ICE SKATING IN MEXICO!!  if that sounds crazy... it was. We had the opportunity a few weeks ago to go ice skating down town with kids from 3 different casa hogars.  For almost every single kid, this was their very first time ice skating and first time ever seeing an ice skating rink. As you can imagine, most of the kids (staff included) spent a lot of evening falling and sliding on the ice but the kids loved it.  They had SO MUCH FUN and so did I.  They'd fall and laugh and then get right back up, very determined to be good at it. Below is me and Cesar.  Enjoy...

More photos of kids with their Christmas presents and decorating their trees:

Answered Prayer!! I posted on my blog back in October asking for prayer for Casa Hogar Bethesda.  They were in the process of getting kicked out of their rental home and were searching for a new home.  Well... here it is.  It's 4 stories and HUGE!! The inside literally looks like a castle and for the first time, the kids have a yard to play outside in.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done on the home- for example, they currently have NO kitchen and need monetary donations for a kitchen but are currently living here WITHOUT one with 28 kids (pictured above, along with their current director Patty- please pray for her as her job is stressful)

This home is absolutely huge and easily 6 or 7 times larger than their former home.  What blows my mind is how God answered prayer through this new home.  I prayed for a castle and the home has crown molding trim all along the ceilings, it's HUGE, and kind of old, has granite floors throughout the entire home, and a HUGE yard for the kids to play in.  In the very back of this photo is their new fireplace and christmas tree.
The tall large window on the left lights the stairwell on 3 floors.  This is the tallest home in the entire neighborhood.  The owner came down on the asking price -- he lowered the price almost $1000 U.S. a month to make this happen.
To the right is one of the many beautiful children who live at Casa Hogar Bethesda.  This is Citlali and she is one of the younger sisters of Laura, the girl in my blog's profile picture (top right of my blog).  

"The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."  Psalm 145:17-18

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving."  - Psalm 62:11-12

FELIZ NAVIDAD from all the beautiful Mexican children to you!!  The following are just the beginning of many photos from the week we celebrated Christmas with all the casa hogars.  To the left are about 1/3rd of the kids at Casa Hogar Douglas praying before lunch.  
The women's group purchased live Christmas trees for every orphanage we serve.  At each home, the women decorated ornaments with the kids and helped the kids decorate their tree.  Before we left our property each morning the women baked several hundred christmas shaped sugar cookies for the kids to eat while they decorated the tree.  No detail was left unnoticed.  It was honestly an intense week- but one of the sweetest of my entire life.

Ever wondered what JOY looks like on a little orphan's face?  Well wonder no more... it's been captured here with Josue as he ran through the tunnel of women cheering for him as he received his Christmas present.  As awesome as a big expensive present is.... it's nowhere near as important or impacting as feeling special and loved-- if even for a moment...
To the right is Angel with his new Rayados jersey.  This is a "jersey culture" in many ways.  Mexicans love soccer and they love soccer jerseys more I think.  They are kind of expensive and pretty much the most awesome Christmas present ever for a kid in a Casa Hogar.  He was stoked- about 5 boys at this home got Rayados jerseys and after the christmas party they went outside and played a game. 
Meet "The Women's Group"!!! Most of these women hail from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Spending the week with them was possibly my favorite week in all of the 4 months I've lived here.  We laughed, we cried, we shopped, we hugged, we baked, we wrapped, we sang.... it was beautiful.
To the right is what I like to call "Santa's Workshop."  This group of women flew down presents for every single child at each home we serve.  One of my first B2B staff assignments when I moved here was to go to each home and ask each kid what they wanted for Christmas.  Seeing them show up in December was almost unreal for me.  I can't even imagine how the kids who received them felt.  What is crazy though.... is that for a lot of these kids- these were their first ever Christmas presents.  God's up to something- and it's kind of extravagant. 

Check out Tenth Avenue North's song called "God with Us" and think of my kids... 

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God."  - Isaiah 9:6

He is the maker of heaven and earth, the holy one, our saving son...

