PCA has been sending grade 12 students to Mexico since 2001 to build houses with Mexican Caravan Ministries. To date we have built over 35 homes in Tijuana.

This May, we will be building 9 small houses for underprivileged families in Tijuana in partnership with Mexico Caravan Ministries.

Mexican Caravan Ministries (MCM) was started in 1984 when a missionary, David Burdette, was approached to help a young mother in need. She had acquired a piece of land, but was going to lose the land if she did not construct a house on it. Dave was able to enlist the help of a youth group from San Diego to help construct a small home for this young mother. And thus the idea for MCM was born.

MCM facilities the construction of small 12x12 shelters for those who don’t have adequate shelter. They host teams that come to help build the shelters and minister to the locals in the area. All materials are purchased on the local market.

For more information on MCM, visit: Mexico Caravan Ministries.

As Christians, our service to others is always a response to God’s act of service to us through the death of Jesus on the cross. We love others because He first loved us. Our grad trip seeks to highlight this reality by providing an opportunity for our students to discover the joy of serving those in need.

PCA and Mexico Caravan Ministries (MCM) have had a long partnership together. Since 2001, we have sent teams of students to Mexico to work with and learn from MCM. We have found that the greatest benefit of the ministry of MCM has been for graduating students. This is due to the fact that MCM provides very meaningful and challenging teaching to students about their personal involvement in world missions and evangelism–aspects of Christian discipleship which are central to PCA’s philosophy.

We did not want to neglect the reality that our students are also social beings–not just spiritual. Therefore, along with the service aspect of the grad trip, they will also be provided with opportunities for bonding, reflection and celebration during their time in San Diego.

Because this is a graduation trip, students cover the cost of their own travel and expenses. The only component they fundraise for is the cost of the building material they need to build the 9 small houses.

After meeting at the airport at 6:55 AM, we said our goodbyes to our loved ones and were blessed with a very smooth travel day. In San Diego, we "caravan"-ed in our three 15-passenger vans to Walmart and Costco to pick up groceries for the week and we were blessed to discover pillows that only cost $3! Our sleep will be so much better this week because of this unexpected luxury.

The experience crossing the Mexican border included having a custom's officer take a quick look in our trunks but they didn't even count people or ask for passports. Very quickly, we discovered a change in the landscape - buildings were more rustic, potholes in the road were much deeper and larger and everything just seemed to be covered in a layer of dust. But there were also many familiar things - like Home Depot, Costco, Popeyes and Dominos Pizza.

When we arrived at the Radius Serve dorms, students quickly unloaded their luggage and chose a spot to set up camp in their rooms full of three-tiered bunk beds. After loading the trucks with wood for our first builds tomorrow, we headed to our first taco stands. We quickly learned the difference between tacos, tortas and quesadillas as well as asada, adobada and chorizo. Most students rated their tacos 9/10! 

Students are tucked into bed now. Our day was full of new sights and adventures as well as laughter and giggles. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us this week. 

Overtired,
2026 PCA Grads

Our first full day in Mexico was packed from beginning to end with sunshine, teamwork, learning, and lots of laughter. After breakfast and morning devotions, our student worship team led us in a time of worship before we heard from Eddie Passmore, MCM’s executive director. He challenged us through Acts 21 to follow Paul’s example of surrendering fully to Jesus — refusing to let comfort, possessions, or personal plans stand in the way of God’s calling.

After stocking up on sunscreen and water, we divided into three groups and got to work building the first homes of the trip for Fernando, Yolande and the Baez family. Throughout the day, students stayed busy measuring, hammering, painting, sawing, fixing mistakes, encouraging one another, and learning new skills. There was definitely a learning curve at first, but the interns patiently guided us and the teams worked hard together to complete the homes.

The lunches prepared by each family gave us the energy we needed to keep going through the long, hot day. Knowing that many families sacrifice one or even two weeks’ wages to provide these meals made receiving their hospitality especially humbling.

Once the houses were complete, we gathered with each family to pray over them and present a small housewarming gift. It was meaningful to see firsthand how much these homes mattered to the families receiving them.

By the end of the day, there were plenty of sore muscles, tired legs, and sunburns — but it was all worth it. One team had a little time to relax before heading out for tacos, while the other two teams worked right up until the 6:30 cutoff and went straight to dinner afterward. Students enjoyed trying different foods tonight, including tortas and quesadillas.

Before ending the evening, we spent time reflecting on the day and sharing highlights together. Students talked about enjoying the teamwork and getting to know classmates better, while teachers were encouraged by the perseverance, positivity, and willingness to try new things throughout the builds.

Now that we have our first build day behind us, we are excited to keep improving and looking forward to more opportunities to see God at work in unexpected ways.

Tired but excited,
Team Mexico

The word of the day is HUMILITY… and maybe also HYGIENE.

