Huffer Family Photo

Here's an updated shot of all of us. We feel that our boys are growing so much, so I'm guessing that those of you who know them and haven't seen them for a while will think the same.
Ben is graduating 8th grade and we are looking for a bilingual school for him for next year. He is looking forward to meeting new friends and learning more spanish along with maybe playing some basketball.
Luke will enter 6th grade next year and is our active one. He choses to be outside whenever possible, playing just about anything under the sun.
Mark will be in 5th grade. He tends to roll with the punches and is both creative and a bit athletic too. He is crazy once you get to know him.
Greg continues to be busy wearing many hats here with the ministry. He especially loves when he is able to preach.
Me, as I have written before I'm adjusting to less individual ministry and more supporting my family with helping Greg and being with the boys. God has been good to us. We are so grateful for the many that support us prayerfully and financially. Thank you.

Lessons at VdJ

I know what you are thinking. You looking at these pictures and thinking, awww. Cathy's teaching lessons at Villa de Juarez. Well, actually I want to share how the boys there taught me a lesson. Its true I have been going there the last few weeks and teaching the kids Bible stories. Right in the middle of my David and Goliath story last week, two kids broke out in a fist fight. I'd be lying if I said this surprised me. But hang with me cause something soon after did. I and an older boy from the home helped to break the boys up. I usually go to the underdog and this day was no different. I went to Mateo and held him as he cried. I had seen Israel punch him several times in the face but didn't know what exactly happen. Having learned with my own boys that things aren't always what they seem, I brought Mateo to Israel with the idea that I would try to talk things out with them. I was expecting reluctancy and truly thought if they just can move on from this I'll be happy. As I leaned down to talk to Israel, I began with saying something like "you know you boys are going to need to talk this out?" I could never had predicted what happened next. The two boys took each others hand and walked into the room where there caregiver was and shared what happened. Each boy took responsibility for their own part. Each sat time out for a bit and returned back to my class, forgiven and ready to learn. I sat amazed and puzzled. I thought about how as an adult I don't admit to my failures and mistakes like that. Sometimes I sit in my own pride or hurt. I think, "that's not fair." or " I didn't start it." Because of the quickness of their actions, Mateo and Israel were able to take part in the acting out of the play, the coloring and fun. I think of how often I miss so much because I refuse to forgive and ask for forgiveness. I've grateful to what the boys taught me at Villa de Juarez this week.
Above are pictures of us learning about Samuel this week. One picture of Greg with the kids reading Easter cards from a church in Iowa and a couple of the boys with the cards.

Overcoming inconviences

Sometimes I can get a wild hair idea in my head that Satan loves to shoot down. At times I sadly listen to him as he tells me "it can't be done" or "You don't have what it takes to pull it off." This weekend the Lord helped me fight those lies and our weekend was full of joy and excitement. We had the privilege to invite some boys to our house that didn't have a place to go for vacation. We were blessed to start Thursday night with 6 boys that ranged in ages from 4 to 15. Friday morning three of the boys were picked up to spend time with their family. We were excited for them as it was unexpected. Then four more boys spent some time with us and at one time we had 13 boys in our house. By the second night we had just three more than our three. We so enjoyed getting to know them. We swam, played video games, table games, movies, etc. I never would have guessed that WWE could bind boys of two cultures. Our boys spoke a lot of Spanish as did Greg and I. I loved hearing laughter come from all over the house. Sometimes what God calls us to do (like bring 6 boys home for the weekend) doesn't make sense. But what He calls us to do He equips us to complete. This Easter weekend was far from convenient but it was great and we are blessed because of spending time with these boys.

Prepared to learn.......

Last week I prepared a lesson on Palm Sunday for about 11 kids at Villa Juarez. The day I was suppose to go I developed a weird ear ache and dizziness and couldn't drive. aSo it appeared to me the palm branches that I had drawn on construction paper and the Spanish story that I practiced was to be for not... until today. Now I know Palm Sunday is over but I happened to be walking outside with about 30 minutes before my boys were due home for lunch. Two cute staff daughters were playing outside. In Spanish they told me that they were making a concrete cake for me for my birthday. (By the way its not until Oct.) As I waited for my cake, God placed the idea in my mind to share my Palm Sunday class with them. When I told them about it they were so happy. So I ran and got my supplies. We screamed, Hosanna, Hosanna, Bendito el rey de Israel. Which means Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed be the King of Israel. They were so eager to learn at the drop of a hat. It got me thinking. So many times God has lessons like this for me during my day. But how open am I to learn. Am I open and eager to learn as these two girls? I pray I am.

Being available........

Sometimes God does things that makes no sense. This happened to me recently. I have for the past four years been spending time weekly in a poor community. The past three years in Meme's Rio. They have been my second family. The end of last year and beginning of this year, I felt the Lord pulling me out of that ministry to help my husband in his ministry with a children's home called Manantial de Amor and to be available for our three boys. Our boys are 14, soon to be 12 and 10 years old. When I first felt God pulling me away from these families I know and love so well, it was hard. With heels dug in deeply I resisted. Then different home situations came up and felt grateful to God in preparing me to be at home to hear, love on and support my boys. You see I was caught up in serving but I was neglecting my calling as a Mom and a wife. Not that I can't be all but at this time I heard God pulling me back. Simplifying my life. I'm an extrovert and love the action. My personality is that of independence and challenge. God is showing me that I can have that in my life no matter where he puts me. I love how the Lord has placed me to be in the ministry only He has called me to do. No one else can be my kid's Mom, not like he intends me to be. Praise God for adopted Moms and foster Moms. But for my kids God has called me to be their Mom. I'm grateful for the wake up call not to orphan my own children at the sake of caring for the orphan child. As a result, the boys and I are finding ways to minister together and in someways supporting them to minister apart from Greg and I.
I really wanted to write this to encourage Moms who might think life is better for everyone else or who is feeling like what they do isn't important. I also want to write to Mom's who God may also be nudging to make a change. You will find joy in obedience. No matter what the cost, the pay off is so much greater. Its been a difficult transition, but so well worth it too.

Manantial de Amor has three different locations. With three light bills, water bills, and 3 everything else they have often found themselves in need. This home has been based on trusting the Lord on a day to day basis and as a result of their trust in God and not man we don't always know of there need. Last week the directors, Edgar and Cony, knew that two of the three locations were in need of food, they led their children in prayer. On the day where it seemed that they would have nothing to eat, Cony went to get a bag of carrots to try and make a soup out of them. Upon her return, she came home to this (you can see the photos above). Because of a prompting from the Lord, someone donated money to feed children in our children homes. Greg had gone to the store and stocked there shelves and refrigerator with food. Back2Back along with Manantial de Amor were able to give God the glory as we did not know the need only God did. And He orchestrated the timing perfectly to fill the need of the kids. I love that God could do this by Himself, He is big enough. But He put it on the hearts of some in the states to give money, and He chose to use this ministry to be the hands to give so that in the very time of a great need He could come in to provide for these kids. God cares for these kids. He can prove for you too. Are you struggling to trust Him to provide for you? I pray this encourages you.

Rodo and Becca's Wedding- great couple, great day