DAY 3 /ENSENADA, MEXICO
Noticeto Build
By Aaron Smith
ENSENADA, MEXICO —
Noah received the notice to build before the rain came. In Mexico, I felt God giving me that same notice.
— AARON SMITH
Sometimes God does not wait for the rain before He gives you instructions.
Sometimes He gives you the notice to build before anyone else understands why the building matters.
That is what I have been feeling here in Mexico.
A notice to build.
Not just to build homes.
Not just to build a program.
Not just to build a nonprofit.
But to build something greater than myself.
Over the last few days in Ensenada, I have been surrounded by children, families, volunteers, barbers, builders, and people whose lives have reminded me that service is not something you visit for a weekend. Service is something God uses to reveal your assignment.
When Noah received his instructions to build the ark, the rain had not come yet.
There were no clouds proving he was right.
There was no storm in front of him.
There was only a word from God and a responsibility to move by faith.
He had to build before he could see what he was preparing for.
That is what faith requires.
Building before the evidence shows up.
Believing before the crowd understands.
Obeying before the outcome is clear.
And here in Mexico, I feel like God has given me my own notice to build.
To build Faith in Fades larger.
To build Revive Together stronger.
To build a mission that does not disappear when the trip ends.
To build stable homes for children and families in need.
To build spaces where young people feel seen, where men can be restored, where barbers can become servants, and where communities can experience the love of Christ in practical ways.
At first, I thought we were coming to Mexico to serve.
But now I understand we were also coming to receive instructions.
Every child who sat in the barber chair reminded me that confidence can be built.
Every family we met reminded me that stability can be built.
Every volunteer who showed up reminded me that community can be built.
Every haircut became more than a haircut.
It became a message.
You are seen.
You are valued.
You are not forgotten.
You still have something to build.
Because that is what this mission has become for me.
A notice to build.
And not only for me.
I believe every person we encountered in Ensenada received their own notice to build.
To build a better life.
To build stronger faith.
To build a Christ-centered foundation.
To build hope where disappointment has been living.
To build dignity where hardship has tried to take it away.
To build something with God even when life has not given them all the materials yet.
That is one of the biggest lessons I have learned here.
You do not need perfect conditions to begin building.
You need faith.
You need obedience.
You need people willing to show up.
And you need to trust that God can take what looks small and turn it into something that saves lives.
Noah did not build the ark because it was popular.
He built because he was called.
And when God gives you a notice to build, you do not wait for everybody to believe in the blueprint.
You start.
You pick up the tools.
You gather the people.
You trust the word.
You build by faith, not by sight.
That is what I am taking home from Ensenada.
A deeper conviction that Revive Together cannot stay small.
Faith in Fades cannot remain just an idea.
This mission cannot end at the border.
There are more children to serve.
More families to support.
More homes to help build.
More barbers to train.
More communities to reach.
More men who need to know that their gifts can be used for something holy.
One of the scriptures that has stayed with me is Hebrews 11:7:
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."
— Hebrews 11:7
Noah built for what had not arrived yet.
He built for protection.
He built for legacy.
He built for family.
He built because God gave him notice.
That is what I feel in my spirit now.
A notice to build before the storm.
A notice to prepare before the need becomes overwhelming.
A notice to create something that can shelter people, restore people, and point people back to God.
And while we are building physical things, I believe God is also building something inside of us.
Humility.
Obedience.
Compassion.
Patience.
Endurance.
Faith.
The kind of faith that keeps working when the results are not immediate.
The kind of faith that keeps serving when the room is small.
The kind of faith that says, if God gave the assignment, then the work is worth it.
To everyone who has supported this mission, prayed for us, donated, shared the page, encouraged us, or believed in the vision, thank you.
You helped us get here.
You helped us serve.
You helped us plant something that I believe will continue to grow.
But I also believe this is only the beginning.
God has given us notice.
Now it is time to build.
Build the mission.
Build the nonprofit.
Build the homes.
Build the people.
Build the faith.
Build the future.
And build it before the rain comes.
Until tomorrow,
Aaron Smith
Founder, Revive Together
Faith in Fades Mission Team