Counting our Blessings of 2011

When we look back at all the things God has done in our lives and through us we are truly blessed. God can and does so much cause He is BIG and Miraculous. He is awesome that He chooses to use us and involve us in the plan He has to love this world. We, as a family want to take this time and just thank God and all those that He has touched to help us be apart of what He has going on in Monterrey. Thank you for giving financially to us, praying for us and encouraging and loving on us in the various ways that you do. I can't possibly recall on the things like sending us books to read and encourage, giving us music, sending down Christmas cookies, writing us, praying for and with us, sending money to encourage and bless these kids and those who care for them. Really words can't say enough to thank you for being obedient to God's leading in allowing us to be here. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.
The Huffer family- Greg, Cathy, Ben, Luke and Mark

Blessed by Shirley

This is Shirley. She is smart, fun, kind and has Jesus in her heart. I am blessed by the relationship I have with her. We share life together. School, family, friends, events, etc. Thank you Lord for Shirley.

Christmas Blessings

We want to thank the James Round Table for providing money to do activities with our teens here on our property. You see, most of our teenagers in our program can go home for Christmas to be with family of some kind. However some for one reason or another don't get that opportunity. This year our family has had the opportunity to stay here in Monterrey for Christmas. So with the help of the James Round Table funds we were able to take some of the teens on our campus ice skating. A few kids from Casa Hogar Douglas also joined us. We had a great time skating. Even though it was in the high 60- low 70s outside. Inside seemed like a cold Ohio day skating on Landen lake with Silent Night playing in the background in Spanish. Thanks to those that God touched their heart to make good times like this one possible.

Movies with Manantial de Amor

This Christmas season we found ourselves with the decision to stay here in Monterrey. We have deeply missed seeing family and friends and celebrating in our traditional ways. However, God has been good in allowing us to be able to do things we don't usually get to do since we aren't here at this time. For example, even though most kids in our children's homes get to go home for the Christmas break, there are still a few who don't have a place to go. Going to a movie isn't a field trip we normally do with our kids in the casa hogar as it isn't quality time that groups can have with the kids. However with money from Anderson Hills United Methodist Church, our family took the kids who were still at MdA out to the movies. We went to see We bought a Zoo in spanish. Everyone was able to have there own popcorn and drink. I only left 4 times to take someone to the bathroom and Greg went three times. Some of the older kids and the workers went to see Mission Impossible 4. . Everyone left laughing and enjoying themselves. It was a fun to mess around in the car, take pictures and enjoy one another. They are our extended family. We are grateful to so many that allow us to be here doing what God has called us to do. Thank you.

Teenage girls are the same no matter what country you are from

One of my favorite parts of being involved in this ministry is to see how God draws others to do His work. About a year ago, B2B was contacted by a business man who was interested in helping orphans. He does business in Monterrey, Mx and wanted to use his trips for something more than just making a living. He had heard of Back2Back from looking up Christian organizations helping kids in Monterrey. That led to his first visit last December when he visited one of our children's homes, Manantial de Amor. He specifically went to the home that housed girls that range from 10 to 16 years of age. With our help we were able to find out what the girls wanted for Christmas and he came bearing gifts for all and even a larger gift for all in the home to share. These girls made quite an impression on him and he he knew this relationship was not going to be just a first time thing.
During the year, this donor has assisted in helping three girls have a great 15th birthday celebration called a quincenera. He has also been a sponsor in our shelter program. Just a few weeks ago he came to Monterrey with his daughter to take the three girls he sponsors out shopping for Christmas. With a language barrier there was much reliance on the interpreter between the girls and their sponsors. But once we entered the mall, all of that just fell to the wayside. The girls were giggly. There were ooos and ahhhhhs. Laughter and posing. It dawned on me that teenage girls no matter where they are from or what kind of family or situation they come from, they are all the same. After a couple of hours it was obvious that we needed to speed things up. I tried to offer up my influence on the girls to speed things up. But their sponsor turned and said. "This day is for them. I came here for them. They are worth it. " When I turned and explained that to them, all three of their faces went soft and all three responded with an "Ahhhh". This had touched them deeply. Funny cause after that we began buying what we needed at record speed. I don't think they felt rushed but instead felt respected and they wanted to respect him back.
As you can tell by the pictures, they left the mall with both fists full of bags, stories to tell to friends at school and new clothes to show off. But they left there with more than that. They had heard that they were worth it. They were worth it. I love how God brings a guy and his daughter to shower these girls with the message that "They are worth it". Its a message God has for all of us really.

