Bringing Christmas to the Rio!

Last Saturday I got the privilege of helping share the joy of Christmas with people who have close to nothing. About 100 adults and 100 children came out to worship and hear a message. After that we had a skit, a meal, gifts, a pinata, and crafts. The gifts are thanks to donations from friends in the states.


My debut as Mary...

SMCA Outreach

Every year we try to do an outreach where our school children do something for the community. The childrens' homes and Rios we work at are not in our own neighborhood. Yet even in our neighborhood we have very poor and very rich. This year we went out and handed out candy canes with the Christian story of the candy cane on it. It's a great time for us to get to know our neighbors and help them to see Americans in a good light, and to share the love of Jesus!!

New food I tried last night

It's called 'poncho cachuro' and it is a burrito made of baked cheese on the outside, and inside is meat...you cut it and put it on tortillas with, of course, lime and salsa...Que Rico!! It was great!

Parties, parties, parties!

Staff women's party

Single girls' Christmas celebration

Staff kids' party!

Joven Christmas party

I love being able to be a part of the teen ministry here on campus. I have watched these kids grow for 4 years now and I have built relationships with a lot of them. We blessed them with a party, just for them, this Christmas. I loved watching them laugh and socialize with each other...

There were eating games like:
a relay to eat the Saltines and whistle afterwards..


'Chubby Bunny'

'Spoons'

'Jenga' with a twist..




and of course, food!

Thanks to all of you who support our ministry! Thanks to you, we could get them all Christmas presents!!!

The Monterrey Rayados soccer team won the championship for the 4th time a few weeks ago!! I love the spirit this city has with soccer! I got stuck in a parade a few days later down in the city! There were hundreds of people wearing blue and white!

Thanksgiving 2010

Every Thanksgiving is a fun event here at Back2Back. Everyone on campus is invited, including staff and teens, and also pastors, other friends, and this year teens who have already graduated from our Hope Program. This year we had about 150 people and cooked 8 turkeys. We gathered under a big tent to celebrate and fellowship together. After we ate all the food that people brought, my students did a short skit, Beth and Antonio shared, and we had worship.

Last night about 8 of our teens and 2 house parents and Jessica and I went to an event in the city to "pray for Mexico". People were supposed to wear white as a sign of peace. It was an amazing experience as about 25,000 people showed up for 4 hours of worship and prayer in the microplaza of the city. The governor was there and other people in politics. One of our favorite worship leaders, David Alfano, was there for a time of praising and adoration in between praying. Our God is big and a God of healing and he can bring this city under his Lordship!

the Hope Program

I just love every one of these teens and their personalities! God has given me such a heart for them. I hope you will pray with me for their futures, their relationships with Jesus, and the impact they can have on the world.

Alondra

One of the sweetest girls at Casa Hogar Douglas is Alondra. Whenever I am over there she is helping out the caregivers and everyone loves her! Well Alondra turned 15 this September and had her Quincinera. In Mexico the tradition is that the girl has padrinos to buy everything - like the cake, the dress, the shoes, the Bible, etc...I got the privilege of buying Alondra's shoes. To me this was a chance to love on her and spend time with her too. So one afternoon we went out shoe shopping. I don't know if she was ever told, "Okay pick whichever ones you like". She was very timid but knew exactly what she wanted. It was a great day and then to see them on her with the dress was fun! She looked beautiful!

3 days later

here is the other bridge from our property to the main road

check out the huge deep hole