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The sun is hot, Spanish conversations float in the air, along with constant hammering, the smell of sawdust, and stale water fills my head. Suddenly, silence descends and a line of new friends and old wait for the count: 1....2....3...push! We all simultaneously lift an entire wall of a house into place 3 hours after we arrived to a bare concrete pad,tucked into a line of shacks on a dusty street in San Pedro. .
My name is Alexandra Torti. I am 16 years old and attend St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
I have loving parents, an amazing younger brother and sister, a supportive extended family and friends, a great education, and a world of opportunities to experience and accomplish. I am blessed and recognize that these gifts are not always afforded to others.
Despite my blessings, I have faced some personal challenges that I have had to work hard to overcome both emotionally and physically. Throughout my recovery, I learned that helping others has been a great way to help myself. In my difficult times, I realized the importance of a HOME. For me, a home exists in a place with people who love me, where I can learn, grow, and trust in others, while accepting a helping hand. For others, it may be as simple as a door to lock, an adequate meal, a non-dirt floor that can be cleaned, or a roof that doesn't leak. I have seen many things throughout my travels and volunteer service in the U. S. and abroad that have taught me that despite how different we all are,we all need a hand up at some point, and we all need HOME.
One of our family's passions is to build homes for families in need. It’s a wild experience to travel to another country with a group and build a complete home for a needy family in only a few days. Along with the team made up of missionaries, family, friends, and the surrounding community, we build with the recipient family and they become lifelong friends. I have participated in 5 home builds and love to go back and visit the families I have built. The transformation I have seen is nothing short of amazing.
Last year, when I was really struggling, I was given some advice to tie an unrelated personal reward to a challenging goal. When times are tough, focus on the reward instead of the struggle. I set my goal to live the life of a Missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in the Dominican Republic. I have always been a volunteer junkie, but was curious to learn about the people who commit their lives to service. Also, living abroad seemed exciting. Last summer, I joined the YWAM staff and worked alongside some incredible people. I cleaned bathrooms, cooked for 20, and lived the life of a local Dominican. This group of missionaries earn no income, committed their lives to helping others and have an unwavering faith in God and that he will provide for them. I learned a lot about sacrifice, faith, service, and commitment. Most importantly, I learned that giving people a helping hand is far better than a hand out; trust is stronger than control.
If you are interested in learning more about the YWAM base in the Dominican Republic check out www.ywamsanpedro.org.
My Junior year is ending soon and after coaxing and planning I can now share my experience with my friends and STA peers by hosting and leading my own build. This May 24-27, I am going to bring 20-25 old, new, and yet to be met friends down to the Dominican Republic to build a home for a family in need. This family has likely been living in a tin shack with a leaky roof and a dirt floor. They struggle to find work and keep food on the table making it a challenge to stay healthy, let alone safe. They have been waiting and praying for a new house to call HOME for a long time. I am so excited to meet them and learn their story. For more information on the Homes of Hope project check out http://www.ywamhomesofhope.org/
Organizing this event brings many challenges such as figuring out how to get a bunch of minors in and out of the US; and an even more daunting, a $25.000 price tag for materials, logistics and accommodations. I have been able to obtain a grant for $10,000 and am seeking any financial contributions for the remainder. If I am able to raise even more money, I will continue to build homes and share this experience with others. All contributions I receive will be passed to the YWAM base which is a tax exempt 501(c)3. We are calling this campaign “STAy Home” because I have realized no matter what situation you are born into, no matter what life obstacles are placed in your path, a HOME is where your support is. One family is about to get the helping hand they need to get a house that will become their HOME. I promise you that the gift will be yours and your life changed forever by your commitment.
Thank you being part of my HOME and thank you for supporting this effort.
If any of you are interested in joining our build, please contact me at [email redacted]. I would love to have you on this, or an upcoming project.
Love,
Alexandra
My name is Alexandra Torti. I am 16 years old and attend St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
I have loving parents, an amazing younger brother and sister, a supportive extended family and friends, a great education, and a world of opportunities to experience and accomplish. I am blessed and recognize that these gifts are not always afforded to others.
Despite my blessings, I have faced some personal challenges that I have had to work hard to overcome both emotionally and physically. Throughout my recovery, I learned that helping others has been a great way to help myself. In my difficult times, I realized the importance of a HOME. For me, a home exists in a place with people who love me, where I can learn, grow, and trust in others, while accepting a helping hand. For others, it may be as simple as a door to lock, an adequate meal, a non-dirt floor that can be cleaned, or a roof that doesn't leak. I have seen many things throughout my travels and volunteer service in the U. S. and abroad that have taught me that despite how different we all are,we all need a hand up at some point, and we all need HOME.
One of our family's passions is to build homes for families in need. It’s a wild experience to travel to another country with a group and build a complete home for a needy family in only a few days. Along with the team made up of missionaries, family, friends, and the surrounding community, we build with the recipient family and they become lifelong friends. I have participated in 5 home builds and love to go back and visit the families I have built. The transformation I have seen is nothing short of amazing.
Last year, when I was really struggling, I was given some advice to tie an unrelated personal reward to a challenging goal. When times are tough, focus on the reward instead of the struggle. I set my goal to live the life of a Missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in the Dominican Republic. I have always been a volunteer junkie, but was curious to learn about the people who commit their lives to service. Also, living abroad seemed exciting. Last summer, I joined the YWAM staff and worked alongside some incredible people. I cleaned bathrooms, cooked for 20, and lived the life of a local Dominican. This group of missionaries earn no income, committed their lives to helping others and have an unwavering faith in God and that he will provide for them. I learned a lot about sacrifice, faith, service, and commitment. Most importantly, I learned that giving people a helping hand is far better than a hand out; trust is stronger than control.
If you are interested in learning more about the YWAM base in the Dominican Republic check out www.ywamsanpedro.org.
My Junior year is ending soon and after coaxing and planning I can now share my experience with my friends and STA peers by hosting and leading my own build. This May 24-27, I am going to bring 20-25 old, new, and yet to be met friends down to the Dominican Republic to build a home for a family in need. This family has likely been living in a tin shack with a leaky roof and a dirt floor. They struggle to find work and keep food on the table making it a challenge to stay healthy, let alone safe. They have been waiting and praying for a new house to call HOME for a long time. I am so excited to meet them and learn their story. For more information on the Homes of Hope project check out http://www.ywamhomesofhope.org/
Organizing this event brings many challenges such as figuring out how to get a bunch of minors in and out of the US; and an even more daunting, a $25.000 price tag for materials, logistics and accommodations. I have been able to obtain a grant for $10,000 and am seeking any financial contributions for the remainder. If I am able to raise even more money, I will continue to build homes and share this experience with others. All contributions I receive will be passed to the YWAM base which is a tax exempt 501(c)3. We are calling this campaign “STAy Home” because I have realized no matter what situation you are born into, no matter what life obstacles are placed in your path, a HOME is where your support is. One family is about to get the helping hand they need to get a house that will become their HOME. I promise you that the gift will be yours and your life changed forever by your commitment.
Thank you being part of my HOME and thank you for supporting this effort.
If any of you are interested in joining our build, please contact me at [email redacted]. I would love to have you on this, or an upcoming project.
Love,
Alexandra
Organizer and beneficiary
Christopher Torti
Beneficiary