The giggle is in the relationship of the gift..........

This is a child from a casa hogar receiving a gift from his sponsor in the US. The sponsor has been praying for him, visiting him when she can. They send photos back and forth. He prays for her and her family also. This year for his birthday, she wanted to give him a gift he would love. With a little investigation, we found out he was longing for a tech deck skate park. These toys have been around for awhile in the United States and now are really popular here in Monterrey with the preteen boys especially. As you watch the video, listen for his giggle and excitement. Things don't bring happiness, it is the people behind the gifts that bring happiness. I am convinced that his anticipation came because his sponsor swam with him last summer and sat with him to do a craft or color in a coloring book. She prayed with him, and loved on him. His sponsor often closed her letters reminding him how special God made him. Because of their relationship, he knew to anticipate something special.
I think God giggles like this as we offer gifts to him. Worship songs, acts of service, our own control, whatever it might be that we offer to give to him. God giggles knowing we think He is special and we want to gift him a gift to show him.

Milagros yet another proof that she was rightly named....

Milagros means miracle in Spanish. I know her mom has seen her name come true in many times throughout her life, including a Sunday about a week ago. Milagros graduated from beauty school with help from many Cincinnati friends who answered a leading of God's voice. This journey began about 3 years ago when an audiologist came to visit the Rio community where Milagros lives. He met her and her mom and was moved by God to help Milagros. During the course of three years God provided her with hearing aids to help her hear sounds for safety. She attended school to learn sign language. After about 1 1/2 years in beauty school, she has graduated and got her degree. She very well may be the only one in her community who has graduated from anything.
The day was full of presenting her work, judges results, dinner, along with mingling with teachers, friends and family. Milagros was quiet, humble and yet exuded confidence as she presented her model who had makeup, hair, nails, etc. all done by Milagros. Her teacher spoke for her to explain to the judges all Milagros had done. You could see communication had not been a problem between her friends and teachers. When she went up to accept her diploma, there was not a dry eye at our table. God clearly has a plan for this girl. Now we are trusting that he will lead her to a trusting employer. Because of her unique style of communication Milagros needs to have a secure place to work. A place where someone won't take advantage of her. Pray that God will lead us to this place, as we are trusting he will.

just a few things of what God has done this year.....WOW

So since the year is winding down, I have been reflecting back to all that God has been up to this year and feeling blessed that Greg and I get to be a small part of it all. Here's a list of just a few of these things.
God has
-rescued three kids out of the hand of a witch
-restored a runaway to his mom
-given me a miraculous 5 hours of clear thinking with my mom who has Alzheimer's
-beginning to restore a family in the Rio
-given the opportunity for a teenager who is deaf from the Rio graduate from beauty school. She just might be the first in her community to graduate from anything.
-brought many to himself through a saving faith in Jesus Christ
-freed many visitors here from bondage of things like depression and fear just to name a few
-done a work in our own family to bring about unity and openness that only comes through Christ
-touched the hearts of many to provide a new property and facility to bring a children's home with three locations down to 2 locations.
-supernaturally continues to heal emotional and spiritual trauma at the children's homes that we serve.
-He has been comforting teens that in return have been used to comfort other kids on two different mission trips
-given our family the opportunity to befriend three boys. And from these relationships we have been enriched.
-continued to do a work in our lives to show us the authority and gifting we have in Jesus and the Holy Spirit
It goes on and on and on. Praise God for the many things he has done and how we somehow get to be privileged to be a part of it in any small way possible.

Ministered by my mentee........

