Love.....6/24

Out at Casa Hogar Douglas, it's been another great day and we continue to see God's hand in all that is going on here....and plenty is going on. Our kids (and your kids) continue to do great things here and God is doing great things in them. We continue to see how God is using a 33 year old young lady with Downes Syndrome - not to break hearts, but to light them on fire. This started last year (see "Looking through their Eyes" song on posting earlier) and has blossomed to new heights this year. Our kids have sat and played, painted her nails, and simply loved her like Jesus since we've been here. How does God come up with plans like this? We can definitely see hearts changing and lives being transformed.




That love continues to carry on with the relationships being formed with all the other kids at the Children's Homes. It's come in times like quiet walks up a hill talking all the way in 2 different langueages, understanding nothing of the words, but understanding each other's hearts. Or it comes in manic game time or in a simple game of dancing together. Watch for the changes in your kids....God's amazing power and the ability to move hearts in the most unassuming of people and circumstances continues on!

I like mountains.

the mountains were freaking amazing this morning. there were clouds all around them and it was beautiful. like, for real. anyway... we worked at LDM today (where we live) instead of going to the children's homes. Julian and I got the task to paint the exterior of casa 5 and it was awesome. we were on the roof for most of the afternoon. the most beautiful thing ever. they should get an award. mhmm. later in the afternoon, kids from the children's home, "Imperio de Amor" (empire of love) came to LDM to have a swimming party! (high five!) p.s. i'm eating sweet tarts right now. aaaaanywaaaaayyy, the kids came and it was our last day with them so a lot of people cried and all that jazz. i had kids on my shoulders and we were playing chicken. i got punched in the face for the first time in my life...by a 10 year old. in the nose. 3 times. hard. it was worth it. :) i said goodbye to the kids and played soccer against all the mexican teens here. we won. then we worshiped and it was windy. goodbye.

bye: Matthew Miller :)

More Miracles - 6/23

One more day, many more miracles in Mexico! On Monday, Group 1 returns to Imperio de Amor. In tow, two huge jugs of chlorine and many prayers that this will be the miracle needed to provide clean water to our children we have now fallen in love with. We gather round the pool as Ryan pours the chlorine in and the "Father" in the children's home fires up the filter. Then off to work for our kids. Several hours later, after painting, staining and several intense games of soccer in the searing sun...shouts of joy come from the pool! We all run to the patio to witness clean, brilliant blue water in a pool that just hours ago was green, dirty and contaminated. WHAT JOY! It was POOL PARTY TIME! All 50 of the children from Imperio de Amor, plus all 25 of us jump in! It was a magical, spiritual, FUN moment for everyone. We have never witnessed such sheer joy in a pool before. The kids from the home were laughing, shouting, cheering, playing, loving while our kids were in awe that two simple jugs of chlorine could work miracles in a pool. This water will now be used for the kids to shower and other uses around the home. No more worries about the kids getting sick from contaminated water. God provided once again to our urgent prayers for clean water. DIOS DE AMOR-God is love! After the pool party, the children thanked us by singing at the top of their lungs with songs of praise! Their faces were shining like bright lights, they know they are children of the most high God! Our time at Imperio de Amor ended with quiet prayer time in small groups. Our kids prayed over their newfound friends. More joy, more tears, more love. As the bus pulled away, the children shouted to us that they can not wait for our next pool party here at Back2Back on Tuesday. We will count the moments until they arrive.

Ocean Wide - and sharing Jesus

Please click on the link below for viewing "Ocean Wide" by The Afters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RYuZyIpS-0
(Note from Bob: This is powerful as a number of us sat around this morning in tears watching this at it hits at the heart of our theme this week of "Love One Another") Thanks to Brock for sharing it!!

Well A week ago I was browsing youtube and I came across this video. It broke my heart to see this and I knew it would be something like the pictures in Mexico. Yesterday as I was playing with the kids I noticed a little boy sitting in the dirt with his head down and all alone. I walked over to him and started talking to him. I asked him If he was alright and he said no. I asked whats wrong and he said this, "No attach. You leaving." I felt so sad because of that. So I picked him up and gave him the biggest hug I could give but as I held him in my arms and I looked around it reminded me of this video. I just have to share it with you... It reminded me that God never leaves his Children and I told the little boy that and he said, "yes. He has purpose for me." and smiled. These kids know God is with thim and he has a purpose for them. It was so amazing to be there.

-Brock Slaughter