavala, who have been married for 30 years and have faced profound challenges. After losing their eldest son to lung cancer, they took custody of their grandchildren, who had been abandoned by their mother. Their youngest son, Ulises, lives with mental challenges, and the entire family had been living in a single-room shelter with no electricity and severe water leaks during rains.
This Día de las Madres, the gift was not a bouquet or a card—it was a home. A shelter from rain and sun. A space with dignity. A place where Lita Marisol—a grandmother who has carried her family through grief and hardship—can finally rest a little easier.
In the middle of all the activity and heat, the Roldán Zavala family prepared a heartfelt meal for the volunteers: arroz y pollo con mole, a gesture of generosity that reminded us all that even in the most challenging circumstances, there is always room for gratitude, hospitality, and love.
And under the Tijuana sun, on Día de las Madres, love took the shape of a home—and the heart of a grandmother lit the way.