For over a year now I've been meeting with a teenage girl who is in our Hope Program. We often meet together to talk about it "all". Sometimes relationships, boyfriends, friends, family, school life, the usual "goings on". dreams and admirations. We pray sometimes talk about Scripture. I've come to really enjoy her and often look forward to our time together. Recently I had been going through a spiritual low. Like I have had a cloud over my head. Spiritually attacked I have struggled with my time with the Lord and holding up my commitments. One night I was suppose to attend a staff women party and really felt so sad that I new that if I had gone I was going to cry without the ability to hold it together. So I didn't go. However the rest of my family had things to do. I found myself alone and really feeling sorry for myself. Then she came to the door. My mentee. She came in and immediately knew I had been crying. After asking me how I was and hearing me out, she prayed with me. She encouraged me by sharing a time where she had fallen away from the Lord. At that time, God spoke to her in the shower encouraging her to spend time with Him. When she did she was covered with the peace of Jesus Christ. She prayed for me and my relationship with Jesus. After she left I knew that night I had been the mentee and she was the mentor. Praise God for how He uses us. I think that night we both felt blessed for the relationship that God has given to us.

"Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes......."

This is Dalia and her grandmother, Olga.

Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD’s Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
God is in the business of restoring, of comforting, proclaiming freedom, giving a crown of beauty instead of ashes, giving oil of gladness verses mourning,and clothing us with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Dalia, her two sisters and her grandmother were living out of a car a couple of months ago. To say her life has been hard is an understatement. But God has a plan for the lives of these three girls. In the only miraculous way God works He brought them to Manantial de Amor children's home in August and last night Dalia celebrated her 15th birthday in style. God had introduced this family to B2B and through which they met a family from the states some 6 or so years ago. Dalia, her sisters and grandmother were living in a poor community we serve and on a mission trip this family fell in love with the girls. God touched the hearts of the girls and this family and began a strong love relationship. Through the years this family was able to help the girls with school fees and necessities while visiting and writing back and forth. About 1 1/2 years ago we lost contact with Olga and the girls and it seemed to be a sad ending to such a great relationship. However just a few months ago, they fell on the hardest of times and showed up at Manantial de Amor. God is good and restores his own. The girls don't like being away from their grandmother however they feel loved with the MdA family. They also get to see Olga every weekend. Just last night Dalia was a princess for a day with the help of the supporter family in the states. Dalia celebrated a time that all Mexican girls dream of however not all get to have. Praise God that we can glorify His name in the great things he has done for Dalia and her family.

Prayers needed for Manantial de Amor

A girl from Manatial de Amor trying on a dress for her XV.
Here in Mexico the government is trying to better regulate the laws for children's homes. They are trying to protect and provide for the children better. This system was poorly put in place originally so all the changes can be both overwhelming and seem impossible. Will you join with us in prayer for Manantial de Amor and other casa hogares in Mexico as they feel the pressure to make these changes.
Pray that family members get the paperwork that is needed to keep the kids safe and provided for.
Pray for the workers that can feel overwhelmed to begin with because of all the work they need to care for the kids and now they are asking more from them.
Pray for continued dependency on our Lord Jesus Christ who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. As you can imagine this added work requires added money, and time. Manantial have already added 4 more kids to their home from children's homes who had to close because they couldn't keep up with what was needed.
Truly the family unit is the best place for a child to grow up. However so many of these kids would not have any place to be if it weren't for Manantial de Amor.
Currently they have children that were living out of a car, one boy who was living between sisters and unable to go to school because of the changing back and forth. God has used Manantial de Amor as a refuge from life storms and a light to guide them to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you for your prayers.

So blessed by Michael

Luke and Mark are so blessed this year to have a male teacher. When you are in a large elementary or middle school there are few opportunities to have a male teacher. But with just two teachers in their school our boys have yet to have had this experience. We have been truly blessed as all his students are boys as well.
It has only been a little over a month already into the school year but you can already see the impact he has had on our boys. Mr. Michael often wears ties to school. The boys have noticed this and their first opportunity to give a presentation in class, unsolicited all the boys decided to wear ties.
Last week Mr. Michael taught on the topic of table manners. That night it wasn't me pointing out who was talking with the mouth open or not waiting to eat until everyone was seated.
Our family has been blessed in the past 5 years to be blessed with great teachers
Katie Housh (now Zayner), Rubi Moyer, Hope Maglich, Jessica Biondo, and now Michael Schreiner and Laura Westaway.
If you happen to be blessed with a great teacher I encourage you to take time out to tell them how special they are. As a parent I pray for others to be apart of my boys' lives. I'm grateful for the godly influence that these teachers have on my kids. Praise God.