We woke up to another morning of birds chirping, sunshine blazing, and students slowly realizing this was somehow already our final build day. Time flies when you’re covered in sawdust, sunscreen, paint, and sweat.

During morning devotions, we read Philippians 1:27–2:30 and reflected on the humility of Christ and what it means to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. After breakfast, we heard again from missionary David Rimstead, who encouraged us to dive deeply into God’s Word and live with our hands open to whatever God has for us. He followed up with a Q&A session where he taught us a few phrases from the Maliyali tribe and continued to inspire us through his passionate authenticity and the way he boldly lives out the Gospel. 

Then we headed out for one last day on the build sites, serving Nenina; Grandma Norma and the Ahumada family; and Esmeralda and Christian. One team had the opportunity to help the Ahumada family after a devastating house fire had destroyed the roof of their previous home, which made the day especially meaningful. While the work was still hard, it was amazing to see how much everyone has grown this week. Students who were cautiously holding hammers on Day 1 are now confidently climbing onto roofs, measuring walls, and offering opinions about construction as if they’ve been on HGTV for years.

The commUNITY today was incredible. Somehow, despite the heat and exhaustion, the joy kept growing as the day went on. But perhaps the greatest moment of the evening was visiting the bathe house. After days of building in the beautiful Mexico heat, students emerged from showers looking and smelling renewed! Honestly, the experience gave many of us a whole new appreciation for the symbolism of baptism; going in exhausted, sweaty, and covered in dirt, then coming out feeling like a completely new person. Never has shampoo felt so holy.

For dinner tonight students bravely ordered their own meals in Spanish without the help of interns. For one group in particular, Christina, their server, deserves some sort of award for patience and deciphering confidence-filled but grammatically creative Spanish. There were moments of pointing, accidental french improvisation, and at least one student confidently ordering something they did not fully understand. Everyone survived. Most importantly, students learned an important phrase for life in Mexico: sin cilantro.

During car ride reflections, one student shared that they “didn’t miss their phone at all,” while others talked about how refreshing it has been to slow down, focus on people, and live fully in the moment. We are sad to say goodbye to the builds, but excited for tomorrow’s day of ministry as we shift from building houses to building even deeper relationships within the community.

Team Mexico

This morning, we spent time watching a 30-minute documentary following Brooks Buser, our speaker from Tuesday, from his missionary training all the way to planting a church among the Yembi Yembi people. It was eye-opening to witness the process and also hear how many unreached people groups are still waiting to hear the gospel—some having requested someone to come and share the message for years, yet there are still not enough workers to go.

Following the session, we partnered with Spectrum Ministries to help host an outreach event for children and families in a low-income area of Tijuana. Spectrum focuses much of its ministry on serving local children and families. Before we began, Paul, the president of Spectrum Ministries, reminded us that our goal was not only for people to see Jesus through us, but to truly experience Jesus.

Our students jumped right into serving wherever needed. Some helped prepare fruit and vegetables, others ran games and activities, made cotton candy and popcorn, painted faces, coloured with kids, or spent time refereeing water gun fights. The atmosphere was full of energy and joy. Several members of the team also helped distribute fresh produce bags so families could leave with food for the week. By the end of the outreach, everyone had stories to share about meaningful conversations, memorable moments, and the connections made throughout the day.

On the way back to the dorms, we stopped for a well-deserved ice cream break. The team enjoyed everything from cones and banana splits to Mexican fruit popsicles, paletas. When we got back to the dorms, we had the chance to do a little souvenir shopping as local vendors brought Mexican goods like hats, ponchos, and bracelets to the dorms. Afterward, we spent time reflecting with our teammates on the eye-opening experiences we’ve had this week serving among those in poverty, as well as what it has been like to step away from our phones.

Dinner this evening was prepared by Paty, MCM’s office worker and build coordinator. The meal she made was delicious! For our night session, we heard from a current Radius Servants student who, along with his wife and five children, is preparing to serve in Vietnam. They are set to graduate in July and are hoping to move overseas sometime next year. The students were curious about him and asked many thoughtful questions.

We are currently wrapping up our final evening in Mexico together by playing card games, worshipping, talking with friends, and beginning to pack for tomorrow’s departure.

It has been another full and meaningful day.
Team Mexico

This morning, we spent time watching a 30-minute documentary following Brooks Buser, our speaker from Tuesday, from his missionary training all the way to planting a church among the Yembi Yembi people. It was eye-opening to witness the process and also hear how many unreached people groups are still waiting to hear the gospel—some having requested someone to come and share the message for years, yet there are still not enough workers to go.

Following the session, we partnered with Spectrum Ministries to help host an outreach event for children and families in a low-income area of Tijuana. Spectrum focuses much of its ministry on serving local children and families. Before we began, Paul, the president of Spectrum Ministries, reminded us that our goal was not only for people to see Jesus through us, but to truly experience Jesus.

