The Introduction:

We got a decent nights sleep since B2B wasn't planning on picking us up until 11 am the next day. We met in the lobby about ten minutes 'til 11 and waited for someone to come get us. We saw the Suburban pass the front doors and proceeded outside to meet our drivers, Katey Dowd and Rodolfo. We piled into the old Suburban and headed on our way to the facility. With all our luggage and bodies, we were a sight to see in that Suburban. The city was amazing and busseling with people and places and things to look at. It reminded me of Jamaica and all its craziness... including the driving (SCARY). Suddenly, there were all these mountains that we didn't see while we were fliying in because it was night time. It was gorgeous. We made it to the campus after about 45 minutes, and marelled at our view of the mountains from the main building (known as the LBM). There we met Cathy Huffer, who proceeded to introduce us to Mexico, lunch, and orientation. After we ate lunch (PB&Js - a common meal), we went on a tour and then sat down to talk about the history of Back2Back and rules for the week.

We settled into our dorm room which was right below Cathy, and then were told to pack our bags because we would be leaving the next day for a children's home in Sabinas. It was another branch of the Casa Hogar Douglas. We were going to be the first group to be taken here, because it was a newer relationship. So then we met some more of the staff, unpacked and repacked our bags, and updated our parents again before we left the next day for Sabinas until Wednesday. We then had a little free time before we left for a cook-out at Casar Hogar Douglas in Monterrey. We decided to walk with our escort Rodolfo (aka Rodo), because it was only one mile away. The walk was interesting, including packs of dogs, street vendors, and car dodging. We made it to the home and found it swarming with children, 90 to be exact. We immediately got a tour, because Rodo had actually lived there before he started helping with B2B.

Afterwards (and after Betsy crashed down the stairs), we got to work. Betsy and Ellie went to help Rodo make cheese and Lauren, Kaitlin, and I volunteered to play and entertain children for a while. There was a huge cement slide, monkey bars, swings, jump ropes, see-saws, a soccer field, you name it, we played on it. Attempting to communicate in Spanish was interesting, but I began learning their names, and also tried cheering up one little boy who had been hit by another. All the children were AMAZING and beautiful with their smiling faces. I could see God's light in their eyes. He was their only hope.

We served all the food, which consisted of Katey on drink duty, Rodo on hotdog duty, me on condiment duty, Ellie on chip duty, Kaitlin on jalepeno duty, and Betsy on cheese duty. We were a great team and in no time, we had served all 90 children. Once we ate ourselves it was time to clean up and play a little more before we had to leave. There was one of the girls that I made a special connection with. She took Lauren and I up to the church that was at the top of the cement hill and overlooked the mountain range. It was beautiful. She then wanted to to go down the slide one more time with her, so of course, I did. Sadly we had to leave all the children and walk back to the campus. While walking Rodo decided to play a nice trick on us and ding-dong ditch at one of the nice houses surrounding the area. You should have seen me run, lol. All I had to say to him was, "Como se dice 'jerk' en Espanol." He was definitely a great help to us there, and I can definitely tell he loves the Lord.

As we made our way back we thought of how amazing our first two days had been and there was so much more to come. We came home and met some of the people from the Austin, TX team. They would be staying at the B2B property for the whole week while we went to Sabinas. We then had our debriefing where Cathy shared our quiet time booklet with us. The verse of the year is Romans 12:1, and she also shared with us the idea of an orphan and their heart being a sheet of paper torn to pieces. We also talked about the cycle of Experience >> Reflection >> Change >> Action. During our debriefing we were told to share a "picture of the day." During the time of reflection I thought of what God was trying to teach me, and how I could OFFER myself. I know I'm not invincible, but I know that God will grant me the capacity to love and share and speak. He is my hands, feet, and my ALL, beyond anything I could understand. These kids have more love and faith in them than I could ever imagine.

We went to bed with showers and "Dirty Dancing Havana Nights" (which I would not recommend... lol), ready to start into the next day!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

-k10