Trip to Oxford (sorry backtracking a bit!)

In August I was blessed with a trip back home to support raise and visit family and friends. Cheque got to come back with me which was such a huge answer to prayer! He got to visit the States for the first time, met tons of you all, got to hang out with my family, went to several churches with me to speak, and just got to get to know this part of who I am... it was a GREAT trip! The Lord was faithful and provided time for me to meet with some of my most favorite people! He provided the opportunity to share at 3 different churches and some time to just relax and enjoy my family. Here are some pictures from my two weeks at home. It was great to see you guys. 

Cheque and myself with Kelly in Kofenya!

What's a trip to Cincy area without Graeters?

Overlook of Cincinnati

Spending time with family 

Here we are hanging out with my good friends Nick and Karen. 

Grandma and Grandpa

A Message From the Kids in the Rio

Mexico Celebrates 200 Years of Independence!

For weeks the streets of Monterrey have shimmered red, white, and green as vendors have displayed their flags, t-shirts, streamers, and noisemakers on the sides of the roads.  Monterrey has been a bustle of activity with concerts, plays, and movies about the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence from Spain and the centennial celebration of the Mexican revolution.  September 15^th, 2010 was quite a day in Mexico!

For Back2Back our festivities started at Casa Hogar Douglas. Staff, children, encargadas, and two American groups gathered in the CHD courtyard dressed in red, white, and green, ready for the ceremony and celebration! Several of the older children, dressed in uniform, marched the Mexican flag into the center of the courtyard for the anthem to be sung. Then Daniela, from Douglas, led the children in the student promise to the flag. Together as a community we sang the state of Nuevo Leon anthem and waited for the climax of it all, “El Grito”.  

Traditionally the 15^th of September is referred to as “El Grito”(the cry).  Two hundred years ago in the village of Dolores (near to Mexico City) on September 15^th at 11:00pm a priest named Miguel Hidalgo gave the shout to the people to take up arms and fight for Mexico’s independence.  This started the 11 years of war with Spain for what is now the country of Mexico.

In independence day celebrations traditionally the mayor or governor of the town will give the cry to the people just as Hidalgo did many years ago.  At Casa Hogar Douglas one of our teens and member of the Hope Program, Leo, dressed in traditional “charro” costume gave the historic cry to the children, B2B staff, and group members participating with us. All around echoed the response to each phrase Leo spoke, “Viva Mexico!”  “Viva Mexico!” “Viva Mexico! With excitement high, Casa Hogar Douglas director, Pastor Javiar, stood up and spoke to all those standing there about how as believers we are called “the city of God” and how the greatest independence we have is that of freedom and liberty that is found in Christ. Together as a community we thanked God for the freedom and grace he has showered on us.

The rest of the evening was celebrated with a Mexican buffet and a carnival for the children! Little red, white, and green bodies were everywhere as they waited for their turn to play games, eat tacos, and win prizes!

Later that night we put on a special event for our teenagers in the Hope Program. We celebrated their country’s heritage with them with a decorated palapa, pina coladas, and the events in downtown Mexico City projected on the big screen.  Together at 11:00pm we watched President Calderon give the grito shout from the Zocalo and the amazing festivities happening in Mexico City. We also had the fun of shooting off our own fireworks from the top of a teen home! The teens loved it, as did the staff! We finished with salsa dancing into the night.  

It was amazing to experience Mexico’s bicentennial here in the country and even more exciting to celebrate with the children and teens such an important part of their heritage. Viva Mexico! 

Kids at Casa Hogar Douglas dressed in traditional costume. 

The flag ceremony at CHD. 

Leo and myself! 

Viva Mexico! 

Part of our Mexican buffet.. yum! 

So cute! 

Virgin pina coladas for all! 

The big screen in the palapa with Mexico City events. 

The fireworks we shot off... pretty cool! 

                                                        Leo giving the "Grito" at CHD!

