Impact Beyond Mexico

The longer I live here, the more I realize that it is God who is transforming lives. We are all just blessed to be witnesses to God's work! God isn't just moving in the lives' of the kids we serve here. I'm also blessed to witness God's work in the lives of the people who come to serve with us. I have been blessed to witness this many times in many ways. I would like to share with you an email we received from friends in Columbus, Ohio. I think the email says it all...

Jim and Betty,

 

I just wanted to tell you both how you and the rest of the folks at B2B Mexico have an impact beyond your work in Monterrey.  After our family visited in the summer, we returned home to our everyday lives.  As a family we knew God had shown us a picture of what it meant to share our lives with other people and to care for His children.  The two of you consistently show that love of Christ to the children of Douglas and the families of Rio 3.  It was truly inspiring and made me want to move to Monterrey.  However, after much prayer and consultation, I truly believe God was moving us in another direction.  We contacted a Christian foster care agency and started a long path towards becoming foster parents for kids requiring some level of therapeutic care.  

 

So, here it is today and we have now added a 13 year-old boy to our family.  He has been with us for a week.  We don't know how long he will be with us, probably a year or longer.  He has never really been to church and doesn't know anything about Jesus.  His mom is struggling mightily with the recent death of her husband and the demons of alcohol.  She too needs to learn of the love of Jesus and we pray to have a relationship with her that might facilitate her coming to be introduced to Him.

 

I share all this to simply say thank you.  Your obedience to God has been an incredible example for my family, one that hopefully will impact the eternal lives of this boy and his mom.  I continue to read your blog to keep up on things.   

 

Please share with all down there.  I miss all of you and look forward to returning in January.  My wife and the girls will be there in November and I am jealous of them.   

 

Our prayers are with all of you.  We think of you very fondly.

 

In His love,

Tracy

 

Dresses of Hope

In the midst of the aftermath of Huricane Alex we have experienced some very heartwarming stories. I have told several people that I believe God is using this tragedy to bring people closer to Him. In the Rio 3 community that was hit hard with widespread destruction, we have witnessed several such stories.  As the area has become darker, it has given Christians an opportunity to shine brighter.

The first week we hosted groups after the storm, we hosted a group from Northview Christian Church in Indiana. A 13 year old girl named Danielle came with her mother on this group. Danielle spent months preparing to come by organizing dress sewing sessions. She and her friends made 77 dresses for young girls and her mom and her brought them with them. She had done this before in other areas but this was the first time she was able to bring them and give them away herself. What a blessing she was for 77 young girls from Rio 3 that week! Some of these girls lost everything in the flood waters of Huricane Alex!

Check out Danielle's blog! There is a video she made when we gave away the dresses.

http://www.dressesofhope.blogspot.com/

Update on Anna and Linda of Rio 3

                      Inside of Linda & Anna's house after the flood

                 The first time we met Anna and Linda last July

                                             

                               Praying for Anna
                                              

                                Linda last winter in their home
                                             

                              Digging out their house this week  

A lot of people have asked me about Linda and her daughter Anna that we have come to know at Rio 3. Linda is 85 years old and lives in a house near the river with her daughter Anna and Anna's husband. Each of the women have lost a leg due to poor circulation but their faith in God has inspired hundreds. Many groups this past year have come to love these sweet saints during their visits to Rio 3.

Olga was able to evacuate them from their house and move them to the church building before the flood waters reached their home. But on Thursday night the river flooded many homes and destroyed many more. Their home was flooded and when the waters receeded there was 12" of mud inside the home and 3 feet of mud against the doors outside. All of their material possesions were lost. Linda is currently in the hospital being treated for an intestinal infection and Anna is sleeping and staying at the church buiding. Anna's husband has been sleeping outside on a new piece of property that he is claiming in hopes of building a new house.

We are in the process of helping them get resettled. Yesterday (Tues) we dug out their home and sorted through the damage. Aside from important papers, there really wasn't much left to salvage.

