Kids with identity

This is Lilliana and Rubi. They play in their school's band. We are very proud of them! I want to thank all of you who support us in any way because your support enables us to make this possible for these two girls.

7 Schools for 61 Kids

One of the things that we have been working on this year is to develop an identity for each of the kids in the children's home. I hope to give you more updates in the near future of specific cases where kids have the opportunity to be individuals. We have kids playing on soccer teams, participating in the band at school, developing a love for reading novels, learning dance, cooking and art. We are constantly looking for ways to give them more of their own identity.

Three years ago, all of our kids were enrolled in 2 schools. One school for elementary and one jr. high. If the child was having trouble in their school we had few options to help them. In addition, we learned that it was not really healthy to have so many kids from a children's home enrolled in the same public school. When the teacher had a problem in her class, it was very likely that "one of those children's home kids was to blame!" That was not the identity we were looking for them to have! So we did something about it. Today, we have our kids spread out over 7 schools. Some students attend a special education school that is designed to help them catch up to the grade level they should be at. Some go to schools where no one knows they live in a children's home. Yesterday, one of our oldest boys played guitar in church for the first time ever. Many are beginning to participate in extra carricular activities and we believe they are beginning to know who they are in Christ.

Much of this is made possible because many of you are supporting what we do. Our budget for gasolene is $50 per day. During the week we have vans moving kids almost all day long. But we believe it is worth it. Thank you for your support!

Milk Donation!

We recently worked out a monthly donation from a local milk distributor here in Monterrey. They agreed to donate 200 gallons of milk each month to the children's home. We give them a tax deductible receipt for their donation. Normally, we have been purchasing about 1/2 this amount each month at an expense of about $300 U S dollars. This donation not only saves us that money but it makes it possible for the kids to drink twice the amount of milk each day. If we use the money we were spending on milk to buy fruit, the kids could all have smoothies as a bed-time snack!

A New Day in the Children's Home

I wanted to show you a new staff photo for the children's home Casa Hogar Douglas. One of the real blessings this year is that we have 5 staff that are Back2Back staff that raise their own support! We are working to raise the level of care that we offer for the children. At Back2Back, we have developed a 5 part Child Development Model that we use to define our work with these kids. It not only addresses physical development but emotional, social, spiritual and educational development as well. We have big  hopes for the coming year and we ask that you keep this staff team in your prayers as we minister to the  61 kids that call Casa Hogar Douglas home.

Holloween

Years ago, I didn't see much harm in Holloween. It seemed like harmless fun. I don't want to be critical of anyone who celebrates trick or treating with kids. But I have also come to realize in my 6 years of living here in Mexico that the spiritual world is very real. Most of the work that we do here in the children's home is not so much physical but spiritual. Satan has had his way with families here for generations. The result is thousands of kids that are abused and abandoned. There are real live witches that live within walking distance of our children's home. Some of them have been so bold as to ask for our children or they will put a spell on us!
This year, in the children's home, we are spending Oct 30 & 31 in the evenings praising God in worship.

Medical Outreach in Rio 3

We recently hosted a medical outreach team at Rio 3. They were able to serve this very poor community from the inside of the church that we have been constructing for 4 years now. The building is a huge blessing to the church as they serve this community in practical ways. This medical team was an added blessing because they not only provided medical treatment but also brought groceries to stock Olga's soup kitchen pantry.

Testimonies

I have been thinking a lot about the testimonies that God gives each of us. The thing that I have discovered is that they are all God's testimonies. You see the point is that whatever happens to us is to be used for God's glory. I have learned to try and remember that in every story that I am a part of or have a chance to witness, it is not about us. It is all about God! God uses us and allows us to even suffer sometimes so that He can be glorified. I think if we fail to use our testimony for anything but to show the world about God's great power, mercy and love for us then we are not honoring Him.
Recently, we have witnessed and even been a part of some amazing stories of God showing His love for His children. I want to be sure that in every way I give God all the glory for what He has done!