Recent headlines about Juárez, Mexico have reaffirmed for most people that it is a tough place for anyone to go -- let alone a teenager. But for me, spending time building homes in Juárez has been the greatest opportunity of my life.

In many ways, my trips to Juárez began with a Pinewood Derby race car.

You see, I really began to learn about serving others when I became a Cub Scout. I was 6 years old and, to be honest, the idea of racing Pinewood Derby cars and making model ships was what first drew me to Scouting. I had a lot of fun doing those things.

I made friends who became like brothers. And, as I got older and progressed through Scouting's ranks, I started to see how being a Scout impacted the community, too.

I was still having fun camping, hiking trails, and exploring the wilderness, but I noticed that the things we did as Scouts, like clean-up efforts and food drives, were really making a difference.

I was 12 the first time I had the opportunity to travel to Juárez with Casas por Cristo.

Seeing how people were living just 15 miles away from my own home really affected me. The people of Juárez literally used anything they could find to fashion a house. The trash and scraps they built with did nothing to keep out the weather, dirt, or bugs.

Many people there had nothing, but their joy was unbelievably clear. Even though we ask them not to, a lot of the families spend a month's salary to prepare food for us. They invite us to share in what little they have.

One family I have come to know and love in Mexico has five kids. One day, I brought a soccer ball for the children to play with, and the kids began kicking it around. It was a huge lesson for me to focus on what I have, not what I don't have. They were just so joyful to have a ball to play with.

That night, their grandfather slept on top of our pile of building materials. He was so afraid that someone would try to steal his family's new home.

The first time I saw someone cry because their family now had a home, I knew I had to go back.

The first time I saw someone realize their children would stay warm and dry that night, I knew I had to go back.

The first time I saw what it meant to live without material possessions, but still have love and family, I knew I had to go back.

It's no surprise, then, that I made building homes in Juárez my Eagle Scout project. I'm going back again this month to build my 13th house.

At this point, I can't ever imagine stopping this work. I know I'm only 17 and my life is going to change -- but I know in my heart that some things won't.

For the rest of my life, even if it isn't in Juárez, I know I'm always going to want to help others.

And even though people don't believe me when I say it, I am just a regular teen age boy. That is why I think the 100th anniversary of Scouting in 2010 is so important.

For a century, Scouting has taken regular kids like me and taught us how to achieve our very best.

My best is different than someone else's É but I wonder what the world could be like if everyone really tried to be their best.

Justin Churchman is a 17-year-old Eagle Scout, and a student at Coronado High School in El Paso. He regularly travels to Juárez with the group Casas por Cristo to build homes for impoverished residents. Justin will build his 13th house at the end of February 2010. He actively raises funds -- more than $40,000 so far -- for building materials, recruits volunteers, and promotes the cause by making presentations throughout the community.