Yesterday was a difficult day.....

This is the kids with whom Jesus is now staying.
All names have been changed in the story.
So many emotions went through my head yesterday. You see, I thought I was just going to help out a friend from the Rio and a couple hours later I'd return home. Good deed done and nothing different. Boy was I wrong. Diana, is a girl who must be 26 or 27 years old. She lives with her ~6 year old daughter and I think a boyfriend. Truth be told in my 3 years working at Rio 1 community (a poor neighborhood of wood, tin and scrape houses that people have built along a riverbed) I maybe have seen him a time or two. And the time I think I saw him, he was drunk. Diana is my friend. She is quiet and hardly speaks unless spoken to. Infact, I learned more about her and heard her speak more words yesterday that in the 3 years combined since I met her.
Meme, a Christian leader in Rio 1, had told me that Diana had a brother that wanted to go to a children's home and asked if I could help them get to Manantial de Amor. This home is about 20 minutes from there house and is one of the closest to them. I said sure, not really thinking through what I'd experience that day.
When I went to pick them up, I saw a smiley 12 year old boy who spoke few words. "It must run in the family." I thought. Diana was glad to see me and asked Sarah, her daughter, to hurry along as she went with us. They all chose to sit in the back sit giving me a chauffeur kind of feel to it. As we drove there, I tried to start the conversation with simple questions asking them if they had the paperwork they needed. Asking Jesus if he was nervous. To my surprise, he quickly answered "No." But Diana volunteered, "I am." When we got there Mama Cony asked "So are all 3 of you wanting to enter in the children's home. " Diana is not even 5 feet tall so I knew she asked innocently. We explained that Diana was there with her daughter Sarah to see if her brother Jesus could enter the children's home. It was then that the hard questions came.
"Do you have custody of your brother?" said the children's home worker.
"No, not really, but I'm the one responsible." answered Diana
"Where's your Mom?"
"She died 9 years ago?"
"And your Dad?"
"He abandoned us before Mom died,"
"Where is your Dad now?"
" He does drugs and is an alcoholic. Hard to say for sure."
"So Jesus has been living with you?"
"He has been living with me sometimes and my other sister sometimes. She is younger than I am. We can't afford to continue to raise him and he really wants to go to school."
The questioning continues to reveal that Diana is not married but her boyfriend hardly gives her enough to raise her daughter. As we sit there I realize, he has brought nothing but papers. You know birth certificate and school papers.
The worker says something that puts a lump in my throat.
"So let me see, his birthday is....tomorrow?:" He states but it almost comes out as a question.
What a 13th birthday memory he will have. I think to myslef.
As they finish the interview, he is brought two pairs of pants, 2 sets of underwear and 3 shirts. He is shown his bunk bed that will be his new home. The worker does a great job of explaining the responsibilities that the home has to him, including visiting rights that she will have. He explains that they want to maintain a strong relationship with him and his family. The lump comes back in my throat. He also explains responsibilities Diana has. Signing up Jesus for free public health insurance. Not taking him off the property for 15 days, etc.
When he finished. She looks to me and says, "Now what?" Her voice cracked. I was grateful that the worker answered quickly, "You can stay as long as you'd like but you'll need to say goodbye sometime. "
When it came time to say goodbye, Jesus seemed strong. Not seeming sad at all. I remember another kid that we work with once told me that he never gets homesick. The sad feeling that I felt when I heard that swept back over me as I wondered if he no longer gets homesick. Then I looked at Diana, I've never seen a lot of emotion on her face before either. But I could see it, she didn't want to show her hurt to her brother. You could see the effort she was putting into being strong for me. As for me I was crying for them both. I knew Jesus needed this home. I knew Diana was grateful for the opportunity her brother would have to go to school, and eat well. Still I also knew that if they could they would trade it all to be together. Today was Jesus' birthday. I found myself thinking and praying for him all day long.
"Do not be discouraged, Do not be afraid for I the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
I pray this promise over Jesus and all the kids that we serve. I have a new appreciation for the workers that don't just provide clothes and food. But so often are there to wipe away tears, listen, pray with and over children. To teach them that Jesus is the only one that can change lives. Sometimes we experience difficult times with others. I used to try and avoid it, now I see the blessing in being apart of the intimate moments of people lives. Yesterday I thought I was going to run a couple hour errand. But what God had for me changed my life. Lord, help me see what you have for me tomorrow.

