Three weeks before Christmas, the White Hat team came together in Jaco Costa Rica for their annual partner home build. Watch this quick video from Jason Lakes as he explains how the team will be living out the White Hat “Why” in action. <<< Watch the video

What does a home build look like? Get a glimpse of what the Homes for Hope build process looks like with this short video. <<< Watch the Video

What better way to learn about what happens on a White Hat Partner Build, by reading a personal account from White Hat Teammate, Rachel Johnson. 

There was lots of anticipation and preparation as the White Hat team descended on Jaco, Costa Rica, the location for the 2021 White Hat Homes of Hope Build. For most of the White Hat Team, this was our first home build. Not really knowing what to expect, we all trusted God that He would guide us to know what to do. As we gathered as a team the evening before our first day, there was an energy in the air, and excitement to change the lives of two families - giving them a roof over their head and setting them ahead 10 years. 

Day One

In the morning, the team left their beautiful accommodations at the Marriott and arrived onsite. The village where both our families resided was a small cluster of shacks on a narrow dirt alley.  Walking down the dirt alley, from the main road, our nostrils were filled with smells of animals and human waste. Looking around in the tropical sunshine, I realized that I had personally never experienced this level of poverty in person before. This little village looked like one of those “Feed the Children” commercials on TV, yet something was very different. People were smiling and happy. They were humbled by our presence and were excited about the transformation that was about to take place. We rounded the bend, and I saw 2 concrete foundations poured. The YWAM team was hard at work setting up the job sites. In the back of my mind, I remember thinking—there is no way we’re going to build a home in 2 days. 

Now it was time to meet the Cascante Family: Jonathan and Reyna and their 5 beautiful children. Ketlyn (12), Jonathan (11), Meylin (7), Jhon (2), and Sharlyn (1 month). Jonathan works hard as a security guard but only makes about $600 US a month. With a Family of 7, there isn’t much left over to buy anything but the essentials. Watch the video to see the conditions of the family's old home. Jonathan stood with a vulnerable sense of pride, he had his tool belt on and was ready to work alongside our team to build a new house for his family. 

We started with a prayer and then broke up into 3 teams—painting, framing, and roofing. In no time, there were cheers as the first wall was stood up. The first step is putting a roof over this beautiful family’s head. Before lunch on the first day, the roof had already started to take shape. I was amazed at the teamwork and collaboration of the White Hat Team. There is just a special bond and a different level of respect with a team that serves together like this. One of my favorite memories of day 1 was watching the 7-year-old Meylin work hard to bring this vision to life. She was painting with such passion you could tell how much this meant to her. Having a 7-year-old daughter myself, I saw her heart, understood her, even though we didn’t speak the same language. I will always remember her sweet smile with paint in her hair and all over her clothes. She was proud to be able to contribute however she could. 

During day 1, I also had the honor and privilege of getting to interview each of our teammates on what this meant to them. I was so moved by each teammate’s heartfelt words. You could tell, this experience changed them and touched their soul for good.

By day 1 close, the roof was up, all the interior walls were up and it was time to transform this house into a home. As I left dirty and tired, my heart was at peace. I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel to Facetime my husband and kids. I didn’t have words to describe my feelings about the day, my heart just felt different. Since I was at a loss for words, I enjoyed hearing about my family’s day instead. 

As I got cleaned up for dinner, I thought about how grateful I was for the roof over my head, clean running water, lights that turned on and off, a comfortable bed to sleep in, and my own space in the room. All of these things I was hoping we could give the Cascante family. As we met as a group, we did an exercise where we shared one visual image we had for the day. One I shared was playing trucks with Jhon. On a break, we’d load up wood scraps into the back of his toy dump truck and then we’d count, “Uno, Dos, Tres,” and shove the truck over a 2x4. I’ll always remember his belly laugh. Then he’d get the truck and want me to do it again. I’ve played the same game with my 1-year-old son Jace. Children’s laughter transcends all socioeconomic, social, and geographic boundaries. I went to sleep, tired, sore with a full heart. 

Day Two

The next morning, We boarded the bus to head back over to the home. When we arrived, Jonathan the Dad, was already hard at work. We broke into groups again to finalize work on the house. One of the unexpected things that happened was I learned a new skill. I am not very “handy,” but Joel Bell, the president of White Hat patiently taught me how to use a circular saw to cut molding, and then I hung it myself inside the house. I was very proud of my work. 

As the inside of the house was taking shape, we surprised the family with a shopping trip to a local “Walmart type” store. We told the family to get whatever they needed. Our generous team had raised $650 for the shopping trip and another portion was going to be used to bless the YWAM Missionaries who we had the pleasure of working alongside. When we arrived at the store, Reyna added one bag of rice to the cart. I kept telling her, “¡Mas! ¡Mas! ¡Mas!.” 

One crucial item we picked up for Reyna was a new broom and dustpan. In the original video we saw of the family before the trip, I could remember Reyna talking about how excited she was to have floors to sweep and we wanted to make sure we made that dream come true for her. 

Once we had gathered the essentials, rice, beans, diapers, formula, other food items, and toiletries, we asked the family if they wanted to get a bike or if they wanted to continue to shop. They decided to buy a delicacy, meat. The family said they hadn’t had meat in almost 3 years. I had the greatest sense of pride watching Johnathan at the meat counter ordering “whatever” he wanted. That is a moment I won’t ever forget. 

As we were checking out Jhon the 2-year-old was having a temper tantrum (as kids do) over a toy truck. Reyna looked embarrassed and appalled by his behavior. I grabbed some extra cash of my own and purchased the truck for him. I reassured Reyna that it was OK! Having 3 kids 7, 3, and 1, I’ve dealt with my fair share of temper tantrums. Jhon proudly clutched his toy truck and couldn't wait to open it when we got back to the bus. Upon returning to the build site, the family waited on the bus until their new house was transformed into a home and ready for them.

When I walked through the door of the house it was transformed into a home. Kitchen table set for four, a stove and fridge, two rooms – one with a double bed and one with bunk beds. The beds were covered with gifts we had brought for the family. For a family who had never been able to give their children Christmas or birthday presents, this was more than they expected in their wildest dreams. My heart might have very well exploded out of my chest. I was so humbled and proud to be part of this team. We had really done this! We had not only built a beautiful house, but we had also given this family way more, a home. 

Once the inside of the house was set up, we all gathered outside to welcome the family to their new home. There was a circling ceremony where we presented the keys to the family along with a bible and a group picture. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Then we let the family go inside alone. About a minute later, we knocked on the door and they welcomed us as their first guests.

This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, even when I attend future trips, it won't ever be able to change the feelings I felt with my first trip. I am truly grateful to be part of the White Hat team, a team that problem solves and goes above and beyond. There will always be a glue that holds this team together, a deeper unspoken bond that we’ll always have because we did the White Hat 2021 build together. 

Check out the trip highlight video for more details  <<< Watch the Video

Interested in learning more about White Hat’s WHY? Check out the blog post.