"I have chosen you."

I love how God uses scripture to encourage us right when we need it the most. Recently I was reading a passage in Isaiah and the words were exactly what I needed to hear:  Isaiah 41:9b...from the farthest corners I called you.  I said you are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

These words reminded me of my call to serve the orphan and the widow here in Cancun. I "happened" to read them the day before our ground breaking ceremony for the new community center in Tres Reyes. So we were buried in the details for the ground breaking, plus we got some discouraging news regarding one of the kids we serve. But in those verses God reminded me that He is the one who called us here. He also called the employees of Certa Pro Painters of Indiana, Tom & Karen Woelk, and John Guckenberger all to come and serve on that day.....I wasn't alone. God reminded me He is our helper. His call may not be easy, but He will strengthen us.

With this foundational truth and reminder, we did want to share with you some pictures from the ground breaking ceremony. We also want to assure you that not only has God called us but He has called you, whether to pray, give, go, or serve right where you are. We know that without your prayers and financial support, we couldn't be fulfilling God's call on our lives.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us serve the orphans and marginlized families in and around Cancun.

Spiritual development in Tres Reyes

If you've been on a mission trip with Back2Back, chances are you've heard at least one staff member say something like: "Back2Back believes in going deep with those we serve." What does "going deep" mean? In a nutshell, God has called our ministry to come alongside orphans and single mothers to help them become self-sustainable. It means we usually spend years, not months, working with an orphan or widow in five areas: 

Spiritual, Physical, Educational, Emotional, and Social

Recently we were in Tres Reyes, and we are excited about the consistent Spiritual investments being made there by Jimmy, our national staff, and an awesome group of volunteers who focus their attention specifically on spiritual develpment.  Our prayer is that each individual would be transformed by hearing the word of God. And that they understand that they can trust the Everlasting Father -when they have no earthly father; be comforted by the Prince of Peace - when there is caos all around them; and know the God that sees them and cares (El Roi) - when they are alone and afraid. 

We had 27 kids last Saturday at Pastor Victor's church.

These children and families we're working with may one day be involved in the community center we're building in Tres Reyes. We are planning a ground-breaking ceremony in November for the community center with plans to provide a meal for any who attend. It's exciting to dream about how God may use the commuity center and our current efforts to increase the number of children who are adopted into His family.

Jorge (in red) leads the spiritual growth efforts in Tres Reyes

Please pray with us for the spiritual growth in Tres Reyes and all the other places we serve. Ultimately, all the work we do is about introducing Christ to those who are lost and hurting. And seeing their eternal destinies changed. 

If you are interested in helping us finish the purchase of the land for the community center, or in investing in the construction of the center, please contact our home office or the Mowerys directly. 

Thanks for your prayers and support.

A Tribute to Our Child Sponsors

Chris and Lori Peters with Gloria's family

It's always encouraging to see the children we serve 

get to spend time with the people who sponsor them.  

Earlier this month we had a team from Dayton, Ohio,

Apex Community Church, come to serve.  A couple on their team sponsor 4 children from the same family.

While they were here they were able to celebrate birthdays with Vanesa and Candy. It was precious to see them laughing with the children and making special memories with them. 

We took them to Peter Piper Pizza and the children loved the pizza and games. I'm sure this celebration won't soon be forgotten they children or their sponsors.

We want to thank all of our child sponsors for your faithful support of the families and children we serve. Through your prayers and financial support, you make it possible for us to meet many of their spiritual, physical, educational, emotional and social needs. And if you've never been down here, we would love to have you serve with us and hang out with "your" child.

Thanks for your partnership. God bless you all!

If you have't been to the Back2Back Child Sponsor Facebook page, click HERE to see pictures and much more of these awesome families and children.

Heading Into Hump Week

We've all heard Wednesday referred to as "hump-day" as we get past the middle of the week and look toward the weekend. Well, I'm taking some liberty and calling this "hump-week" for us. We've had three teams come to serve in June and four left in June and July. And while we're not necessarily looking forward to the end of the summer teams, we're kind of at the half-way point, which seems like a good time to let you know what's been happening so far.


