Please check out this link to a friend's blog!

http://www.idratherbecaving.blogspot.com/

A Song Brings Peace to Thoughts of Injustice

This past week, I've been feeling a heavy load, as I've dealt with injustices that I've witnessed, in the lives of the children we serve. The truth is that sometimes I am so close to so many awful things that are hard to witness. The hardest things that I deal with are when children are taken advantage of, or used, or abused by the ones that should be protecting them. I guess it is something like what a soldier experiences when he goes to war. The difference is that I know the battle has already been won when Christ overcame the grave!

I don't get a chance to hear a lot of American Christian music lately, but I really have taken comfort in the words of this Chris Tomlin song. He is singing of a day to come, that we are all living for. I especially like the bridge in the middle of the song. It is taken from John's words in Revelation 5, as he describes thousands of angels singing "Worthy is the Lamb." When I listen to this song, I am reminded that one day Jesus will right all the injustices of this world. I know that many of you can feel the weight of injustice at times in your lives as well. I hope this song brings peace to you as well. Enjoy!

In The Shelter of The Most High

How much money do you think it would take each month to raise 70 kids? Do you think you could do it for $1,800 per month? Without the help of Back2Back Ministries, that is what Casa Hogar Douglas would be forced to do. That includes food, electric, gas,vehicle maintenance, insurance, workers' salaries, school fees and uniforms. 

One of the ways that we are serving this children's home, is by seeking additional monthly support. We are doing this through our Shelter Child Sponsorship program. When you support a child for $100 per month, your money goes to help meet the overhead costs of the home. We currently have 21 of the 70 kids at Casa Hogar Douglas being sponsored under our Shelter Program. This is a huge blessing to this home. We are able to give them an extra $2,100 each month through the sponsors' help. 

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to deliver the money for October to them. The Director, Wyman, showed me the electric bill that was on his desk for almost $1,000 that he would now be able to pay. He also told me they would be able to pay for school uniforms for some of the kids that needed them. These are things that get put off when the money is tight. Most of the 9 full-time workers were waiting in the office to receive their monthly pay. They were glad to see me that morning too.

Raising 70 kids on $3,900 per month isn't easy, but it is double what they would receive without our help. Our goal is to one day have all the children, in all our children's homes, covered under our Shelter program.

The Best Gift is the One Given Away

      Some of the books we purchased

     Inside the New Library at Douglas

We recently received a donation to purchase new books for Casa Hogar Douglas. I'd like to share with you a little of the story behind the donation.

Emily Taylor is a 14 year-old student at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. After participating in a mission trip here, earlier this year, she wanted to stay involved in the lives of the children she met in Monterrey. One of the needs that Emily noticed when she read with the kids in the children's home, was the need they had to read better. As she thought about this, she had the desire to purchase books for their library. Once she knew what she wanted to do to stay involved with the children in Monterrey, she thought about how she could make this possible.

Emily decided that instead of asking for gifts for her birthday, she would ask people to give her money, that she could use to buy books for orphans. She collected $700! We used the money to purchase Christian books for all ages at a local Christian bookstore, here in Monterrey. The store gave us a 25% discount on our purchase so we were able to purchase $1,000 worth of Christian books with the money that Emily collected. 

Before we put the books on the shelves, we prayed for them. We gave thanks for the 14 year old girl who had a God sized dream to stay involved, from over 1500 miles away. And we prayed that these books would help bring a 'Hope for Tomorrow' that these kids did not have before.

Thank you Emily...and Happy Belated Birthday!    You are Loved! 

2 Day Kitchen Remodel

                  The Kitchen "Before"

                    The Kitchen "After"

Along with Mauricio, Rodolfo and Matt, I recently helped my friend Greg do a "makeover" on the kitchen in the Manatiel de Amor Girls' Home. This children's home is home to 12 girls. At Back2Back, we serve in 9 children's homes in the Monterrey area. These homes each have a B2B staff person who is responsible for our involvement with the children's home. While my primary responsibility is with Casa Hogar Douglas, I sometimes help the other staff in the homes that they have primary responsibility for. Greg is the captain of Casa Hogar Manatiel de Amor.

The kitchen was in very bad shape as you can tell by the "before" pictures. We completed the "makeover" in just 2 days. Actually, it was a lot of fun to work together with these great guys! I told Greg afterwards that I believe a kitchen can make a huge difference in a children's home. I think you'll agree with me that the "after" is a big improvement!