Recieving God's Word

Recently we received a generous donation of 200 spanish Bibles to give to the children we serve here in Monterrey. These kids live in a children's home and share just about everything. Very little is their own. One our last visit to Manantial de Amor children's home Greg passed out the Gideon Bibles to the kids. Each one was so excited to have their very own. One boy told me he was going to place his under his bed so he could read it every night and morning. Most of us have possession that we love and cherish. Is your Bible somewhere we can read it every night and morning. I will not forget the excitement in his face.

Under one roof,,,,almost

For five years now, I've known the children of Manantial de Amor's children's home to be under three roofs. A boys home, a girl's home and a home in Villa Juarez. There are new laws in Mexico for children's homes and that has meant bringing some of the kids together under one roof. Right now these kids are at Villa Juarez waiting for construction to finish so that they can move to a B2B site called "La Tierra Prometids" or the Promised Land. The plan is that the kids would stay there for a year or two while we build there permanent location across the street.
One girl who just came to the home wrote a friend and told her, " I am very sad not to be with my grandma every day. But here we can get the love that we need, and we see grandma every weekend. Its very much like a family." Would you pray for these kids and there transition. Please pray for their new school, for living on one property, for their health physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thanks.

a small miracle,,,,, is there such a thing?

Normally I would never post a picture of my mom like this, but I will always remember this day my mom fell and need stitches. Greg and I were home in Ohio for about 2 weeks in August. It never seems long enough to spend time with family and friends, especially when now my mom is in a nursing home. About 1/2 through the week at my in-laws I get a call from my sister that my mom fell as she tried to stand from her wheelchair hitting a spot above her eye causing her to get stitches and xrays just to make sure everything else was ok. I went quickly to meet my dad and sister at the hospital wondering if my mom would be in a worried state of mind or just out of it with the interruption in her routine. Since she was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's routine has been very important to her. As I entered the room, I was shocked to see my mom smiling away and surprised to see me. She immediately asked about Greg, my husband, and our three boys. She continued the questions with and how long will you stay this time. I was amazed not only with the clarity of her thinking, but the ability to recall my family and that we had traveled from Mexico. For the next four to five hours we visited with my mom as if she was a new. The mom I remembered, witty, compassionate, social and pleasant. She greeted nurses and lab techs and doctors as if they had entered into her personal living room. Physically she was a site to behold as you see in this picture taken a few days later, but mentally she was as clear as she has been for a long while. When we all returned from the hospital to the nursing home the head nurse as us if we had noticed a difference in Mom's mental capacity. She too had seen the clarity and calmness in mom that morning as they waited for transportation to the hospital. My Dad and I stayed with my mom for another hour or so until I had to leave. At the end of our visit, you could see my mom slipping back into her hallucinations and confusion. I had the chance to see my mom on several other occasions while we were home however she was never as clear as that day. I praise God for the miracle He gave me of that special day with my mom. It seemed like such a small thing that one could easily overlook. But for me it was a big miracle that only God orchestrates. Praise God for such a special gift to me.

The Whiteds

Ever do something the world would say is just crazy. That pretty much describes our friends David and Stacy Whited. They have been blessed with a great job that allowed them to take a year and join us in Monterrey serving the kids with whom Back2Back works. Their kids Colton 17 and Averee 15 years old spent their Jr. and 8th grade year with out kids. Their plan was to return to Nashville, Tenn for Colton's senior year. However after a trip to El Limon, a children's home we work with about 6 hours south of Monterrey, God called them to move there and serve them. They are trusting in God's perfect plan for their life. Is God asking something "crazy" from you? Are you choosing to obey?

Staff Kid VBS 2011

I have a great friend at B2B named Angela. She is a gifted Bible teacher for kids. With the help of the nannies this summer, she and they put together a great VBS for the staff kids. We had a great turn out and all the kids had so much fun with games, crafts, Bible stories, and snacks.

Privileged to share our lives.....