With our first week and first team, a group of amazing women from Stoney Creek Community Church, we also welcomed (or didn't welcome) hurricane season - the first week of June. We had 6 straight days of rain. For some, this may not seem significant, but for us it means flooded streets, schools closed, businesses closed, houses leaking, and ministry partners suffering. The team was awesome and didn't let the rain hinder their work. Thanks Stoney Creek!  

While the first team was working in the rain, I was working with a realtor and our partner, pastor Sergio, to finalize details to purchase land in Tres Reyes, for the community center we plan to build there. We have now made a down-payment on the land, have $50,000 committed, but still need $40,000 more by July 15 to purchase the land. It is an amazing piece of property - .75 acres and exactly what we need. 

Land in Tres Reyes

Horizon College Group

As most of you know, our primary ministry is to orphans and impoverished families. That is where we spend the bulk of our time - in the trenches so to speak - living and serving with our ministry partners. BUT, an incredibly important part of our ministry is hosting teams to help us do the work. And during weeks 2 and 3 we had a team of college students and then a team of high school students from Horizon Church, led by Amy Rudge, come down to serve with us. Horizon is very involved in our ministry and a great partner. In the first week, we had 5 college students commit their lives to Christ! In the second week we saw 6 high school students get baptized as a public display of dedicating their lives to Christ.
 We also saw the miraculous and relentless pursuit of God to soften one student's  heart as she made a first-time commitment to Jesus Christ!!

So we can't wait to see what God will do in and through the remaining 4 teams coming down to serve: Trinity Baptist, Apex, Kentwood Community Church, and Journey. Please pray with us that God will have HIS way in these teams and in the lives of our ministry partners. Thank you for all your support!

Weeds or Seeds

When we lived in Michigan we loved to plant a vegetable garden every Spring.

We worked hard at putting good things into the soil to help the plants get the nutrients they needed to grow, to be strong and healthy.  We were strategic in where we placed the garden to get the maximum sun.  Over time, we realized that different plants had different needs.  Some plants needed more sun, some needed more water, some needed extra attention to grow. 

I would start off every growing season with this beautifully tilled garden without any weeds.  However, despite all of my planning and efforts, weeds still grew. And if I wasn't diligent at removing them by the root they would take over the garden.

God reminded me that many of the same principles I learned about gardening also applied with people. Because the children and widows we serve have different needs, we use our 5 Point Child Development Plan to assess and then address their Spiritual, Physical, Educational, Emotional, Social needs.  It's also helpful for me to remember that people, just like plants, grow at different rates. So much depends on the soil, and conditions surrounding the plants (people). 

We were at Rossy's in Bonfil on Saturday, and she was singing this song in Spanish with the children.                                                                                                                                                      

Through You, I can do anything

I can do all things

For it's You who gives me strength

Nothing is impossible....

I believe, I believe in You!

She let the song play over and over and by the end of the day the kids were singing it without any  music.

  

I love to see them singing, and even though they might not fully understand the words...the truth that we believe....the seed that was planted...tells them that nothing is impossible for God!

Nada es imposible!

Earlier this week I took Jeny to hear Nick Vijuicic speak.  Nick Vijuicic is a man that was born without arms and legs. He shared his story about how his faith in God gives him purpose. While Nick was speaking - planting seeds in Jeny - I was praying that her faith in God would grow.  That she would learn to trust Him, and love Him with all of her heart, soul, and mind.  I don't know all of Jeny's emotional needs, but God does, and I can trust that He will use the words spoken that night to grow the seeds of perseverance, courage,  and gratefulness in her heart.

I have to be faithful in prayer....praying that the weeds won't choke out the seeds God is planting in the hearts and minds of the widows and children we serve.  I have a page in my journal with the word "Weeds" and on the other side "Seeds."  I'm a visual person and it helps having the actual weed words written out.....anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy, insecurity, pride, selfishness, critical spirit, lack of trust, lying, cheating, etc. So that I can be intentional in praying against those weeds in my life and the lives of those we serve.  

Teacher appreciation!

Fabiola at the Back2Back Christmas party

We would like to introduce you to Fabiola she is the tutor for Oti's girls.  She is such an answer to prayer.  She works with the girls for 2 hours, 5 days a week.  She is doing a great job with them and we continue to see improvement in their school work.  Like many other children they sometimes lack motivation, but overall they keep trying and learning which is what we hope for.  All of the girls show artistic interest and talent.  They love to color, paint, and do crafts.  

