Why spend the money to go to Mexico?

Often I get asked if it would be better to just have people send the money that they would use to come down for a week. The question is usually followed with another question of "Wouldn't the money go further then what I could do in a week?" Without hesitation I tell people no. Recently we had a school group from Cincinnati come. They are 7 th and 8th graders from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. These kids came for a week to work and play with the kids we work with here in Monterrey. I know their week was full as I had the opportunity to debrief the 8th graders. I also was blessed to go with them on a field trip with Casa Hogar Doulgas. They took the kids to a fun place that allows the kids to "work" different jobs earning play money that they then can spend on other activities or with little toys. A child was paired up with a group member as they got to pick from several "jobs" such as learning to put our a fire, police work, entertainer, McDonald food preparer, fashion designer, etc. The options seemed endless. Initially it seemed like the group members were just a supervisors of sorts. Some junior highers were trying desperately to figure out what their kid was saying, some running after an excited child, some wondering what they were supposed to do. But before too long, it wasn't hard to see the impact these kids had. I saw one child complete a task only to look back to get the approval of a teen boy who was already giving accolades. Or a Mom and teen girl who were so enjoying the precious boys they had. A B2B staffer told me she had never seen one of the boys smile so much. One eighth grader took one for his boy when he was lead into an entertaining task and found himself dancing and singing in front of all of the visitors at Kidszania. What this group gave these kids so out weighs anything money can buy

They recieved

- memories for a life time

-encouragement and love

- the ability to dream of what they could be one day

-time of laughter, and freedom to forget their hard life

-the deposit of happiness, confidence and love that a day of attention from someone who cares

can give

-a great story to tell those at school the next day

-a blessing that they can look back on and say God has given me so many things

- and other ways we can't see this side of heaven.

I really want to make a photo album so the next time someone asks me this question I can say," Take a look at these photos and see for yourself the difference in coming and experiencing being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to these kids."