Greg and I have the opportunity to spend a good part of our time with the Mexican orphan and those who work and care for these kids. However in summer we host the majority of our groups and we have a different privilege. We get to welcome to work with us many interns and summer staff. This summer Greg and I both had the chance to share life together with a few of these interns. We meet with them, pray with them and challenge them. Its just great opportunity to be a small part of their lives as God has brought them to Mexico to work in and through them. These high school and college aged kids pay money to come help us for a month to two months. They do things like wash out garbage cans, pour concrete and push swings. They love on the kids we serve then give their time away to the groups that have come for the week. They are the cream of the crop. We learn a lot from them and are encouraged by the energy and faith that they bring to the table. Here are just three girls I came to know fairly well the month of July.

Ninja Day

God continues to bring groups to our campus this summer to love on the kids in the children’s homes in Monterrey. This summer the Lord has led us into “ Play with a Purpose” activities with our groups and kids. These activities have aided us in helping group members to have meaningful interaction with the kids we serve and to help them develop socially, emotionally and psychologically. We have been excited to see these activities help us and our groups serve our kids even better.
One day this summer, we had the opportunity to have Ninja Day at Manantial de Amor children's home in the town of Villa de Juarez. With just two girls and 11 boys, this home was made for "Ninja Day". Staying with the Ninja theme, we taught a short lesson on the story of Caleb and Joshua. Ninjas are spies just like Caleb and Joshua were in Bible times. We talked about how Caleb and Joshua were spy who knew that, with God, they were more than conquerors. As you remember the story, Caleb and Joshua were the only two spies of 12 that thought God would allow them to conquer the Canaanites in order to win over the promised land. We dressed as ninjas and played ninja games. Each group member was paired with a child to first get dressed as a ninja than play games like "stand off", "star wars tag" and yes, "Ninja". We ended the day sharing watermelon and prayed for one another. I won't ever see a Ninja without thinking of these adorable kids like Christopher, Dana or Luis Carlos. We are more than Conquerors.

Thanks Anderson Hills United Methodist Church

Casa Hogar Douglas has had their stove for more years than we will ever know. I'm am certain that when it came to them it was used. The workers at Doulas fight cockroaches daily and the number one source of their food was that stove. The amount of grease built up on that thing could feed thousands of cockroaches. Sometimes the groups that serve with us get the fun job of spraying for these creepy crawlers. I will never forget about hearing how Anderson Hills UMC ( the church Greg grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio) cleaned and spray for these cockroaches one day. The stories made my skin crawl. While it made the group's skin crawl too and they decided to do something about it. Above is a picture of the new stove. Gone is the cockroach feeding frenzy. They great thing is that Jim, the captain of Douglas and a poor community that we work with that we call Rio 3, cleaned the old stove and took it to the soup kitchen in Rio 3. So really this new stove was a double blessing. Thanks Anderson Hills UMC. The kids are grateful. Tacos taste better on a clean stove.

God's Gift to Flor

Have you ever been in charge of something and things outside of your control seem to not go as you expect and you think all is lost then God shows up in a way better than you could have asked or imagined? Well, that happened a week or so ago at Flor's quincenera (her 15th birthday celebration). Here in Mexico this celebration is a special day that many girls dream about. Its really their day to be a princess. They get to dress in a princess dress, dance with handsome boys and all the attention is on them.
I have known Flor for about 5 years now. In those five years God has changed and molded her a lot. She used to be shy and socially backwards. She comes from a broken family and still today, you can see she is not close to her Mom. She is one of four children and was seen as the wallflower of them all.
At her party her caregiver said he would share or preach. Well, he shared so little and I was disappointed thinking she needed so much more. What I didn't know is that God was working it out. Cheque, who is on staff with Back2Back, was emceeing and doing the music part of the party. After the short talk Edgar gave, he asked everyone to come up and share a word of encouragement to her, pray a blessing over her and shower her with love. As the first person came forward she broke into tears. You could see her heart fill with joy as kids, caregivers, family, friends, and group members that attended came forward to love on her. Even her Mom seemed to change in demeanor as she approached Flor and embraced her. I am sure Flor had many times when she imagined what her dress would be like or what kind of cake everyone would eat. But I can't help but thinking that she ever imagined the love that God poured out on her that day.
" Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen!" Ephesians 3:20