#lookingforbeauty

I started doing something a couple years ago after we moved to the mission field in Mexico.  At the time I was feeling so overwhelmed.  I knew I had to stop and fix my eyes on Jesus and one way I found to do that was to look for things that were beautiful in my day-to-day life. I also found that if I took a picture of it I would probably remember it.  God prompted me to intentionally stop to recognize something beautiful so that I would remember His Goodness, His Greatness and His attention to detail.  And so I started #lookingforbeauty.  There have been times when I’m out for a walk that I’ve been so captivated by something beautiful, it literally takes my breath away.  In the beginning, the things that captured my attention were flowers and things in nature. (The lizards that run on their back legs get me every time.) But recently the moments that take my breath away are filled with women and children who I’ve grown to love. These also are the moments that I want to remember, the moments that give me hope… hope that keeps me doing the work God has called us to here in Mexico.

Sewing on paper

Recently we had a Master seamstress (Heidi Duncan) come and teach sewing classes to eight women in Tres Reyes.  From the first day I could sense their excitement and yet they were timid, and afraid to make mistakes!  As the class progressed, it was so great to see them shed their timidity and to see them laugh and encourage each other as they learned this new skill.  One hope we had for them as they learned this new skill was that mistakes do not have to hinder you or stop progress.  In fact, we learn from our mistakes – and we can learn how to fix them. 

We had no idea how the women would respond to the class.  We told them if they attended 5 sessions they would receive a small bag of sewing supplies.  We wondered, will they just show up for the 5 sessions and then be done?  Oh no. We were so surprised when they didn’t want to stop.  Every day (for 15 days) we had to be the ones to tell them it’s time to quit and go home.  They were like dry sponges….soaking up Heidi’s wisdom!  They did a crash course on basic sewing skills. Now they know how to repair their clothes and they are considering items they can make to sell to mission team guests. 

serger machine

For you to understand the impact of this class you need to know a little background information.  Last year we met with 30 women from Tres Reyes who shared openly about their lack of opportunity in Tres Reyes and their lack of education. Many of them struggle with low self-confidence and self-worth.  Fast forward to now when I see the beauty of these women and their smiling faces. I hear the sound of all of the machines working and the women busy sewing their bolsas (bags) with their names embroidered on the front.  And I see little Valentina running up to me to show me the Barbie dress her mother made her.  I find beauty in these moments.

As part of the classes we took the women on a field trip to the local fabric store. Since there isn’t one in Tres Reyes we had to drive.  (This in itself was a new experience for this group of women – to travel together in pursuit of fabric.) We showed them how to look for fabric, and other things they would need to sew for themselves.  Fabric stores can be intimidating and so we wanted to help them learn how to navigate purchasing items.  A wonderful thing happened along the way….the women laughed together, encouraged each other and community was built.

In Timothy Keller’s book: Generous Justice, he describes justice as a beautiful tapestry woven together.  “It becomes a tapestry when it’s woven over and under and around.  To do justice means to live in a way that generates a strong community where human beings can flourish – it means to go to places where the fabric of shalom has broken down, where the weaker members are falling through the fabric and repair it.  The only way to reweave & strengthen the fabric is by weaving yourself into it.  Reweaving shalom means to sacrificially thread, lace, and press your time, goods, power, and resources into the lives and needs of others.”

At the last class we wanted the women to know the reason Heidi came to teach them. We explained that it’s because she loves Jesus, that she donated her time and money - traveling to Mexico and bringing many supplies - all to teach them a new skill, so that they would feel empowered, and so they would know they have a God-given creative capacity.  One by one with tears in their eyes the women expressed their deep gratitude to Heidi for coming, for believing in them that they could learn and for teaching them a new skill that will help their family. 

fixing her husbands pants    -     women helping women -    learning to use an embroidery machine

Power of words + encouragement

We have parenting classes once a month in Bonfil (urban community) where the parents learn various skills.  Recently, I attended one of the classes and the topic was about modeling the behavior you want to see from your children.  Through a DVD curriculum, they watched parents demonstrate positive interactions and negative interactions, and the impact that negative responses can have on their children.  They were so engaged and asked really good questions.  It was obvious they wanted to learn more.  For most of these Mom’s they’ve never taken any kind of parenting class before, or read any parenting books.  For many of them this is new information and a new way to think. All they know is what was modeled for them, for good and for bad. One principle they learned was about how, if they wanted their children to demonstrate respect, the parent also needed to show respect in the words they used, and how they used them. I was reminded of the verse in Proverbs 18:21 –

‘Words kill, words give life: they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” I love that the parents in Bonfil learned this truth and will hopefully put it into practice.

I also love seeing words of life being spoken to the children we serve through the mission teams that come.  It’s always a beautiful thing to see mission team members speaking words of encouragement to the children, encouraging them to try new things, to overcome fear….whispering to them that they matter, that they are seen & heard.  Here are some pictures I am so fortunate to see & experience.

