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| The entrance to the Cintermex Convention Center with our banner proudly displayed. |
At the beginning of the year we started hearing about this God-sized dream that our Exec. Director Todd Guckenberger had of having Back2Back host the first “Cumbre por los Niños Marginados” (Summit of the Orphan) in Mexico. For those that don’t know much about this event in the States, let me tell you it is a big deal. Different organizations, government officials and institutions get together to learn more about how to better care for children at risk around the world. The Summit in Monterrey, Mexico this year was targeted specifically toward the local church in Mexico.
16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong . 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the window.
Andrew and I wanted to invite the Madre Superior from San Jose children’s home (where we serve as captains) as well as the Madre Superior that oversees this home from Mexico City. We didn’t know if it was something that they would want to do but as always God knows what is best for His children and He put it on their hearts to come with us.
I didn’t know what to expect since this was the first summit that has ever taken place in Mexico. Andrew and I prayed specifically for God to speak to the nuns about the plans that He had for the children at San Jose. God exceeded my expectations and theirs too.
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| Back2Back was dreaming about having 250 attendees, God exceeded our expectations once again, and had over 400 people in attendance for the two day conference. |
All the speakers taught on different aspects of orphan care, but it was more than just listening to their expertise and learning from their experience. They made us see this issue from another perspective, from the orphan perspective. I went from laughing to crying, to being mad at the injustice in this world, to being so thankful for God’s care and justice.
But there was one speaker that touched the deepest part of my heart. His name is Rodo. He is not a speaker that came from outside the country with years and years of orphan care experience. He was born in Mexico and his experience is his own life as an orphan.
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Rodo told his story about growing up in one of the orphanages that Back2Back works with in Monterrey. He spoke about his pain, anger and despair and how God started changing those feelings, not through things, but through people. What the Bible says about us being the hands and feet of Christ is not fanciful words, it is the truth. God transforms lives through us. He uses our mouth to speak truth to people in despair.
One thing that I learned and that I won’t forget is that to really make an impact in the lives of children like Rodo, that have been hurt so many times, is to be consistent, to be present, to show them anew every day I am here for them.
Thank you to all our supporters and our prayer team. Without you taking your place as Isaiah 1:16-17 tells us we wouldn’t be PRESENT in the lives of these children.
If you want more information about orphan care or want to see more pictures from the first Mexico Summit go to:
http://media.agconrad.com/Back2BackMonterrey/Cumbre-2013
CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) was an affiliate sponsor of this event and is the organization that hosts the Summit of the Orphan in the United States which is May 1-2 in Nashville, TN. They also made a documentary called Stuck that I highly recommend.
http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org