"The LORD reigns, let all the earth rejoice." - Psalm 97:1 

the children lift up their hands.....

 to Yeshua: God of love 

Emmanuel: God with us

FELIZ NAVIDAD!  Last Friday, I spent my entire day selling retail clothing at a women's christmas bazaar for english speaking women in the monterrey area in a beautiful mansion that raised about $10,000 (we think) for Casa Hogar Douglas.  They'd like to buy Casa Hogar Douglas a vehicle.  We sold jewelry, artwork, christmas ornaments, food, books, clothes and other fun things and raised a TON of money-  Pretty amazing if you ask me.  The home where this fundraiser was held had the most beautiful views of this city- looking out ANY of this homes many windows took your breath away.  I had a lot of fun meeting women from all over the world who have managed to find themselves living here in Mexico.  Many of these women have more money and wealth than I've been exposed to or could ever imagine.  As thankful as I am for what these women do for our kids, I think it's far too easy to put God in a box when I see wealth like that - I expect God to provide for the kids through them and then I get mad at God if they don't give me as much money as I think they are capable of- but often, support for kids here comes from people who don't really have all that much.  They give out of sacrifice and not out of excess.  I love people like that.  As I drove home with my roomie Becca, we both said that it felt like we went to the states that day or maybe even another country because all these women spoke english and it was such a nice part of town but that it felt good to go back to our humble neighborhood and tiny apartment.  And after spending an entire day with very wealthy women, I realized that I was comparing myself and my life to theirs.  I was questioning what I do for "a living" and the choices that I've made.  I was jealous of their lifestyle.  Frustrated, I spent the first hour after I got home conversing with God about what is important, what I really need as opposed to what I desire or think I want, why I feel like I can't afford to cut and highlight my hair..... this went on and on and then God spoke with extreme clarity and got my attention when I remembered that unlike many of those women- I've encountered the living God, He has interrupted my life and I have JOY in the Lord.  I'm SO thankful for that! No amount of money, nothing in this world can compare to joy that can only be found in knowing him, serving him, loving him.  In HIM, I'm the wealthiest person I know.   And honestly... not to brag or anything... but I love my job.  I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to fight for these kids everyday.  

Close to 2000 years ago, the apostle Paul had this to say, "nothing compares to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord." - Phil 3:8   It's true.  I needed that reminder because it is all too easy to believe the lie that he who dies with the most stuff is the greatest.  He who dies with the most stuff needs a really big storage garage and several garage sales.  He who lives pursuing the most stuff can never have enough- it's an endless cycle and it's not a cycle that I enjoy being caught up in.  Unfortunately, this desire for more stuff is ingrained in my mind- maybe I need more afternoons in the squatters villages we serve.  

Greg Huffer who is on staff with Back2Back, gave the sermon at church this past Sunday.  God really spoke through him and he delivered a powerful message.  Greg asked the following question which I think is one that we should all ask ourselves:  If you were doomed to live the same life over and over again for all of eternity, would you choose to live the life you are living now?  If your answer is no, why are you living the life you are living now?  We have got to wake up and live a life we can be proud of- live a life of purpose and passion.  He also said that "The LORD is my shepherd' is written on more tombstones than it is on the story of people's lives."  No wonder so many people in our world, our neighborhoods, where we work, in our Sunday school classes, etc aren't happy.  We just haven't figured it out yet.  

On another note, my heart has broken all over agin for the kids we serve here in Monterrey.  They are defenseless little kids.  and I love them. 

And last but definitely not least:  Go gators!  Florida State this weekend.... Alabama next weekend.  It's always great to be a Florida Gator! 

"Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are- face-to-face!  They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence... Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face.  And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."  -  2 Corinthians 3:16-18

God is good all the time!  In so so many ways I can see so clearly what He is doing here on behalf of these children and it blows my mind.  He is not a God who only moved in the past but He is alive and active in the world today.  Some days when I see others working and fighting for these kids, I can do nothing but stand back in awe and feel completely humbled and inadequate because God doesn't need me here- He will take care of these kids through whomever He wants.  He is able.  The past 2 weeks have been really busy with groups here working, playing with kids, and spending seemingly endless hours on buses all over this huge city.  I got to go to my first ever Mexican professional soccer game - quite different than american football but fun nonetheless.  I'm beginning to feel more comfortable and useful working with groups and my ability to translate spanish for the groups has been pretty good lately.  I get paid to spend my days with some of the cutest kids ever and I love that.  God has not forgotten them and is in the process of restoring their innocence.  After all, they are just kids.  They want to have fun and be goofy.  They want to sit on your lap.  They want someone to hold them when they are sick and feel bad.  And there are millions of kids just like these in foster care in the states waiting and hoping for a family and a permanent home.  Would you consider adoption?  Would you consider becoming a foster parent?  Some beautiful little child could call you mom or dad - think about it, but more importantly... pray about it. 

