A Little Boy and a Multi-Colored Pen

This is Ricardo and the multi-colored pen. 

A couple weeks ago I was praying before I went out for the day with a team from the states. In my prayer time I poured out the the Lord my desire to connect that day. It is easy for me to get into the "management mode". I can run and direct a group of people all day without really connecting with a single child that we are minsitering to. It is easy for me to slip into a  heart attitude of managing instead of a heart attitude of ministering. That morning I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to submit my day to Him and to live the day conscious of the people he had placed around me.

In the afternoon we took the group to a children's home called Del Norte. As the Americans began playing soccer and jump rope with the kids, I noticed a little boy sitting off to the side of the soccer field, head down. I walked over and tried to initiate conversation with him, but he wanted none of me. So I sat down, rubbed his back, and watched the soccer match next to him. A few moments later a stray ball beaned the child right in the head. He started wailing! Trying to avoid any more stray balls, I scooped Ricardo up and walked with him around the corner of the children's home.

 If there is one thing I have learned from nannying and having younger siblings it is what my dad calls "the art of distraction". I knew Ricardo was not seriously hurt, just having a bad day and needed to be distracted from it all. What could I do? I had my backpack with me so for the time being I tried to interest Ricardo in the backpack... what could be inside? Was there something special? Would he like to see?... in the back of my mind I was thinking, "Dear Jesus, please let there be something cool in here. I didn't put anything cool in there this morning... but you do miracles, right?" We opened up the backpack and by the grace of God found one of those mulit-colored pens, the kind that has the little tabs at the top that you can push down to change the color. Ricardo was fascinated!

Soon Ricardo had colored up nearly 10 pages in a notebook I had! I began to see how creative this little boy was. Ricardo is about four years old I think. He has some developmental problems that effect his speech and his attention, however his creativity is out of this world. I wish I could show you the pictures that he drew! There were houses, pools, and, my favorite, a shark. Soon Ricardo found a jump rope one of the others had discarded. In moments we were rock stars singing into the handle as a microphone. Bored with the pages he had colored, and the "microphone" Ricardo, and another boy who had joined us, began making different styles of paper planes... super creative and super fun!

In no time I realized that we had been there playing together for well over an hour. Ricardo was happy, as were the other chidlren who had gathered around us. I was thankful that we had enough staff working that day that I could sit down and love on this little boy who was having a bad day. How many bad days go by for Ricardo, in which there is no one to sit down with and pull pens out of backpacks, color pictures of sharks, or sing into jump ropes? I was privileged to be Christ's hands and feet to this little 4 year old that day. To show him that he mattered and that he was worth investing in. I was also thankful for the Holy Spirit's prompting that morning to keep my eyes open for how He wanted to use me... never had I thought it would be through a little boy and a multi-colored pen.

Ricardo and myself

Playing with the camera, trying to get a self-portrait.

Ricardo and Elvis playing around. 

Sebas the Cook!

Sebas is a teen who lives on our campus and is a part of the Hope Program. He grew up in children's home about 6 hours outside Monterrey. Thankfully he has been supported to go to one of top culinary schools in Monterrey. Earlier this month his school had a exhibition in which the students researched traditional foods from each state in Mexico, set up booths, decorated, and represented that state at a fair. Cheque and I were invited to go and try some of the food that Sebas and his classmates had prepared. I can honestly say that there was not one thing I tried and did not like! Sebas is a talented cook. I'm excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for him :) 

Cheque, Sebas, and myself standing outside Sebas' "Puebla" booth at the fair. 

Sebas' classmates outside the booth they made. 

Sweet gorditas from Puebla... very tasty!

Chiles en nogadas, the main dish Sebas' team prepared. Sebas was in charge of the
 rice, and let me tell you, it was super good! 

Here is the chef with his food!

A dish from another booth. It is a stuffed fruit that tasted like apple pie! yum!

Cheque and I before we try one of the many weird foods we encountered that day.

Becca and I trying Sopes topped with dried crickets... yum?

The New Family in the Rio

A few weeks ago a new family of 7 entered the doors of the soup kitchen in the Rio. One glance and one sniff told us that this family was in need of help. Mom, Virginia, is younger than myself and has 5 little kids. The oldest is 9 and the youngest (a set of twins) are 2. Virgina, her husband, and children had moved into a shack with her mom after being unable to pay rent for their own place. Their house is smaller than most kitchens and houses 9 people. 

After seeing the children arrive at the soup kitchen on Saturday dressed in school uniforms (because they didn't have other clothes) and smelling as though they had worn the same uniform the whole week, I realized that we needed to help. A few days later I dropped off several bags of clothing and toiletries and loaded kids, mom, and grandma into my car to go school shopping. Thanks to a donor we had money to buy the oldest kids new uniforms, school shoes, and notebooks. 

I think the best part for the kids was just riding in my car! They laughed the whole time :) 

The family and Meme outside thier home.

The twins in the cart while their brothers and sister try on shoes.

Three beautiful children with three beautiful new pairs of shoes!

Francisco, Joanna, and Brian with their newly purchased school supplies. 

I didn't really realize how much in need this family was until one day when the grandma asked me if we had any dishes they could have. I'm used to families from the Rio asking for money and honestly thought that was what she was going to say when she pulled me aside. I went to their home later that week and saw that the kids were drinking out of pieces of plastic coke bottles! The b2b staff pulled together as well as some donors and we were able to supply them with cups, plates, silverware, etc.

By God's grace I have had many interactions with the family, including prayer and a sharing of the gospel with them! Please keep them in your prayers! Currently we are trying to get them connected to the government resources that are available to them as well as trying so satisfy some of their basic needs. Things with families in poverty are always sticky... please pray for me to have wisdom and discernment to know what to do and what not to do, how to help, but not enable, to know the truth and discern the lie. It is for families like this one that we, as B2B, have a Rio ministry. Virginia is a prime candidate to take her children to a children's home because of difficulties in providing for them. Pray for her and her husband! Pray for these children! Pray for me and the other B2B workers as we seek the Lord on what to do! He is faithful! Yeah!

The Armor of God (La Armadura de Dios)

We just finished a unit on the Armor of God with the kids in the Rio. Once again I was amazed by how much they learned and remembered. Several of the girls could recite the memory verse and almost all of the kids could name the parts of the armor and what they signified! This is HUGE considering how much energy and attention these kids have to spend on just mere survival. One of the highlights for the kids was a plastic armor set that got donated. I printed off the names of the armor in Spanish and taped them to each piece. They loved it! 

Brian displaying the Armor of God

Our class ranging in ages from 3-12. 

The kids with their shields of faith! 

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!