Operation Lighthouse at Rio 3

Delivering mattresses for people to sleep on in the Mercy House Church of Rio 3

On June 30, Huricane Alex hit the Mexican Gulf coast and became Tropical Storm Alex as it moved inland. Over the next 2 days, it dumped 40" of rain on the city of Monterrey, causing massive destruction of buildings, roads, bridges and highways. No area of the city was hit harder than the ministry area we call Rio 3. Hundreds of homes were washed away in the middle of the night. Perhaps as many as 1,000 people who once lived in extreme poverty, could now be left with just the clothes on their backs.

We've named our relief effort "Operation Lighthouse." For over 2 years now, I've shared with the American groups that we've brought there to serve, that I believe the church we serve beside is a lighthouse in a dark world. Well the world of Rio 3 has never been darker than it is now. Jesus called us as Christians to be Light to the darkness. While this is a terrible tragedy, I believe it has the potential of being an awesome opportunity to spread the Gospel in practical ways. Please stay tuned to this story because God isn't finished with it yet!

Definately time for an update!

                      My granddaughter Penny & me at Easter

             Betty & me with the 4 youngest kids still at home

Well it has been over a month since I have blogged anything. I find at times that there are periods like this for me. It isn't that I have nothing to blog about. It is just that I am going through a reflective time where it is hard to put my thoughts into words. Actually, I have had a lot going on. Betty's oldest son, Jhonatan is in Cincinnati visiting my family for about 6 months. I had the opportunity to go to Cincy and visit my kids and my granddaughter for Easter. It had been a year since I saw them so that was sweet. I also finished reading a great book entitled The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. It is a great, thought provoking book that I highly recommend. This book, along with my personal experiences recently, has prompted me to think about what is it that we are called to do for Christ.

I believe that you could argue that the American Church is the most giving church in history. At the same time, you could argue that it is the most apathetic. I think it is time that we all examine ourselves and ask "What is it that God is calling me to do about Christ?" I am privileged to witness Christians here that face hardship, danger and even death on a regular basis, but who have learned the meaning of fully trusting in God. Unfortunately, I tend to trust my own ability rather than putting my faith in the "impossible" that can only be accomplished by God.

I'm not completely finished processing all of this yet. I just wanted you to have an update on what God has been speaking to me. I'm sure it might be reflected in what I experience and write about in the near future.

New Name for the Chapel on the Hill

We have a new name for the renovated chapel at Casa Hogar Douglas. It is now called The Juniper Tree Chapel. Back2Back has been assisting in the weekly worship services for more than a year now. In May of 2009 we finished remodeling the chapel with the help of the Juniper Tree Foundation. And finally, in January 2010, we officially named the building The Juniper Tree Chapel.

The name comes from the verse in 1 Kings 19. The prophet Elijah, was scared and fleeing for his life from Jezebel. The scripture says that he went a days journey into the desert and took refuge under a juniper tree. It says that he actually prayed that he would die there. Can you imagine being so scared and feeling so helpless? But under that juniper tree, in the middle of a desert, an angel of the Lord began to speak to Elijah. First, God provided food and water and rest. Then, He told him where He wanted him to go from there.

Like Elijah, most of the kids that live at Casa Hogar Douglas, are scared and perhaps running from their past. Some may even think death could be better. But just as the great prophet of old did thousands of years ago under a juniper tree, we want the children of Casa Hogar Douglas to find refuge in the Juniper Tree Chapel.

Sometimes, we are intimidated, by the impressive lives and experiences of people like Elijah. But, James 5:17 reminds us that "Elijah was a man just like us." We desire that all that come to worship God at the Juniper Tree Chapel, would find hope that they also can accomplish great things for God. All that is required is that they submit everything to Him.

Kids at Casa Hogar Douglas Serving again

The kids at Casa Hogar Douglas, took another road trip to share the love of Christ to some children in need. We chartered a bus so that everyone could make the 4 hour trip to Ciudad Victoria. For many of these kids, it was the farthest they have been from their home. The kids were able to share food, a pinata and gifts to 75 children who have very little. Our objective is for the kids of Casa Hogar Douglas to experience the joy of giving and not just receiving. The kids were excited to share the love of Christ in this way.