A Time to Renew and Revamp

It has been five days since I arrived in Monterrey, Mexico. However, it feels so much longer then that. I believe this is due to the simple fact that in many ways this place feels like home. I spent last summer here and several random weeks here. Therefore when I arrived this summer, it just felt like a continuation of all the time I have spent here in the past. I believe I have spent enough time here to call this place my home away from home. When I returned to Monterrey, I knew that in this moment this is where I am supposed to be.

Lets reflect on the past few days...

Sunday I went with to an area we call Rio 1 or Meme's Rio. Rio areas are places which individuals who are in extreme poverty can come and live on free land owned by the government. They are also refereed to as squatter's villages. They set up their homes out of any materials they can find laying around, other man's trash becomes another man's home.

We at Back2Back believe that this is the root of the orphan's conflict in Monterrey. A good 70% of the orphans here come from families who live in these devastating conditions. This is why serve in the Rio areas, to help hold these families together in their darkest of times.

The individual who leads our cause in Rio 1 is named Meme. Meme lives in the Rio by choice in order to serve her people, in order to be where God wants her. I have never met someone with a greater faith then Meme. I have never met someone who gives more glory to God then Meme does. I have never met someone who lives out more humility then Meme. From watching her live out her faith over the past two years, I have come to this conclusion about faith and humility, with great faith comes great humility. Clichéd, I know but powerful. I know that if I ever come to a point in my walk with Christ where I go 'man I am a person of great faith'. I know it is time to take a step back and reexamine this faith of mine. I have always felt that Paul is also a great example of great faith and humility. He seamed to have it down. I think I am going to be taking a look at what he had to say about humility over the next couple of days.

While we were at the Rio, we helped Meme with her soup kitchen, put on a little vbs, and played with the kids.

I talked to three little boys named Estaban, Angel, and Carlos. They definitely had a spirit of joy within them.

It was a easy and very relational day.

Monday, I helped with the low and high ropes course at one of the orphanages. Back2Back tries to find ways in which each orphanage can sustain itself. So with one of the homes they built a low and high ropes course for people to use. They use this for a fee which in return goes directly to help support the home. I was the rope man/ encourager in the tree for a good 2 and a half hours. Standing in a tree can be very tiring. Especially if you are trying to not fall out.\

Well I smell dinner. I hoping Vita made her amazing tostadas.

Untill Next Time

God Bless

Andres