Connecting Through Art: Two Stories - One Theme

“Will you color my heart?”  It was a simple question a little girl asked me to translate for one of our mission team guests.  The little girl was sitting with her new friend on the cement basketball court after playing relay games.  We gave the children sidewalk chalk to let them draw.  The little girl had drawn a heart and she wanted the student from Taylor University to color it in. I was taking pictures and didn’t hear the girl at first, but then I heard her say it again…. "Will you color my heart?"  Once the college student knew what the little girl wanted she immediately began coloring the little girl’s heart.  I couldn’t help but think that even though the little girl was asking for something tangible, something she could see….the college student was actually making deposits into this little girl.  These two girls were connecting their hearts through art. We are still building trust with the community in Tres Reyes and over time these little “deposits” will make a difference. 

The children in Tres Reyes love to paint!  When given the chance to paint or play…they often choose to paint.  I think it’s because they don’t have the opportunity or supplies.  And since Cancun is a relatively young city they do not have any art museums. So little by little we are bringing art to them.  Recently we had a painting lesson with the children from Tres Reyes.  We introduced them to the painter Wasilly Kandinsky who was an Abstract, Expressionist painter.  Expressionists use color to express their emotions.  Many of the children we work with have experienced trauma and do not know how to express their emotions in a healthy way.  The thing about art and music is that it can be a beautiful way to express yourself.   We had a variety of different projects going on this day, and at one point I noticed how quiet it was.  The children were so engaged in painting and were concentrating so much. 

But one girl caught my attention. She was working so diligently on her painting, and would stop and look at the example, then look back to what she was painting.  She was still working when the other children had finished and we were cleaning up.  She wanted her painting to be perfect. This young girl was connecting to her own heart through art. 

We're thankful for the opportunities we have to pour into these children and families. It is God's desire to heal all of our hearts, but  especially the fatherless and the vulnerable. Pray with us for God to heal hearts...in Tres Reyes, Bonfil, Cuna Maya.....

Viva Italia!!

I’m passionate about learning!  I’m also passionate about art, music, and food. So when all of these things are combined….it makes for a wonderful time (at least in my opinion). 

Recently we had an event at the Back2Back group house for the children of Bonfil.  It was an art & culture night where they learned about Italy, ate Italian food, and saw paintings & sculptures by Michelangelo.  

Before everything started, I was in the kitchen with a few of the girls from Bonfil and I had to get into the fridge for something.  When I opened the door the girls stopped what they were doing and looked inside. Both of them had the same expression on their faces and stood there and said….Wow!  They were amazed by all the food that was in the fridge. Sometimes I forget all the things I have….like food in the fridge because it’s normal for me, but seeing their reaction I was reminded it’s not normal for them. 

One of the main reasons we wanted to have a night of art & culture was to expand their world beyond where they live.  Many of these kids don’t see much outside of their immediate community.  So we started the night by giving the children a passport with their picture in it, and they were given a stamp in their passport to get into the event.  

For dinner we ate baked ziti with salad and rolls while Italian music played in the background. This type of dinner was a new experience for these children, so it was fun to explain what parmesan cheese was and how to use it on the pasta.  After dinner our tutor in Bonfil (Itamar) talked about Italy and focused on some fun facts about the country and where it is located.  She then taught us about Michelangelo and some of his famous paintings & sculptures.  We saw a picture of the Sistine Chapel, Pieta, and David. 

Fun facts about Italy                                                                        Baked ziti....yum!

To top off the night we made copies of The Creation of Adam, where the hand of God is reaching out to touch Adam’s finger.  We taped the copies to the tables….flipped the tables upside down, and asked the children to climb under and start coloring.  We did this to help them understand how hard it might have been for Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling.  At one point I couldn't stand it any longer, I just had to see what the children were doing and why they were so quiet.  So I crawled under one of the tables and joined Danny & Ana.  They both were so engaged in what they were doing I just loved watching them.  

Danny                                                                   Danny & Julie                                                        Ana on the far right

Under the table I had “a moment” where God’s Presence was so obvious and completely overwhelming.  He loves these children so much!  They are His masterpiece.  I began to think about what it takes to create a masterpiece.  Typically, it doesn’t happen quickly. It took Michelangelo four years to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and 6 years to paint the altar.  I thought of words that could describe what it takes to make a masterpiece.  Words like passion, perseverance, patience, process, and beauty.   The process of change and transformed lives takes time.  That night I looked at Ana and Danny realizing that it may take years to see what God is doing in their lives, but along the way I can see pieces of His masterpiece coming together to create something beautiful.  

