One of the things I recently realized, is how blessings can multiply. About 2 years ago, we had about 70 kids in Casa Hogar Douglas and received less than $1,000 per month to cover the expenses of the home. That amount doesn't even cover the electric bill each month, much less food, workers' salaries, education costs, gas, etc. Those needs were covered each month basically by begging. I use the example of a begger on a street corner who is holding out an old coffee cup. He might receive enough to survive and avoid starvation, but I would not describe that as success.
In the summer of 2009, Back2Back started our Shelter child sponsorship program. This was started so that we could help homes likes Casa Hogar Douglas to better meet the necessary needs they have each month. People who want to help sponsor one of our children. They write and receive letters 4 times a year with this child and the money they send is used to make a better life for the child in the children's home.
At the beginning of 2012, we now receive almost $5,000 per month to use to take care of the 68 kids we have at Casa Hogar Douglas. Let me share with you how that money has helped. We are now able to do the following:
1. Electric bill is paid on-time. We don't live with the fear of losing service.
2. There is always gas for cooking and hot water.
3. 19 kids are in "special schools" for learning disabilities or higher education.
4. The kids now eat better meals including beef or chicken 3 times per week.
5. We have been able to attract more and better qualified workers.
6. Workers that are responsible for child care have had their salaries doubled.
In addition, we are no longer looked at like the begger on the street corner. When American groups as well as local Mexican groups come to visit they see success. People want to be a part of something that is successful. They are eager to inquire how they can be a part of caring for these hurt children and giving them a true hope for tomorrow. Let me share with you some of the additional blessings that we have received because of that:
1. Over $50,000 in campus improvements including lighting upgrade, sport court and slide reconstruction, new concrete driveway, sunshade canopy over playground area and new paint.
2. New closets in all the dorms.
3. New mattresses and curtains for all dorms.
4. Ceiling fans and new lighting in the dining hall.
5. Installation of 20 new toilets to replace old ones.
6. A new library with over 1,000 new books.
7. Five new desktop computers with internet access.
8. A new wooden playground right outside the youngest kids' dorm.
9. A new deck, patio and garden overlooking the children's home outside the chapel.
10. Each dorm now has a new 32" plasma TV and DVD player.
In addition, we have a new office building that is 85% completed. We are beginning an infrastructure project to run all of our main wiring underground. This will make it cleaner, safer and we hope reduce our energy costs by being more efficient. We have plans to construct more buildings that will enable us to better care for more kids.
The part that I love about all of this is how successes multiply. We know that God wants to care for these children and bless them with what is important. We believe as we give Him all of the glory and praise for what He is doing in this children's home, He will send more blessing.
