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!!!

What are we going to do about it?

As many of you know, I read The Hole in Our Gospel earlier this year. I have been called back to re-read portions of it from time to time. I believe it is an excellent book!

A thought that I've had lately is what do non-christians really think of the American Christian Church? With so many poor and hungry people in the world today, what does the world think of the church's response? I know many want to help the poor and feed the hungry. Do non-christians see the church as hypocritical or judgemental towards people who are not like them? Sadly, I'm afraid that's exactly what they see in us to often.

I'm reminded by something someone shared with me recently. God has provided the resources in this world so that NO ONE would be poor or hungry. He just didn't distribute the resources EVENLY. He left that job for us to do! What are we going to do about it?

A special party for Alondra

Alondra is a young girl that lives at Casa Hogar Douglas. When a young girl turns 15 here, it is the custom to throw a special party for her. What we are celebrating is that this young girl is now becoming a woman. Alondra turned 15 in August and we celebrated her special day on Sept. 4. The thought that I had during Alondra's special day was that there is probably not another girl that is more loved at this home than Alondra. She also has many from the U.S. who love her also. At 15, Alondra is already a young lady who is living her life with dignity and compassion for others. I'm excited for what God has in store in the future for this young lady!

Additional Photos and Followup Thoughts

Newly painted dining hall at Casa Hogar Douglas really adds to the improved atmosphere!

Newly painted slide with mural on the sides for kids to enjoy.

We are concentrating our efforts to improve education for our primary students

Newly remodeed living room area for the oldest boys dorm. Painted in colors of the Monterrey soccer team which is the reigning national champion!
I just wanted to add another thought to my previous post. It came to me as I was praying the other day that the works of God are more like cooking a fine meal than warming something in the microwave. If we want a snack or something to eat quickly we use the microwave. But if we want to eat a good meal, we might have to wait hours for it to cook slowly. I believe that many times the works of God are more like a delicious dinner that is cooked very slowly but tastes so much better than something warmed quickly in a microwave. We need to be patient while God does His work in His timing and not expect Him to do His work in a microwave! The end result is so much better and always worth the wait!

God Changing Things in Casa Hogar Douglas

We see God moving in so many ways here. But in Casa Hogar Douglas, we have seen many changes this past year, that we know are from Him! It really started almost 2 years ago, when many of our staff felt called to go to this children's home and pray on a weekly basis. It wasn't long before we started to see God moving. I remember that one of the things that I prayed for 2 years ago was that this home would be known as the most spiritual home we work with. Today, I believe I can see that day coming closer than ever before.

The point I would like to make about this change is that I believe it has been God doing the changing. It isn't Back2Back or any one person or persons that are taking the credit. But, God has used many people along the way to bring change. They have each one done their part to be God's hands and feet as He has been transforming this place.

We still have a lot of work to do. But God has brought a lot of people to this place to do specific things in the transformation process. I believe He will continue to bless these children and this home as He completes this work. One important part that I want to share with those of you that read this blog is this. Those of you who have prayed or given money financially in any way, have been a huge part of the changes that have taken place. Those of you who are Shelter sponsors of kids from Douglas have enabled us to provide a higher quality of care for these kids.

God isn't finished doing His work in this home yet! I firmly believe that the best days of Casa Hogar Douglas are yet to come. And, I believe that one day in the not so far off future, this children's home will be one of the most spiritual places we serve!

Heavy Heart Thoughts

The girls in the picture above are sisters. They are 5 and 3 years old. Their mom brought them, along with their 1 year old baby sister, to Casa Hogar Douglas yesterday. She wants to drop them off at the children's home because she thinks she cannot take care of them. I'm not sure that they even realize yet what is about to happen to them. 

Betty talked to their mom and took down all of their information. She sent them back home and told them that we would be in contact with them. The truth is that they will likely be the newest residents of this children's home in a few days. I have witnessed scenes like this one numerous times in the last few years. Betty has been the person who has "interviewed" the moms and "admitted" the unwanted children into Casa Hogar Douglas, for 2 years now.

These young girls' story is all too familiar. Mom has lived with their father for several years, but not been married. Now that he has left them, she has no education, job or money. The only relative that is willing to help her is her sister and she doesn't have room for all of them. So, the children are dropped off at the children's home, while mom "rebuilds" her life.

It's times like this that my heart is heavy. So many thoughts and questions fill my mind sometimes. I really never dreamed that this period of my life would be spent in a battlefield. I think I always invisioned a more peaceful way that I would be spending these years. But really, I couldn't be happier doing anything else! God knows exactly what I need and always provides. And, I know that God will provide for not only these young girls, but for all the other children in all the other parts of the world that Back2Back serves in. He has promised to do so in His Word! (Matt. 19:14)

I really want to take a moment to thank all of you that lift us up in prayer, support us financially or have come to personally serve alongside of us. As difficult as some of these situations are, I believe their is joy in knowing we are the ones God is using to demonstrate His Love for these children! All of you who support us in so many ways are being used by God also. (James 1:27) 

THANK YOU!

Hope After a Hurricane

I firmly believe that God is using a hurricane to advance His Kingdom in Rio 3. Let me tell you how. Before the storm hit, when we would take a walk through the neighborhood, we would always keep our distance from men who might be outside their homes. Many of them would be drinking and would heckle us as we walked with an American group, near their homes. I remember this happening during a visit to Rio 3, the day the storm came. In the 5 weeks that have followed Hurricane Alex, we have served thousands of meals, passed out tons of clothing, shoveled mud from many houses and walked dozens of times through the neighborhood. Not once, since the hurricane, have we been mocked by anyone there.

When I was sharing this observation with Olga the other day, she added, "I know Jim! As a matter of fact, the other day, when a person from the government was talking to me in a strong way, (yes, the government has come to help, but they also tell us what we are doing wrong like no hairnets for food servers and no tile floor in our public restrooms) a lady who has never been a part of the church before, stood up for me. She said, 'Hey you can't talk to Olga that way!' This woman is new to the church and she was defending me!" Many of the men have also helped volunteering to unload food and clothing when we bring them.

I would like to share another story that Olga shared with us on Friday. She said that the long hours without rest have been hard and the other night she went outside alone just to talk with God. There was a little girl named LuLu that went outside with her. LuLu said, "I love you, Hermana." (what Christian women are called here...literally translated 'sister') Olga responded, "I love you too, LuLu." But this time the little girl said "No! Look at me! I love you!" Olga told us that she felt like God was using this little girl to speak His words of encouragement to her. It was like God was saying "Look at me!" He was affirming all that she was doing and encouraging her to be steadfast.

We believe there are many other stories like these where we can see the Kingdom of God advancing in Rio 3 during these days. We believe all of the work that hundreds have helped us with in the last 2 years, has been to prepare for this time. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to Rio 3 in any way. There is real Hope after the hurricane, because of what you have done! God bless everyone of you!