I can't help but pass this info along to you all.  Please watch this video (<--- you'll need to click on those highlighted words to view the video) and meet one of the directors here with Back2Back Ministries Mexico:  Beth Guckenberger.  She has recently written and published a book called, Reckless Faith, which includes many true stories of ministry experiences here in Mexico.  Beth is an amazing story teller - just like my grandma jones - and this is a fantastic book for anyone regardless of your interest in the Mexican orphan child.  It's the kind of book that you'd buy for yourself to read but then immediately after finishing the book, insist that everyone you know borrow your copy.

Copies of this book can be purchased at any major bookstore across the U.S. - Family Christian Stores, BooksAmillion, Barnes & Noble, etc for $15.  Tonight my friend Alyssa told me you can purchase the book (an audio version) on itunes... crazy.  Ask her about the book- i'm pretty sure she's loving it. All proceeds from this book go directly back to support the ministry.  

I LOVE MY JOB!!! I have had the most amazing and encouraging week.  I absolutely love fighting on behalf of the orphan child.  Sometimes your heart breaks, other times your skin breaks, but there is always joy in what we do here and goodness i felt it this week.  I got to lead a group by myself in projects and grilling out for Casa Hogar Douglas one day.  A woman brought over 100 brand new PJ's without even knowing that one of the homes had recently asked for new PJs.  
To the right is a 16 year old girl named Milagros who lives in one of the squatters villages where back2back serves with a sweet woman named Meme.  On this day, we led a group of americans to work on the soup kitchen where Meme leads worship, a devotion and feeds several hundred people twice a week.  She was born extremely premature.  The doctors didn't think she was alive.  But she was and today is a living, walking, talking, signing miracle.  She can not hear but is healthy otherwise. Through financial support from an american family she is able to go to a sign language school here.   "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  - Isaiah 40:29  She is so intelligent and proud to share with people what God has done in her life. 
We had a birthday party at Casa Hogar Imperio De Amor this week.  Mom check out that spongebob pinata!!  Today as SUCH an AWESOME day!!  I was soo encouraged and I had a great "spanish day" -- aka I was really thankful for so many great conversations in spanish today.  I love my job and I love what we get to do everyday. 
Whenever there is cake at a birthday party in mexico- you put the icing on your face to celebrate.  These two boys just kept laughing and laughing.  They are so full of joy and I loved eating my chocolate cup cake and laughing with them.
Beautiful children!  And these kids are so gosh darn sweet.  Don't you just want to hang out with them? So many of these children come from the absolute worst of home situations but God is doing a huge and obvious work in their hearts to restore their innocence.  Did I mention that I'm obsessed with my job?
On the left is me with baby Rene.  He fell asleep on the bus on the way back from Walmart.  An American group came down who wanted to purchase brand new shoes and toys for each kid at 2 of the orphanages we serve.  I have absolutely no words to try to describe shopping with 45 kids for brand new shoes and toys.  And i had baby Rene and two 7 year old girls!! It was insane.  And then we got to do again with another children's home later that afternoon.  I was brought to tears when children from the 2nd home just kept telling each of us over and over and over again, "Thank you!" in english.  They were so unbelievably thankful that someone made it possible for them to go to a store and pick out some new shoes-  probably the most genuine thank you's i've ever witnessed.  
Back2Back dedicated it's brand new medical clinic this past week.  We are now ready to have short term medical and dental teams serve with us.  The clinic is a beautiful 2 story building with state of the art examination, surgical, dental and emergency care rooms.  Our dream is to one day have a team of full time medical staff who live in the 2nd floor of the clinic to meet the everyday medical and dental needs of the orphans.  This week, a medical team was able to provide examinations for every child at each of the homes we serve.  This team also went out to one of the squatters villages where we serve and saw over 170 patients.
To the left is doctor Lisa who will be moving to India soon with her husband to lay the foundation for Back2Back India. While the medical team did their thing, I led a team of americans with Pastor Jose Angel to deliver food to 80 families in need.  We had the opportunity to talk with each family and pray for their specific needs.  One middle aged woman asked if we could pray for her brother who lives in the states and maybe send a letter to him for her (mexico has no postal system).  We returned later in the day to pick up her letter which was just a paper with his name and phone number in the states.  I was very confused and talked with her and tried to translate what she desired to tell her brother to one of the americans who would be making the phone call upon his return to the states.  After several minutes, one of the american men with me remembered that he had his phone in his pocket.  He handed it to the woman who then tried calling her brother who is in the states.  She hadnt spoken with him for almost 4 years and hadn't seen him for almost 7 years.  We were literally in the middle of nowhere mexico and this man's blackberry worked and the phone number was correct AND the brother answered the phone.  The sweet woman broke down immediately in tears and could hardly talk.  She kept telling her brother to call his mom because she is old and she missed him. It was such an emotional moment- even pastor Angel cried.
To the right is Miguel, a pre-medical student at the most prestigious university in all of Latin America.  Miguel grew up at Casa Hogar Douglas and is a student in Back2Back's Hope program.  He worked with the pharmacists all day to dispense drugs to the patients.  He's absolutely brilliant and the newspaper just informed us that is one of the top 5 students in his entire program at the Tec!  God is in the business of making all things new and I love to think about Miguel's hope for promising future. 

