Anna - our newest caregiver

I want to share about a recent blessing that came to Casa Hogar Douglas. In early January, we had a guest come with one of our visitibng groups that I was introduced to. Anna, was a 25 year old who lived in Texas on the border and who had recently finished her masters study. As I talked to her, I learned that her dad is a pastor and that she was interested in working with orphans. At Casa Hogar Douglas, we were in need of a caregiver to help with the oldest girls' dorm. I stayed in contact with Anna over the next month and she eventually felt God calling her to come and help us in the children's home.

We are very excited to have Anna join our team! She moved in and began working at the home about 2 weeks ago now. Anna is a huge blessing to the girls she cares for as well as a valuable source of encouragement to the rest of the staff.

Blessings multiplied

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. 

2012

Well, after taking a break from blogging for the month of January, I'm ready to start up again. It isn't that we didn't have a lot going on, but I just didn't take the time to blog anything. You can check our Facebook page @ BettyyJim Betscher for some pics and posts about what went on if you like.

On January 1, Betty woke up with a song in her mind. In English, the chorus goes " Nothing is impossible for God." For much of the month of January, we have been singing this song as a family. I believe it will be the theme of this year for us. We are, like you, always facing trials both in our family and in our work. But we want to always be reminded and encouraged that we serve a God who is greater than any problem that comes along. He just wants us to be faithful in all things and cling to His Rightousness.

We've already experienced some great accomplishments in 2012. I hope in the next several posts to update you on what is going on both in Rio 3 and in Casa Hogar Douglas. But, before we share more of what is new, we want to thank each of you for loving us, praying for us and supporting us! We often close our day by remembering and giving thanks for YOU! We have the best family and friends that we could ever want or ask for! We are truly blessed by each of you! We honestly love what God allows us to do, that He allows us to do it together and that He blesses us with your love, friendship, prayers and support!

THANK YOU for being YOU!!!

Merry Christmas!

We want to thank each of you for the blessing that you are to us throughout the year! We love you and hope that each of you have a blessed Christmas season!

Reality

This is a photo of a 16 year old mom and her soon to be 1 year old son. They live in Rio 3 with her 3 year old sister and her mom who is in her mid thirties in a house like the one pictured above. She is a very pretty girl and her baby is adorable. Our work here in Monterrey can be summed up as we consider this young teenager's future.

Betty and I serve in Rio 3 because we want to minister to families like this one that are surviving on a thread. Over 30 million people in Mexico live in conditions that we would describe as extreme poverty. We believe Jesus loved the poor and has called us to love and serve them also. In Rio 3,we serve them by working side by side with the local church, Mercy House Church. Our highest priority is that they come to know and love Jesus. But we realize that we must help with basic needs like food, clothing and shelter in order for them to understand that God loves them.

We also serve in Casa Hogar Douglas, a children's home to almost 70 children. Unfortunately, young moms like this one, come to the point where they can't go on. They bring their children to a children's home like Casa Hogar Douglas. Sometimes, the family situation becomes unsafe. No one is really taking care of the children and they are roaming the streets. We believe it is better that they are in a safe place.

A Rescue

A short while ago, we had the privilege to help out in a child rescue case. Actually, there were 3 siblings under the age of 8 years old that were brought to us by their mother, through a friend of ours. For privacy reasons I won't go into all the details but I can say that all 3 of these kids were in physical danger. They had no home and were living on the streets. That alone is not safe in this country! But I am so thankful that ever since they were brought to us, they have been safe, well fed, cared for and loved daily.

I remember what my friend who brought them to us told me on the day that we met them. He said, "Jim, I was made for days like today!" As every paramedic or fireman knows, there is a rush when you assist in a real live rescue! There are many aspects to orphan care ministry. There is education, physical, spiritual and emotional development. All of these things are part of what we do as a whole. But when you are able to be there in that moment of a young child's life and be a part of changing their destiny, there is contentment. I know for sure, that on that fall day in 2011, we saw the future change for those 3 young children. They were literally snatched from the hands of Satan and placed in a place where they are not only protected but are free to grow in their knowledge of Christ as their True Savior.

Yesterday, I was reminded of this as I was worshiping in the church at Casa Hogar Douglas. I turned to my side and there was the oldest singing out loud the songs of the redeemed. He was singing them as one who knows!

A Day to Remember

A couple of weeks ago, in our Sunday morning church service, an important milestone was accomplished that I believe will have a profound impact on the future of Casa Hogar Douglas. It wasn't planned. In fact, I was thinking before the service started that morning that Satan was having his way more than God it seemed. Ever feel like that?

We didn't have a sermon prepared. After the time of worship, the song leader invited anyone to come forward and share a testimony. When we have done this in the past, it is usually only the adults that want to share anything. This Sunday, after a couple of adults shared what God was doing in their lives, a 6th grade boy came forward. This young boy has never wanted to open up about his feelings or openly share anything that was going on in his life before. The whole crowd was quiet as he shared the hurt and pain that he had been carrying for a long time. At times his emotions had him crying but he spoke very clearly and thoughtfully with all of us. This opened the door for others to follow. Many kids began to share what they were feeling in their hearts and asking God to fill up the void that they had in their lives. Many gave thanks for the children's home and the staff that showed them God's love.

At the close of the service we sang a closing chorus as usual. Another boy who had shared his pain, was on the front row and fell down to his knees with his hands lifted high as we sang "Blessed be the name of the Lord." His 6 year old sister came forward and began to hug him. By the close of chorus, the 2 of them were embracing each other on the floor and crying.

I believe God is not only blessing the kids of this children's home, but I believe that He is breaking down barriers as well. As many kids have experienced pain in their young lives, they have reacted by holding their feelings and emotions in. Or they have acted out in anger or frustration that has led to them being labeled a "troubled child" by others. This morning, that I thought at first would be a day without hope, turned out to be a milestone where hearts and minds were opened by the Holy Spirit. I would ask for continued prayer as God continues to work through His Spirit in breaking down walls that have been built out of anger and frustration in these kids' lives.