Ana with Kristin Lakes (Renovia team from Indianapolis, IN)

Mision Educarte - Rossy's - Bonfil

Some of the children in Bonfil - they were so eager to help paint

There are two girls who live in Bonfil we’ve gotten to know better this summer.  They make us smile every time we are with them because of their sweet yet spunky personalities.  We know that God has a great plan for their lives!  Recently, we discovered that neither of them can read, and struggle with the abc’s and numbers.  We know that they are not alone in their educational struggles and want to provide after school tutors every day who can help the children of Bonfil.  We are trying to be more intentional with the educational programming at Mision Educarte.  For years, the kids in the neighborhood have heard about Jesus through Rossy’s classes.  Every Wednesday & Saturday she has a Bible class with a craft and feeds the children.  For 19 years she’s done this alone.  We started working with Rossy in January 2013 to provide her with additional resources, bring teams, provide a hot meal, and help her with the Bible classes.  Because we believe in going deep with our ministry partners, we have been evaluating the children and the program to determine their biggest needs and how we can help.  Our desire is that the children will love God with all their heart, soul and mind, but we also want to help make a difference in their educational, physical, emotional, and social needs. 

This summer we took one mission team (Horizon Church College Group) to go and paint the community of apartments – called a cuartaria - where many of the children live.  The one room apartments are about 12 x 15 feet.  Most apartments share one community bathroom and only have a small electric stove for cooking.  The mission team was able to repaint the entire lower level of this cuarteria.  The kids and some of their Mom’s helped with the painting. We also had VBS every Tuesday night with the help of many local volunteers.

Praise & worship time

Samuel is one of our faithful volunteers who helped with VBS

Small group time

Pasta verde....yum!

Beltway Baptist Church helping prepare to serve the kids dinner.

Singing the Psalms...

Julie, Jeny, Erick & Adela - 2011

Jeny 2011

This is Jeny in 2011.  Back2Back had just started working with her and her family. In order to help her Mom - who was a widow - keep her children.  At the time we thought of it as “orphan prevention” but it’s really Family Preservation.  Family Preservation helps families stay together.  Oti, Jeny’s Mom, needed help, to provide and care for her 8 children.  At the time we started working with Oti, she was desperate and ready to take some of her children to an orphanage (a Casa Hogar or what we call a Children’s Home). I love this picture of Jeny because it captures her personality so well.  She always has a smile and is full of love.  In 2011 she was 10 years old and never attended school.  Back2Back saw the need to help her get into school and hired a tutor to come every day after school to help her with her homework.  This was important because her mother cannot read or write and we wanted to make sure she was getting the help she needed.

Jeny 2014

This is Jeny now, 3 years later.  She loves to read, she’s excelling in school, and she still has a smile that lights up her face.  Recently, Sarah, who is part of our staff, gave Jeny a Bible. Jeny was so excited to start reading it.  Sarah asked Jeny if she had a favorite book of the Bible and Jeny wasn’t sure.  Sarah said…"the Psalms are songs they used to sing in Bible times"…knowing that Jeny has often said she wants to be a singer when she grows up.  So Jeny asked Sarah, “do you know what the tune is to this Psalm?"  Sarah answered…."No." Jeny didn’t miss a beat. She said….”I know.” And started singing the Psalm. Making up an upbeat melody.  How precious that must have been to Jesus, to hear Jeny singing a Psalm! 

2014 Mother's Day Card from Jeny

This is the Mother’s Day Card Jeny made for me this year.  She had no idea how much I needed that card.  It was the first Mother’s Day in 21 years I wasn’t able to be with either of my children (Eliza & Nick).  She wrote I love you Julie." Just what I needed to hear!  Please continue to pray for Jeny.  I know God has great things in store and I can’t wait to see the rest of her story.

Word for the Year.......MORE

In 2007, our family was asked to help start a new church plant in Caledonia, MI. In October of that year, along with about 50 other individuals, we launched Journey Church. At the first service of the 2008, our pastor, asked the congregation to identify a "Word for the Year." A word that God was giving us that would define a goal, a new direction, or just an area that God was laying on our hearts. That first year my word was "Waiting." I was waiting, although not very patiently, to see if God  was going to call our family to the mission field. (In case you didn't know, He did.)

Ever since that first year of identifying God's Word for the Year for me, Julie and I, along with Journey Church, have continued this practice. We have found it very helpful and signficant. So this year, when Julie and I began talking about our Word for the Year, she quickly identified "Joy" as her word. For me, it took awhile, but just this past week, God gave me the word "Appetite." My prayer and ongoing pursuit is to have an appetite ONLY for God. Not for what He can do for me. Not for comfort. Not for anything this world has to offer.

In-Depth Parenting classes by a
licensed therapist and volunteer

Yesterday, Julie and I were listening to the "Word for the Year" message online, and our pastor spoke of the word God gave him for Journey Church for 2014. That got Julie and I thinking - is there a Word for the Year for our site? Our staff team? Our ministry partners? And you know what, we believe the same word that our pastor chose for Journey is a great one for our site - "MORE."

More depth with the children and families we serve
More miracles
More kids excelling in school
More lives transformed
More restoration of families

More progress with the Tres Reyes Community Center
More volunteers

Kids at Rossy's  reading the Action Bible

More Staff
More teams
More team members, whose lives are deeply
impacted when they care for the Fatherless and Widows
More wisdom and discernment
More of an appetite for God

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 the glory. (Ephesians 3:20)

Pray with us that God will give us Immeasrably More, all for His glory and honor.

"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.

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!