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world." -- Jesus, John 16:33

An American group member here with B2B recently asked me what I missed most from the states and without hesitation, I told him that I missed my little brother more than anything.  Owen... This one is for you.  I wish that I could have been there when you sent off your application to UF, or when you started your first day of your senior year, or that I could have taken a bunch of photos of you before homecoming and showed you my dance moves again (i'm sure you didn't miss them- I'm useless in this department as you know), or when the gators beat LSU and goodness gracious I wish I could go to even one of your cross country meets.  I'd be the annoying one with the cowbell- not only annoying you and the other runners but every other person for a mile around.  Why do people bring those bells to cross country meets?!?!?!  I still don't understand that one.   Actually, I'd probably be trash talking any runners in front of you and then I'd probably try to make you laugh as you ran by me b/c I hated my own cross country meets and any comedic relief would have been awesome aside from the time the girl with one leg beat me.  

Thinking about how much I miss Owen.... I started to think about all the kids in the orphanages where we serve who probably wish the same things about their own families.  Each child has a different story- they may or may not have parents.

• About one third of the children we serve have no parents- they are either dead or in jail and there are no distant relatives to take care of them.
• For another third of the kids, poverty forces parents to take their children to an orphanage b/c they simply can not feed their children or provide for them.  In this category I also place the kids whose parents work in rich people's weekend vacation homes.  Often, the owner employs the husband and wife and allow them to live on the property where they work.  The wife might cook and clean and the husband may be the night security, lawn guy and maintenance man.  But the owner might not allow children to live on the property so the children are forced to live elsewhere- often casa hogars (orphanages).  Thus I pretty much hate quintas (vacation home in spanish)-- not all are like this i know but i still dont like them.
• The other third often result from this scenario:  the man of the house leaves the woman and kids.  Mom is forced to find a new boyfriend or husband to provide for her and her children.  The new man doesn't want any "baggage" from her previous relationship which often includes the kids.  Either he beats the kids and out of protection the mom brings them to a casa hogar or he simply refuses to allow them to live in their home so they go to the casa hogar.  She then has more kids with the new guy and visits her older children periodically in the casa hogar because she of course, still loves her children very much.  She brings her new kids with her when she visits but her children who live in the casa hogar want to know why they can't go home with their mother.  Constant heartache.

And so I think about what it must feel like to be one of these kids and to miss their mom or dad or brother and not be able to see them.  I wish that I could just put the families back together and solve this problem.  If I could, I'd just give the kids back to their parents or maybe I could prevent parents from dying in the first place so they could be together.  But this just isn't possible- it doesnt work like that.  I think about what it must feel like everyday to love your kid but not be able to watch them take their first steps or watch them graduate kindergarten or score their first goal in a soccer game.  I think about what it must be like to live in a cardboard shack and not be able to make enough money to feed your own children.  What would it be like to spend your entire childhood wondering if something is wrong with you and maybe that's why you don't get to go home with mom.  That must be so difficult.  And there are 143.5 million orphans in our world today going through some of these very same emotions.  I don't hesitate for one second to tell you that I know that God knows what is going on here and that it absolutely breaks His heart.  In the Old Testament, there is a passage in Daniel 7 that describes Jesus as an enforcer of justice- the final judgement when Satan will be defeated once and for all and the Earth and God's people will be restored to their pure and perfect state.  One day, the Ancient of Days will repay everyone for all the evil they have done.  One day, God will right every single wrong that has ever happened since the beginning of time.  Justice will be had... FINALLY.  Knowing this is how I can sleep at night.  One day, all of these problems will be gone forever.  And in the mean time, I'm going to be loud about what isn't right and I'm going to love some kids.  God is bigger than you think and He will move.  He's moving right now- His purposes are greater than my own- and nothing gives me more joy than doing something that I know is important to the King of Kings.  Let us be moved into action to love with Him. 