Horizon Women's group with Oti's family

They also love story time.  Recently, we read the book:  If You Give A Pig A Pancake.  Afterwards, we did some crafts and then ate pancakes made to look like a pig face.  We all had lots of fun! We did the same story, craft, and pancakes at Casa Hogar San Jose.

Jeny wrote:  I am Erick 

Our Mobile Education Resource Center (MERC) continues to grow with items from our Amazon wish list. People have been buying items and bringing them down when they come to serve or sending it to the home office for other teams to bring down. 

Jimena with her pig pancake....aren't they cure!

Pig mask craft

If you would like to contribute to our MERC resources here is our 
Amazon wish list: www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/GCO1EZ9ZOLSA/ref=topnav_lists_1   You can send the items to our home office:

Back2Back Ministries - Cancun Site (MERC)
P.O. Box 70
Mason, OH 45040

Gracias!

For I know the Plans I have for YOU...

Jeremiah 29:11, this was the verse that inspired the activity we recently did at San Jose and with Oti's kids. The first part of the verse says,

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord."

As we continue to learn about poverty, specifically, generational poverty, we know that it often generates a sense of hopelessness in those who know no other way of life. Sadly, those who have known only impoverished living for two or more generations, can rarely envision ever getting out of poverty. Thankfully, for Christ-followers, physical poverty doesn't have to mean spiritual poverty, and this is the truth that we want all of our children and families to know and understand.

Oti's kids wanted to post their verse
& hearts on their bedroom wall.

While we want to holistically help those we serve (spiritually, educationally, physically, socially and emotionally), more than anything else, we want them to know that God's plans have been determined and established for all His children since before they were born. This truth is critical and brings with it hope. We also realize that if they only know OF Jesus, but don't know Him personally and understand what He did for them, they won't be able to comprehend why HIS plans are the best. Why HIS love is for them is transforming. Why HIS sacrifice and their commitment to Him will change their lives forever. Because the plans HE has established for them....

".....are plans for good and not for disaster,

to give [them] a future and a hope."

Oti's family (look at Oti's face)

So with five of Julie's college friends, chalk, paint and paper, the kids were reminded in a tangible way, of God's love and plans for them, and the HOPE that they can have. We are excited to do this same activity with 60+ kids at Rossy's next week as well, when another team will join us from Horizon Church.

Casa Hogar San Jose

Thanks for your prayers and support.

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."

Meet Rossy

Rossy

 Last Saturday morning we received a text from Rossy, a new friend who we are partnering with, asking us if we could come to her place that afternoon to pray for some kids and their mothers who had been abused by their fathers/husbands and boyfriends.


We met Rossy several months ago through a local church, and found out about her ministry to the poor children and singles moms in a neighborhood called Bonfil. Rossy has worked in this area for about 8 years after God gave her a vision for His light shining in this place.  Rossy is a talented jewelry artist and sells the jewelry to help support this ministry. Every Wednesday & Saturday, 30-60 kids come to what we've affectionately named "Rossy's Place," to sing, hear a story about Jesus, do a craft, and eat a meal. For some of these kids, it's the only meal they will get that day.


So on Saturday, when we went to Rossy's place to help with the kids and then pray, we met Ruby, whose husband had just left her and their three young children the night before. Ruby shared her story with us and we prayed over her. We then asked Rossy to take us for a walk in the neighborhood where the kids and many broken and dysfunctional families live. During this walk our goal was to become familiar with the neighborhood, see where these kids and families live, and pray for them. As we walked through the neighborhood, we saw what looked like apartment complexes. These "apartments" where many of these families live are a single room. They hang hammocks at night for sleeping and remove them during the day. The kitchen and bathroom are in a separate building and are shared by the complex. We also saw where a local drug dealer lived, where Ruby lived, and where many of the kids live who Rossy serves. We found out that the water is only on for one hour a day in Bonfil, so if families don't get their water during that hour, they won't get any until the next day, unless they borrow or buy more.

Our desire is to come alongside Rossy to help her love the kids and reach the families. Our prayers are that God would restore broken families, give us opportunities to introduce Jesus to the kids and parents, and give us wisdom about how Back2Back's can most effectively partner with Rossy in Bonfil.