Thank you New Life Garage Church

God has been moving and doing great things at Casa Hogar Douglas! In the past 15 months. He has brought 4 new couples to work and serve full-time with the 68 children that currently live in this children's home. Three of those couples have come in the last 3 months! We believe that all of this is nothing more than God's answer to many people's fervent prayers over much time. We rejoice with the angels over God's provision for these kids!

In September, we had a group serve with us from New Life Garage Church near Washington, D.C. They purchased food to stock the food pantry for 2 MONTHS! The pictures above are of the kids eating in the dining hall. They have been eating like kings! We are so blessed to be able to have the many supporters that we do and be able to provide for the needs of these kids! We want to send a big "thank you" out to New Life Garage Church for your faithfulness! And thank you God for using people like this to care for the needs of these kids!

Family Day at Casa Hogar Douglas

A couple of weeks ago, we had a special day at Casa Hogar Douglas. Sundays are typically visitation days for any relatives to visit the kids. It can be a very difficult day for everyone. We have been wanting to do more to minister to the families as well as the kids. So we decided to have what we called Family Day. We invited the visiting family members to come to church with us, eat dinner together afterwards and play some games where there were even prizes awarded. We had a visiting group that made it even better!

During the church service, we asked the family members to come forward and we prayed for them. During this time of prayer, many broke down in tears. It was a very moving time. I believe that many of these families love their children but they bring them to the children's home because they cannot properly care for them. We know that this decision is painful for everyone. We want to share the love of Christ with all of them.

At the end of the day, one young mom asked Betty if she had a Bible to give her. We were thrilled to be able to give her one. 

Modern Mexico

I wanted to offer a little information about the country of Mexico. My desire is that you will be able to better understand the world in which we live and are called to serve. It is a country of extremes. Half of the country's 107 million people live in poverty. 15% of all Mexican children are orphans. The majority of those don't live in childrens' homes. They live on the streets. Mexico is home to both the world's richest man, Carlos Slim, whose fortune is estimated at about $53.5 billion, and about 20 million Mexicans who live on less than $3 per day. It is those 20 million that we are called to serve. Or, more specifically, the children of those.

Many times, in the news, we hear so much negative about Mexico. And it is true that there is a lot to do here. But I believe it is worth it. We can't just close our borders and forget those that are suffering. I want to thank those of you who support us in prayer and financially. You are helping us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this needy place!

Betty's 2nd grade class

This school year, at Casa Hogar Douglas, we hired Marilin to be our full-time educational aide for the children. Betty has been helping her by tutoring the 2nd graders every afternoon. Above is a picture of Betty with some of her students. There is also a picture of Alexis with his first spelling quiz that he got a 95 on! He was very proud and Betty was very happy.

The program, that we have in place at Casa Hogar Douglas, is made possible because we have supporters. Many of these kids had trouble reading and writing. Without some type of help they would one day never be able to succeed in Back2Back's Hope Program, of higher education. 

Lots of progress at Rio 3!

I wanted to update everyone on the progress that we have had at Rio 3. It has been 4 months since Huricane Alex washed away over 100 homes and turned the church building into a 24 hour refuge for hundreds of people. With the help of many who gave towards our huricane relief fund, we have been able to put a roof on the new multi-purpose addition and pour a concrete floor. This will enable us to not only serve the community on a daily basis, but will also allow us to be better able to serve the people in the event of a future disaster. This building will eventually be the soup kitchen!

I always like to point out that I believe the ministry that Olga runs from this church building is being a light in a dark world. Now they will be able to bring light to darkness in even a bigger way. We are excited about what God is doing in Rio 3. We also give thanks to God for the generous support that so many of you give. Together we are making a difference.

Forever Changed

The picture above is of a couple from Michigan that visited us in March. They are 2 examples of people who came to love on God's children and went home forever changed. 

Beth used a lawn mower with 3 wheels to cut some tall grass at Casa Hogar Douglas while they were here. Take a minute to read the letter that she recently sent me about what God has done in their lives since then...

Hi Jim, 

You probably don't remember me, but my husband and I were in Monterrey in March with Riverview Church from Michigan. I've been thinking a lot about your ministry lately and praying for all of you with Back2Back. I was curious if you have any specific needs right now that you that could be helped with financial support, since we are unable to be there physically... We are expecting our first child in a few months now and know that we won't be able to get back to Monterrey for a little while. I've been thinking about things like your lawn mower with the broken wheel, and just curious what some of your needs may be and if maybe we could help. 

... I don't remember if you recall us having a conversation about Jason and I not being able to have children. We tried for a very frustrating 2 1/2 years and had seen specialists, and our chances of conceiving were low. It was affecting our marriage and our lives in a huge way, and was very emotional, especially for me. I had actually hoped that while on our mission trip I could get my mind off of it, but found myself struggling while there because of the irony of all the orphans without parents and my own agony of not having a child. Through prayer and tears while on that trip I had decided to let God take control of the situation and I had finally come to peace with either not having kids or the possibility of adoption. We were very surprised to find ourselves pregnant shortly after and according to the ultra sound the date of conception was the day after we got home, which doesn't make sense according to the doctors. It is obviously a God thing. It is also interesting because Jason got saved and baptized on that trip. Anyway, pretty crazy, just wanted to share that with you. 

Thanks for the blog, we really wish to stay involved with B2B and pray for all of you. 

Beth

What happened in the lives of Jason & Beth wasn't anything that Back2Back or any of our staff did. It was God who brought change to the lives of this young couple! I always enjoy stories like this. Sometimes the ones most effected are the ones that come to serve "the least of these." Praise God!

Beth & Jason want to help us buy a new lawn mower for the children's home. I know that everytime I start that mower, I'm going to remember what God has done in their lives.

God bless you Beth and Jason! (and your son you are expecting in December)

Pancho & Alexis

Pancho & Alexis are the 2 oldest of 5 siblings that have lived at Casa Hogar Douglas for 3 years now. Pancho is 15 and Alexis is 13. The last grade in school that they have completed is second grade. They were far behind in school when they came to Douglas in 2007 and the home has not had the resources to help them get caught up.

But, this past week, Pancho & Alexis started classes in a special school that we found for them. Their teacher said that they are intelligent and that Pancho will be able to finish 6th grade this year and Alexis will finish the year after. Then we will be able to enroll them in a secondary school to further their education. This is something that both of them want very much and I have been promising them we would make it happen. 

The truth is though, that I don't think we could have done it without the help of our Shelter Program. Currently, we have over 25 kids, from Casa Hogar Douglas, sponsored in our child sponsorship program. This enables us to have the funds to help kids in special ways that we couldn't before. We can help buy better food for the kids to eat, pay for gas to run hot water heaters and take care of special education needs like this one.

I've been picking Pancho & Alexis up after school most days. Each day, they tell me how excited they are to be having this opportunity. I wish those of you who give sacrificially so that things like this can happen, would be able to witness the hope you are bringing to these kids' lives! That is why I want to share this good news with you.

Your giving is changing the future for many lives! THANK YOU!!!