Monse Turns 7

My little friend,  Monse, turns 7 on Saturday!!! Monse has come to our soup kitchen children’s classes for the past few years. This past year specifically I have begun to build a relationship with her. Monse comes from a troubled and very impoverished  home in the Rio and it has been made obvious that she needs positive attention! She often acts up in our Sunday school class and has a hard time obeying. Today I took Monse out, just her and I, to celebrate her 7^th birthday! First, we went to a local store for her to pick out a birthday gift. She had been telling me since last Saturday that what she really wanted was a backpack with wheels because her books for school are just “too heavy.” Her neighbor told me that she often sees Monse dragging her bag down the dirt road. We looked in 4 stores for a backpack with wheels but had to settle for a normal backpack and a “backpack cart” to pull it on because we couldn’t find anything else.  She was VERY excited! After shopping we went to McDonalds to play and eat. She had the time of her life! Monse prayed for the meal (the first time I have heard her pray) and while she has munching on her hamburger I was able to speak some truth into her life about who she is and the big plans God has for her. Monse told me that she knows God is powerful and that she remembers the lessons we are teaching about the Armor of God, specifically about the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. She also told me that one day she would like to be a doctor. I encouraged her that she could do that because she is very smart and talented.  I dropped Monse off at her home. She put her school books into her new backpack, and wheeled off to school as happy as could be. It is so fun to be able to bless Monse and pour into her. I am hoping to be able to take her out more often than just her birthday. Please continue to keep this precious girl in your prayers.

Monse with her newly purchased backpack

Monse, Ronald, and Me celebrating!!!

Enjoying a hamburger

Playing in the play land

Self portrait!

Monse in front of her house, ready for school! 

Welcome to the World, Kalet!!!

Kalet de Jesus was born one week and a half ago to a young girl in the Rio, Lucero. Lucero came to the soup kitchen the day after her baby was born to have him prayed for by the pastor.  I have been talking to and praying for Lucero throughout her pregnancy. As a young mom at 14, she had many questions, fears, etc., about the birth, her health, and her relationship with her husband, Brian. Man, was I glad for those child development classes in college! I have been able to pass on what I know about babies and offer up lots of prayers. We have had several good talks about the Lord in all of this which have been good.  Last Saturday I went to visit the baby and his mom and dad and brought them some infant clothes and blankets. Amazing to see such a tiny, perfect baby in a house with dirt floors! His mom seems absolutely in love with him. Please keep praying for Lucero and Brian. They have a lot on their hands and are very young. Please pray for Kalet, for his health and safety. 

Kalet being prayed for at the Soup Kitchen (1 day old). 

Me and Kalet (1 week old)

                                                                  Lucero and Kalet 

Summer VBS

 This summer our mission teams were given the opportunity to minister in a new way to the children we serve in Monterrey. Along with the work projects, fieldtrips, and play times we felt led to incorporate Vacation Bible School into our weekly summer schedule. Back in September myself and others began organizing children’s ministry classes in one of the impoverished areas we work with during weekly soup kitchen services. The children loved the lessons and activities and were truly learning the scriptures we were teaching them! After seeing the success of this kind of ministry in the Rio areas, we asked ourselves, “Why not in the children’s homes as well?” For many years the mission teams partnering with B2B have helped the children see and receive the love of Christ through participating in work projects at the homes as well as through personal connections and playtimes with the kids. Now the children also have the opportunity to receive Christ’s love through the direct teaching of the Word of God in a child friendly way.

     Our VBS theme for the summer was “The Fruit of the Spirit.” Each week teams would go out to nearly every children’s home equipped with songs, skits, crafts, and memory verses in order to teach the children about the Holy Spirit.  In order to help cross the language barrier, we had nearly 40 Mexican students from 4 local churches sign up to partner with us in the VBS. Each VBS day our United States teams, mixed with local church youth, would together minister to the children. One of B2B’s goals is to partner with the local body of believers in ministry. It was beautiful to see this happen this summer! Through VBS many of the local volunteers formed relationships with the homes and Rio areas we work with and are now going to minister in these places independently from B2B. We are excited about what has happened this summer with the volunteers and where it might lead! As B2B we are committed to help raise up national leaders and ministers!

   We are praising God for His word that went forth this summer and the many seeds that were planted in children’s hearts all over Monterrey. We are also thankful for the many connections we now have with churches and youth in the city! Hopefully this will be the first of many summer VBS programs to come. 

Check out the videos below for a taste of summer VBS!

Games!!!















A skit about love put on by our local volunteers.

                                                               Kids at the craft table

                                           A US team putting on a skit about the life of Christ. 

Continued Work in Rio 3

I wrote and posted pictures several weeks ago about the devastation Hurricane Alex caused in the impoverished community of Rio 3. After the flood swept through, B2B went in (along with many other aid groups in the city) to bring relief. Here are some pictures of relief at work.

B2B staff teach the women leaders of the Rio3 community how to purify drinking water with PUR packets.


Clothes give away to the Rio 3 women.


The local government employing people from the Rio community to help with the clean up efforts in their own neighborhood.

Rio 3 children in a newly rebuilt home!


One of hundreds of Rio children.


Shacks being rebuilt by Rio families.


Women and children in line for food donations and work possibilities.


This is a short video I took of Rio 3 right after the hurricane.