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

Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Mama Cony and Papa Chuy


Flor
Just a week ago, Back2Back was privileged to host a retirement party for Mama Cony and Papa Chuy, the directors of the Villa Juarez location of Manantial de Amor. The party will take me a few posts to cover in total however I wanted to post this first. Like most parties, this one didn't go exactly like the plan. About 45 minutes after the starting time we were still waiting for the daughters of Mama Cony and Papa Chuy to arrive. In order to stall, we had to think of a game. I was reminded of one teenage girl in our Hope Program who can from this home. She had told me how Mama Cony asked the kids to recite scripture every night before the went to bed. She then shared with me the many Bible verses that she knew. Literally after 12-15 minutes of reciting she began to slow down. With this memory in mind I suggested a reciting contest between the three locations of Manantial de Amor. Beth was on it. She introduces the three teams pausing for each home to cheer for their home. As she explained the game and asked for the kids to come up to recite scripture about 20 or the 30 kids came up to get in line. Some shared scriptures as simple as "God is Love" and others spouted out passages from Psalms. All in all it was such a great testimony to the legacy left by these two servants of God. One girl especially stood out to me. Her name is Flor. Flor has been in this home for a long time, along with a sister and brother. She has had her difficulties with relating with others and quite frankly socially awkward. But on this day, she stood amongst her peers and recited a long verse. She had some difficulty with the ending. As Beth encouraged her to keep trying, she didn't run or hide in shame, instead she began another one finishing in triumph. Mama Cony's efforts were seen shining in Flor as the Word of God was hidden in her heart and penetrating her self esteem and identity. Truly that is a legacy that will live on. With each child that spoke in the microphone it was easy to see their confidence in the power of the Word of God. Thank you Mama Cony and Papa Chuy.

Snow in Mexico???

Here is proof that there is snow in Mexico. People flocked to a park on the top of a mountain to see the snow, that is how rare it is.

Quincenera- a Mexican 15th Birthday Party

(For her protection, I will call the birthday girl, Maria)
I wish you all could have seen the huge smile on Maria's face. She was beaming as she walked in the room. Maria's mother, step dad, brothers and sisters were in attendance, along with her friends. Her mom told me afterwards that she wouldn't have had a celebration had it not been for a generous donor associated with Back2Back. I was really touched by the happiness of Maria. I couldn't help but wonder if the Lord was whispering to her, tonight you are how I see you all the time, My princess.

A blessing for our kids......off with the old, on with the new

Recently the tree outside of our house out grew the house that was used by the staff kids and visiting kids. It died a slow death with boards slowly pulling away from the tree, the floor was sagging and the ladder more and more shaky as kids ascended and descended. You see the tree began to grow and the house didn't. Leaving the house to slowly loss its foundation and stability. It became vulnerable to the slightest of pressure. As I saw the hard work of my husband, my boys, the staff kids and other staff (pictured with Greg is Lonnie Clouse, B2B staff), I was reminded that I too need to evaluate my Christian life. God wants to continue to grow me and in doing so I need to tear off and build a new. Recently I've had to examine myself and some of the lies I have believed in. Lies that Satan has used to limit my views of God. That I'm only valuable if I'm doing "good" things. That I need to justify myself to be worth anything and so others would like me, often covering over my sin. I've had to take off those old boards and put up new ones. Like that of God is most interested in my relationship with Him not what I do for Him. That He will give me the strength to do what He calls me to through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Is it time for your house to grow? Is God asking you to take off the old and put on the new?

STAND FIRM!!!!

God is teaching me about prayer and praying against Spiritual Warfare. A group of us have been praying for awhile on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I consider it a privilege to pray for this ministry, the kids we work with, the workers and directors, our country, staff and groups. I have been reading about the armor of God. In the passage in Esphesians 6, it says stand firm three times. stand firm. Stand Firm. STAND FIRM.
"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take Your Standagainst the devil's schemes. ........Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to Stand Your Ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand Firm then, with the belt of truth buckled....." (emphasis and captials are mine)
This hits me that it is not just enough to have the things God's given us
-truth
-faith
-salvation
-good news of the gospel
-righteousness
-sword of Spirit- Word of God

We need to know what we have in Jesus and Stand Firm. This past week our group of prayer warriors have been walking around the block in our neighborhood praying for our country, our neighborhood, and our ministry. On our mile walk around we past many dogs. Some cute, some not so cute. One in particular caught my attention. He standing at a gated part of the wall of his property. He was hidden and it wasn't until we reached his very spot that he barked ferociously showing his teeth and gnarling at us. I have to admit I jumped as he not only caught me by surprise but I immediately looked to see how securely he was inside his gate ( I had been bit by a different dog a couple of weeks ago and the memory was still with me). As we past I realized, this dog is so much like Satan. Jesus has the victory. Already He has won the spiritual battle over Satan. However Satan still stands at the gate hoping to catch us all guard to keep us from walking on with the Lord. He hopes to put fear in our hearts and keep us from STANDING FIRM in Jesus the one who has saved us and equips us with the power to keep walking.
As I walk in life ,Lord will you help me to STAND FIRM in who you made me and the power you have given me to live for you. Amen.