Our students jumped right into serving wherever needed. Some helped prepare fruit and vegetables, others ran games and activities, made cotton candy and popcorn, painted faces, coloured with kids, or spent time refereeing water gun fights. The atmosphere was full of energy and joy. Several members of the team also helped distribute fresh produce bags so families could leave with food for the week. By the end of the outreach, everyone had stories to share about meaningful conversations, memorable moments, and the connections made throughout the day.

On the way back to the dorms, we stopped for a well-deserved ice cream break. The team enjoyed everything from cones and banana splits to Mexican fruit popsicles, paletas. When we got back to the dorms, we had the chance to do a little souvenir shopping as local vendors brought Mexican goods like hats, ponchos, and bracelets to the dorms. Afterward, we spent time reflecting with our teammates on the eye-opening experiences we’ve had this week serving among those in poverty, as well as what it has been like to step away from our phones.

Dinner this evening was prepared by Paty, MCM’s office worker and build coordinator. The meal she made was delicious! For our night session, we heard from a current Radius Servants student who, along with his wife and five children, is preparing to serve in Vietnam. They are set to graduate in July and are hoping to move overseas sometime next year. The students were curious about him and asked many thoughtful questions.

We are currently wrapping up our final evening in Mexico together by playing card games, worshipping, talking with friends, and beginning to pack for tomorrow’s departure.

It has been another full and meaningful day.

Team Mexico

This morning marked our final day with MCM before packing up and heading back to San Diego. We began the day with our usual rhythm of devotions before breakfast, followed by worship and a speaker session. During devotions, we reflected on Philippians 4:2–9, especially verse 8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” It was a meaningful reminder that even as we return home, God continues to call us to focus on what is true and lasting rather than getting distracted by the busyness of everyday life. Afterward, we heard from Spencer Hoyt, one of the directors at MCM, who spoke from Jeremiah 17:5–10. He challenged us with the question: “What does it look like to rely on your own power?” His message encouraged us to consider what it means to live deeply rooted in Christ long after the trip is over.

Our final activity at MCM was helping clean the dorms since we were the last spring team of the season. By the end of the morning, every floor had been swept, every counter wiped down, and enough vacuuming had taken place to qualify several students for professional housekeeping careers.

Once everything was cleaned and packed, we said our goodbyes and loaded into the vans. We’re thankful that our border crossing back into the U.S. was smooth and uneventful — unless you count the very important last-minute churro purchases. Naturally, we also felt it was only right to celebrate our return to San Diego with a stop at In-N-Out. Burgers, fries, and milkshakes were enthusiastically received after a week of ministry and travel.

Since we were ahead of schedule, we made a quick Trader Joe’s stop before checking into the hotel. After getting settled, everyone appreciated some time to relax by the pool, shower, and recharge. Dinner was full of laughter, storytelling, and birthday celebrations, followed by a quick Target run. We wrapped up the evening back at the hotel, looking forward to tomorrow's day in the sun. Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and support throughout this trip. We’re grateful for the ways God has worked in and through this team during our time in Mexico and look forward to sharing more soon!

Team Mexico

After a good night’s sleep on comfortable beds, the students were especially thankful for the little luxuries they’ve encountered along the way. This morning’s breakfast buffet — complete with plenty of options beyond cereal and yogurt — felt like an extra treat. Over the course of the week, our group has developed a deeper appreciation for many everyday comforts often taken for granted.

Today we headed to La Jolla, home to a protected marine reserve, for an exciting kayaking adventure. Our enthusiastic guides made the outing both educational and entertaining, even kicking things off with an energetic team chant before we launched our tandem kayaks into the Pacific Ocean. Once out on the water, students paddled alongside one another, raced playfully, and learned about the wildlife surrounding them, including sea lions, brown pelicans, and the vibrant orange Garibaldi fish. A few students took an unexpected dip in the ocean, but everyone returned to shore safely, laughing and smiling after a memorable experience.

Later in the day, students split into groups to enjoy lunch at places of their choice before spending the afternoon relaxing by the beach. Some joined volleyball games, others wandered the shoreline, and many explored the local souvenir shops. More than anything, the students simply enjoyed spending quality time together on the final full day of the trip. It has been wonderful to watch friendships grow stronger and new bonds form throughout the week. Every van ride has been filled with conversation and contagious laughter as we’ve travelled from one destination to the next. We hope these memories and relationships remain meaningful to the students for years to come.

To celebrate our final evening together, we shared a lovely dinner at a restaurant near the lighthouse with beautiful views overlooking the ocean and city skyline. After dining together in a private room, we made one last stop for dessert at a specialty ice cream shop before returning to the hotel to pack and prepare for tomorrow’s travels home. Students enjoyed unique flavours such as mango sticky rice and yuzu matcha, but the highlight of the evening was simply being together. As our trip comes to an end, we are grateful for the experiences, learning, and friendships that have shaped this week, and we look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

Team Mexico