The story of Amor
When Amor Ministries began in 1980, many of the poorest families in Mexico were sending their children away to orphanages because they could not provide for them. Orphanages were filling up with children whose parents loved them but lacked the resources to take care of their general needs. Amor’s Founders, Scott & Gayla Congdon, decided to offer an alternative; provide adequate housing to keep families together. Today, Amor continues our mission to share the love of Jesus with families by meeting tangible needs that help keep them together.
Partner with the local church
We partner with a local community of pastors in Mexico, called the Ministry Planning Board. The pastors will nominate a family and present them to the board to decide on them receiving a home. They live and work in the communities we build in, so they know the need better than we ever could. Groups that come to serve alongside us building homes will serve either in the Baja California area (Tijuana) or Puerto Peñasco (across the Arizona border). After the home is built, the pastor is there to follow up with the family and continue a relationship with them.
When you join us on an Amor trip, you are empowering and partnering with the local church too!
Join us on an Amor Trip
You’re invited to preview Amor for free during our Amor 3 Day Trip from November 7-9, 2026.
The Amor 3 Day Trip is an Amor-hosted trip that we offer nearly every month throughout the year. Once you meet us in San Diego, we provide transportation to and throughout Mexico as well as back across the border to San Diego once the trip is over.
When: November 7-9, 2026
What: We provide all the tools and materials for you to build a house alongside a family in need. In the evenings back at our camp, you’ll get an opportunity to hear from Amor’s leadership as well as one of our local pastors.
Where: The trip starts and ends in San Diego. Once in Mexico, you’ll be staying at Hacienda Camp, Amor’s campground in Tijuana.
Food and Accommodation: Tents are provided at our secure campground and authentic Mexican meals are provided through our food service program La Cocina. Hot meals are provided for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, you’ll receive all the supplies to prepare sack lunches that you’ll bring with you on the worksite.
Cost: This trip is free of charge. Just meet us in San Diego with your passport and belongings, and we’ll take care of the rest.
The deadline to sign up is September 27th, 2026. If you’re interested in learning more and signing up, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Space is limited; only two people per organization/church may attend at no cost. If more than two people from your group is interested in attending, they can sign up through our Amor 3 Day Trip page here.
What to Expect on an Amor Trip
At the Worksite
- An expert from Amor will be with you on site to guide the building process.
- It’s easy to think that the house is the most important part of the trip, but we are really here to love and serve people. Take time to talk to the family (even if you don’t know Spanish!), play with kids, or invite people to join in the work!
- Discover that you can make a big impact in a few days!
At Amor’s Camp
- La Cocina, our catering service run by locals, can provide your group with meals for the weekend. They cook their own recipes and take care of meals, snacks, coffee, water, and Gatorade.
- Camp caretakers watch the people and things at camp 24/7. Amor staff members will be with the group both at camp and at the worksite.
- The experience at camp is very similar to how the families live – pit toilets (a port-a-potty over a hole in the ground) and bucket and/or solar showers.
- Each night, you’ll have time to share about the day around your campfire and even hear from leaders in the community.
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1
6:30AM—Check-in at the Best Western American Inn
7:00AM—Load up and head to Mexico
8:30AM—Arrive to camp, grab breakfast, make lunches and drop off luggage
10:00AM—Head to worksite, meet family, begin building
12:00PM—Break for lunch then continue building
4:00PM—Head to camp for the evening
5:00PM—Showers, dinner, speakers, free time, Amor Store open, sleep!
Day 2
7:00AM—Breakfast and pack lunches
8:00AM—Head to worksite, continue building
12:00PM—Break for lunch then continue building
4:00PM—Head to camp for the evening
5:00PM—Showers, dinner, speakers, free time, Amor Store open, sleep!
Day 3
7:00AM—Breakfast and pack lunches, begin packing up
8:00AM—Head to worksite, continue building
11:30AM—Break for lunch, house dedication with family
12:30PM—Head back to camp to finish packing up
1:30PM—Take bus back to US
4:00PM—Estimated arrival back to the Best Western Americana Inn**
**Since we are crossing an international border, there is no guarantee on the time that it will take to cross. It can take several hours, depending on traffic and procedures for the day.