"As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.  We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-  not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory strength that God gives.  It is a strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to tkae part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."  -  Colossians 1:9-12

Nail Salon Day 1:  A couple of days ago, I spent the afternoon at Casa Hogar Imperio De Amor and got to paint the nails of a whole lot of little girls.  One of them was even so kind as to paint my nails as well.   Funniest part of the whole day was when little 5 year old Guillermo (a little boy) wanted his nails painted too.  He knew it was only for girls but he didn't care.  And then about half of the boys followed his lead and had one or two of their nails painted too.  Who could resist?  My nail polish was pinkish/orange with glitter.  Everybody wants to look that cool.  Don't lie- you wish i would come and paint yours too... i know it.  

AAAAAAAAHHH THE GATORS BEAT LSU!!! I JUST FOUND OUT!!! 

ORANGE AND BLUE LET'S GOOOO GATORS!!!!!

BEST DAY EVERRRRRRRRR -- thank you jesus that i can access the internet and espn.com to find that out!!! 

Go gators!  go cure cancer, go write the american novel... the University of Florida is in Gainesville... The GATOR NATION is EVERYWHERE!!!  yeah in monterrey mexico b/c i think i might sleep in my tebow jersey tonight i'm just THAT excited.  someone please tell me about the game, clearly i didnt get to watch it/or have time to check the outcome.  

I'M OKAY!!! I GOT VACCINATED!! No need to worry folks!  Today I got to experience a Mexican emergency room to get a tetnus shot following a little mishap while dancing barefoot at a wedding.  Several observations:

1.  Mexicans are the smart ones- they know that if it's an EMERGENCY you shouldnt have to wait 6 hours like you do in the states.... they saw me in 3 minutes

2.  I need to learn some spanish cause I had nooo idea what was going on today or what the doctor was saying

3.  I think mexican doctors are nicer than doctors in the states- the doctor today told me to go somewhere else to get my shots because his hospital was too expensive.... apparently some shady place down the road could have done the same thing for $4 american

4.  I apparently have an address here in Monterrey.... i live at 34 manzana.  ha!

I'm fine.  I wont get tetnus now for the next 5 to 10 years.  and the wedding was BEAUTIFUL!  Felicidades Rene y Katey!!!

The little boy to the right is writing a thank you letter to an american who had sent him some photos and a letter.  I thought it was just about the cutest thing ever.  He wrote once on the white paper to plan what he was going to say and then copied it to the thank you card.  It takes SO many generous people like all of you wealthy enough to have access to a computer and the internet to provide for these children.  God raises up laborers everyday from all over the states and here in Monterrey to love on these kids.  Thank you for sending me to be here so I can try to demonstrate God's extravagant love.  
Today has got to be one of most beautiful days of all time!  The mountains never cease to take my breath away.  Also, in case you were wondering about the weather- this is the first time in my life that I think I've experienced what "Fall" feels like.  It's the rainy season here and is cool most of the time.  I wear jeans ALL the time!  Who woulda thought?!? 

I've been in Monterrey for almost 6 weeks now and I've learned A TON about all sorts of things- but especially construction!  Today I got to work a blow torch and practice with the screw gone on top of a roof.   At one of the casa hogars where we serve, we are working to demolish a non functioning bathroom and replace everything.  Todd taught me how to solder copper piping today.  I'm a wizard with the copper pipe cutter. We hope to finish really soon because until we do- about 25 little girls.... ages 5 to about 7 i think, have to go to another building to use the bathroom.  

A couple of posts ago I told you all about one of the Casa Hogars that was getting kicked out of their house.   This is an opportunity for something better I think- a bigger property where the kids can have a place to play and grow.   2 Corinthians 5:1 says that "if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."  One day, in heaven, these beautiful children can reside in an eternal house far grander than we could ever imagine.  Let us pray that God prepares a new home for Casa Hogar Bethesda here on earth that resembles some of this future glory.  He has a plan.

