Princess for a Day!!!!

Adi Leslie and Sinai celebrating their XV Anos!!!

God blessed me with the privileged to get to know these two beautiful young ladies through the course of several months as we worked together to plan their Quince Anos. Adi and Sinai are beautiful inside and out. They have hearts for Jesus and I felt so blessed to be able to help make such an important day a reality for these MDA girls!!!

Below are the words of my good friend and Co-Back2Backer, Jenn Myers as she talks about this XV Anos day!!!! Enjoy :) 

"One of the traditions that I love about Mexico is how big they celebrate girls’ 15th birthdays, their entrance into womanhood, by throwing a quinceanera. This elaborate party full of flowers, decorations, and princess dresses is enough to make anyone feel special, which is the ultimate goal. Usually the families of the children would be the ones to plan and provide a party for their girls. Unfortunately for the children in the Casa Hogars this is not possible. We as a ministry believe that this is a very important time for the girls, a rite of passage, not just a party.

The girls being escorted in with their chambalans.

We are grateful to our child sponsors in the states who partner with us to help provide a special day to celebrate the amazing lives of the girls that we serve, daughters of the Most High King! I know how special I feel when I think of myself in this way and I am excited to be a part of helping others to feel the same.

The ceremony

I was gifted with the privilege of joining my friend and co-worker Hope, to go dress shopping with the two beautiful girls shown in the picture above as well as taking photos of their special day. Both girls are beautiful on the inside and out.

Sinai

Making vows to keep their lives pure and unto the Lord. 

 Raziel, pastor and house parent on staff with Back2Back was asked by the girls to speak at their ceremony. His heart and words for them were so beautiful, a glimpse of God’s love for His daughters. Each girl was given a rose from a friend as scripture was read over them. 

Adi Leslie

Us with the girls. I was the event planner of this day and Cheque was DJ/ muscian. 

Yay!!!!

Edgar, the director of MDA giving a charge and blessing to the girls. 

It was a great time of celebration as friends and family came together to celebrate the lives of these girls. Both of the girls had their sponsors from the States fly in to help and to celebrate with them. There was dinner for all of the guests as well as the traditional dancing that followed dinner. What wasn’t so traditional was the girls’ request that we have a small worship service to thank God for all that He is and all that He has done. I am so thankful to be a part of all that God is doing in the lives of the children of Monterrey."

 - Jenn Myers, B2B Staff

The party!!!!

What We've Been Up To...

No fears, folks! We are still alive and thriving!!! By looking at my blog you would think we have been MIA for the past 3 months. Glad to say that is not the case (unless MIA stands for "Ministering In Action" !!!! Hahaha!) Truth be told, we have been BUSY!!! Here are a few snap shots of what we have been up to these past few months. I so wish I had all the time in the day to tell each of you the stories behind each photo, but this will have to do!

So what have we been up to????....

RETREATS

Ministering to over 80 teenagers during a 121 retreat in the mountains

 In February we spent a weekend with 80 teenagers in tents and cabins in the mountains during a spiritual retreat weekend. The retreat was targeted at the teens who are still finishing middle school and therefore still living in the children's homes where we serve. What a huge group! One day each of these kids will have the opportunity to be in our Hope Program.

Cheque playing the drums

Cheque helped with worship during the retreat. These days you can almost always find Cheque behind a set of drums either at church, back2back, retreats, or events!!! He is quite talented :) 

Camping with the teens!!!

LITERACY PROGRAM

Reading with Cristian

I've been busily filling my days with the Back2Books Literacy Program! We now hold classes twice a week at Casa Hogar Del Norte and my time between is filled preparing lessons or developing the program to soon plant in other children's homes. 

Caring for Baby Isaac while teaching literacy!

Easter egg hunt with my students

MANANTIAL DE AMOR

Cheque leveling a soccer field 

 We also spend many a day at Casa Hogar Manantial de Amor (MDA) where Cheque and I are the B2B captains. It is quite the multifaceted job!

Bowling with the MDA kids

Writing child sponsorship letters with the kids

Hanging out with Rubi from MDA and Jess Biondo.

... AND OTHER THINGS!!

Translating for a dental team in Cadereyta

Hiking with my mom when she came to visit in March :) 

Dying Easter eggs!!!

Stay tuned for more to come :)