Life is Hard...

I just love it here!

Proverbs 31:8-9, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.  Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Our weeks begin on Saturdays, and they are HECTIC to say the least.  This past Saturday, about 20 Mexican doctors from the area came to our campus to work in our clinic.  All of the children’s homes came at 9 in the morning and it was mayhem!  But, such a sweet sight.  They usually see about 60 people during a day like this.  They saw 107.  What a blessing.  All the while, groups were arriving, so that made it even more busy!  We were able to serve 2 meals and at 3, all but 2 children’s homes left and we had a pool party with the groups that had arrived!  The kids had so much fun, and it was such a blessing to watch.  As tired as we all were after our 15 hour day, it was worth every second.

I am beginning to realize how much my heart truly breaks for the Orphan Child.  I am building relationships with the teens that live on the campus and also the kids in the homes and at the rios.  It is so hard to leave at the end of a work day, not knowing if I’ll get to see them again before I leave.  I just love these kids to death.  It makes me have bitterness toward their parents for leaving them, but at the same time I have to have mercy and remember that I have no idea what their reasons were for giving their children up.  But what I do know is this, I truly believe that the Lord is using me and all of the other summer staff here to bring them justice, to lift them up, to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to feed them, to give them clothes and shoes, and the list goes on and on.  I think that Jesus has a certain voice for His children, and I see Him speaking into them everyday.  Despite all of their pain and memories that I know they wish they could forget, they are all loved more than they could ever know, and it is the sweetest blessing for me to be able to stand on that bridge between the Father and His children.

A verse that speaks to me everyday is Luke 4:18-21. It says, “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.’  He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down.  All the eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.  Then he began to speak to them.  ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day.’  I feel like this verse is the very heart of what we do here.  At the end of the day, after a full day of hard work and play time, even when it’s hard to say good-bye to the children, I rest assured knowing that this verse is true and that Jesus is holding them in a way I will never understand.  

La Puente de Dios

Let me begin by saying I'm sorry for not updating more!  It's so busy around here!  Another 4 groups arrived on Saturday and we are working hard!  I am with a group called Calumet this week.  They are 7th and 8th graders and such hard workers!  Sunday morning I had the pleasure of going to church at one of the children's homes we serve called Douglas.  There is an old church on the top of this hill right in the middle of their property.  They recently restored it and began having services.  Some would say that this is one of the darkest and least "spiritual" children's homes that we partner with, but man, the Holy Spirit was there!  I feel like it's a "city upon a hill" and a "beacon of light."  Nobody ever thought that it would become what it is.  They even have a wedding scheduled there in July!  A wedding at an orphanage?!  Crazy!

I also got the chance to visit a place we call "Meme's Rio."  Meme is a woman who lives here with the directors, Todd and Beth, during the week and then goes home on the weekends.  Her house is in the entrance to the squatter area.  There is a river that runs through this area, and when it rains, the whole neighborhood becomes flooded.  She tells a story about when a hurricane came a few years ago.  All of a sudden, the sky became black and you couldn't see anything.  It began to drizzle and they began to worry.  Without an exit, they would be completely trapped while the area flooded.  She heard the voice of God say "build a bridge!"  She wrestled with her flesh and what she knew God was telling her, until finally she spoke up.  Everyone began throwing a bridge together, when the rain stopped.  A while later, it began to pour and she knew the hurricane was there.  Without this bridge, everyone would have died.  Her and her husband walked to the other side and stood on a hill to tell everyone that there was a way out.  The "national guard" came and began helping to get people out.  All of the women and children got out and they all knew that it was the Lord.  Now they call the bridge, "La Puente de Dios" (God's Bridge).

Yesterday we had an outreach of hotdogs and watermelon.  No better way to fix a hot day, right?  The women and children came and ate, and then we went out to feed the men.  On the way, a woman stopped us and said she needed prayer.  We went into her house to find her husband on the bed, crippled with knee problems and dementia.  We prayed over him and her house.  On our way back to Meme's house, we prayed over the land.  This is an extremely dark place.  Men hide in the weeds when it rains and attack children.  They are also having problems with not owning their land.  They are squatters, and so the land they live on belongs to the government, and even if they've lived there their whole lives, the government will not give them the rights to it.  One of the biggest struggles is for the mothers; they search through trash to find food for their children, and many times, what they find is just that: trash.  Please pray that God continue to shine His light in this dark place.  Pray over the spiritual warfare that every single person in this place faces on a daily basis.  Pray that God provide.  And pray that He continue to fuel their desire to TRUST Him in every circumstance, as they have.  One of the things I'm learning is that He always provides.  This is a picture of another Rio that we serve, but much like Meme's Rio.

I'm Finally Here!

Let's just start by describing my current conditions...it's 110 degrees, the dorm that the girl interns stay in has NO hot water.  Ever.  And oh yeah...did I say it's 110 degrees!?  It's hot.  

BUT despite these things, the Lord is so great!  It's so amazing how He continually provides and shelters us.  There are four groups that arrived here on Saturday.  Summer here at B2B is crazy, but so many things are able to get done!  Yesterday I went with a group from Indiana to El Retiro Juvenil(called ERJ, it means Youth Retreat).  We went to a river about 10 minutes away from their children's home.  We had lunch and played in the water and then went to the ropes course that's located behind their home.  Their ultimate goal is to build dorms around it so that they can make profit from groups coming, kind of like a summer camp.  

I'm off today and I've been laying by the pool and relaxing :)  Please continue to pray for my strength as we are all working very hard to help fulfill God's promises to the Orphan Child!  Here are some of them:

• To rescue them 
• To give them food and clothing
• Hear them
• Lead them out
• Be their healer
• Give them compassion
• Incline their ear
• Give them justice
• Give them a home
• Extend mercy toward them
• Defend their cause
• Secure justice for them
• Lift them up
• Vindicate them
• Deliver them
• Uphold their cause
• Not leave them
• Not forget them
• Come to them
• Be their Father 

Rich Fool

As I am packing, running last-minute errands and trying to prepare myself physically, emotionally and spiritually, I am brutally humbled by the shattering fact illustrated in the devotional we'll be studying the next 4 weeks called "Hope Lives--A Journey of Restoration."

In 2003, the Gross National Income per Capita for the U.S. was $37,610.  In Ethiopia, it was $390.

Does that even seem possible?  Most people could spend that in one shopping trip.  

It astounds me that we take for granted all the resources and advantages that America offers.  So much time and energy is wasted on TV, internet, gym memberships, sports, etc.  I wish that for one day, I could know what it's like to have nothing and to rest in the shelter of knowing my God's character.  Even as I trust God to take care of me in times of trouble and heartache, I should also trust Him with my foolish riches.  The same riches that we all work so hard to build up and invest are going to one day fall down and disappear.  Psalm 91:6-7 says,

"Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.  Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you."

As the world as I know it comes to a halt, I am praying that my eyes be opened to see the glory and provision that comes when you truly seek and trust Him with what the modernized world calls riches.  He remains the same faithful God that He was 2000 years ago.  His heart still longs to give us a place of rest and comfort in Him.  This just amazes me.  Our God is so good.

Bienvenidos!

Welcome to my blog!  As many of you know, I've been accepted to be an intern with Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, Mexico.  This is something I've been passionate about for a long time, and I am so thrilled to be a part of this opportunity.  Their vision is to provide care for today, and hope for tomorrow to the many orphans of Monterrey.  I will be working in the different orphanages and towns that they partner with.  I hope to be able to update frequently.  Thank you to my many supporters.  Without you, this wouldn't be possible.