The past week has been filled with all sorts of training:  group planning, project planning, market shopping for the groups, meetings.... I'm learning a lot about how Back2Back works from the inside out.   All the while though, wrestling daily with what my niche will be here. Lately, my heart has been really heavy and I feel frustrated in so many ways.  When I try to sit back and reflect upon my life here, all I can think about are all of the injustices that exist today in our world.  I want to do something and make a difference, right the wrongs- ALL of them. The needs are so great and so numerous that I often feel completely inadequate and helpless to make a difference even in small ways. I will never understand why things are the way they are.  Why do some children get sold into a life of slavery or prostitution and others grow up going to gymnastics and grandma's house?  Honestly, I sometimes get really upset with God for lavishing blessing after blessing upon me because from my perspective, it looks to me that He completely skipped over some people and then gave me and my friends all the blessings.  "Hey God why can't you share the wealth?"  And then it hits me- that's right.... it's MY job to share. God knows what he is doing- not some of the time but ALL of the time. 

On my own, with simply the strength of man I am relatively powerless to fight today's injustices.  But through HIM who created all things, nothing is impossible.  One day at a time, one task at a time, one child at at time -- it all fits into the bigger picture- HIS picture.  May God receive glory and honor

Prayer requests:  to not get comfortable

Some nights here with Back2Back we ask the american groups who are with us for the week to share what their "picture of the day" was that day.  A "picture of the day" is a moment that you don't want to forget or one that you just can't get out of your mind.  My entire day today was amazing and worth a million "pictures of the day" but I'd like to describe my best from today for you all....

The STINT team went with one our directors today to several areas in town where we serve to help us learn a hands on lesson in the "bigger picture" of what our ministry does and how we decide who to help.  We stopped at one of the children's homes that we have a long standing relationship with to drop off some donations and see how they were doing and ask what their current needs are.  As we walked through the gate we learned that the children are going to be kicked out of the house that they currently rent in 2 to 3 weeks and that the directors are currently looking for a new home to rent.  Crazy... who kicks out orphans?  

This director had a list of probably 20 things that we could help them with- PJ's for 28 kids, shoes for 5 of their boys, 4 kids need glasses, they need someone to drive the older kids to dance class and soccer practice in the evenings, they want to be able to afford food that is more nutritious like cheese and beans and meat, when they get kicked out of their home they will need help moving their stuff and 28 children, 23 of the kids need new school uniforms..... so we sat there and took notes and wrote down everything she said.  This director has a masters degree and runs the most organized and clean home you could EVER imagine for a home with 1 child let alone 28.  As we sat, listening to her tell us about the children and ways in which they make ends meet each month financially... she told us about the pastor of their church who made it possible this summer for 12 of the oldest children to drive 6 hours east to go to the beach for the first time in their lives. 

Do you remember the first time you saw the beach, the ocean?

What brought tears to my eyes was when she told us how the kids kept asking, "what time does God turn on the machine that powers the waves?"

"The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."  - Psalm 33:5

A LOT of people live on the Back2Back property here in Monterrey, Mexico.  There are currently 34 teens in the Hope Program, 30 or so staff kids, and about 30 staff including myself.  A prize goes to the first person who can find waldo (me) in this photo.  
Salsa dancing anyone?  For the record- i'm a horrible salsa dancer but i'm getting better- honest i am!  my goal is to be able to dance 4 different kinds of salsa by christmas.  so far, i've got about 2 halfway mastered.  We had a really fun time dancing this night thanks to the boys.  They teach us the dances and even got us roses from the bathroom- yes that sounds silly but thats where they got them. 
Happy Independence Day Mexico!  VIVA MEXICO!!  One of Mexico's several independence days was last week and a bunch of went to a super cute city south of us called Santiago to celebrate and join in the grito.  At midnight, everyone yells "viva mexico" to celebrate the day.  Well.... apparently in Santiago they yelled at 11 pm and we missed it but had a great time anyway with this random lady who jumped in our photo.  and we did get there in time to see the fireworks.  
From left to right: Kenzi, Jay, Becca and myself - The 2008-2009 Back2Back STINT Academy.  It's not really an academy but that makes it sound more fun doesnt it?  Poor Jay... he has to put up with girl music in the car all the time.

Prayer Requests:  for direction and safety

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."  - John 17:3