Climbing the Ladder

These past few weeks have been busy preparing for the summer. We were blessed to have the opportunity to have a staff retreat last weekend. It was great to have Greg Huffer, one of our staff from Monterrey come and lead the retreat. It really gave us the chance to relax and prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for the summer. On Saturday night we walked down to the beach and did worship. The waves here in Mazatlan are usually very big, and as we sat on the beach praising God for all he is doing here, the waves continued to crash down and push up onto the beach. Every once and a while, the waves would settle for a moment, and there was silence. Just the guitar playing, and the voices of praise. Then they would kick up and crash into each other. As I sat there praying for this summer, the groups coming down, and the interns, I began to think about the verse in James 1, that states, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe that God will provide and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
I began to feel humbled, understanding that I was just asking God to provide and give us a great summer. But I was hoping, more than believing and trusting that God would hear and provide for me. God wasn't just teaching me about this summer, but in all I do in my life. That I need to surrender and fully put my trust in him when I ask for guidance and wisdom. One last thing. Gods answer is in Gods timing. It is by Faith that we have been saved, and it is by Faith that we trust in the Lord to guide us in his timing. His timing is so much better than ours anyway.
It was so great to have my mom and sister here a few weeks ago. It was wonderful to spend time with them, and relax a bit. Wish they could have stayed longer, but understanding Gods timing in all our lives. I am excited for My mom and Dad, and Uncle Tim to come back down in July. Praying for a great trip for their group.
We have been blessed to have 10 interns serving with us this summer. They arrived on Wednesday and have jumped right in working hard. Our first group arrived yesterday, and the summer kicked off with a cookout and pool party with the Floreser Girls. It is amazing to see the Spirit at work in so many lives here, and it is so powerful to be a part of this amazing plan God has for the children of Mazatlan.
Please pray with us this summer as we continue to be lead by the Spirit. Please pray for the kids we serve, The groups coming down, that God would build into them. And for our interns as God uses them to partner with us.
Many Blessings for a great summer!!
Adam

Padres Today

    Went to Padres e compadres this morning and worked with Alberto and a bunch of the kids from Rancho. We have a group here from Michgan this week who have been working hard. Some of the guys helped us put up a new fence at the horse therapy center.

     Yesterday we brought the group out to Rancho and worked on a bunch of different projects. Last summer we were blessed with the funds to build a wall around the property to keep the kids safe and to help keep people from stealing things at night. We have been working to add razor wire to the top, as well as adding stucco to the outside.

    While working yesterday I heard one of the caretakers yelling for Angelas, a girl from the home. Angelas has several mental disabilities, and loves to explore. She is such a sweet girl, but we are not always sure what is going on in her head. She has run away many times, not on purpose, just off on an adventure. As I heard her name being yelled I feared the worst. I dropped my shovel and ran into the brush. Continuing to yell her name, we still could not find her. After about 15 minutes I heard a voice far off, singing. As I made my way through the brush, sticker bushes and barbed wire fence, I found her singing and dancing as if there wasn't a worry in the world. She looked up at me as if I was interrupting, while I was still wondering how she got through all that brush without a scratch on her. We walked back through, and met a caretaker half way, Angelas still singing, and enjoying her self.

    I don't know what Angelas is always thinking or doing in her mind, but I know that she is having a great time in some great adventure. Not a worry in the world, nor anything stopping her, just the Joy God has given her that day. As worried as we all were, I know that God had his eye on her and was creating joy in her heart.

     Until the next adventure, I hope not to far off, I pray God continues to give here strength through her imagination.

Going Deep

This past week we were privileged to have a small medical group from Kansas serve with us. For those of you that don't know, we partner with a children's home here in Mazatlan that cares for kids with physical and mental disabilities. Over the last month we have come to know that the kid at Rancho de Los Ninos go to a therapy center everyday called Padres y Compadres to exercise and receive one on one time with a physical therapist. This past week we started to bring the group out to help with the kids. The center is amazing, but only has one therapist. But they do things like equi therepy (horses), senses therapy, water therapy, and mental therapy. They have this room called the senses room, where there are lights and smells, and sounds and things the kids can touch. It's all focused on teaching them to see and smell things, and hear and feel things. I have learned so much just in the last 5 days, and I have enjoyed not just spending time with the Rancho Kids, but the other kids at Padres as well.
I met a little boy named Alberto this week, and Alberto is about 5 years old. He cant walk, nor can he talk. He also has some kind of muscle disorder where he can't chew food or eat with out help. But despite all his disabilities, God gave Alberto something greater. His smile. On Monday I walked into Padres for the first time, and saw Alberto sitting by himself against the wall. I plopped myself down next to him, and he turned and looked up at me with a smile that melted my heart away. Such an amazing kid with a huge heart, and how does he express God's love... through his smile!
Serving the kids both at Rancho and Padres is very different than the other homes we serve with. The kids physical needs are extremely different but more so the social and emotional needs go way deeper than we can imagine. When I sat down next to Alberto, I thought "oh we might laugh a little and play with some blocks, but when he looked at me and smiled, I just wanted to scoop him up and love him. As I am learning to adjust to living full time in Mexico, God is continuing to humble me through the kids we serve. He is teaching me that the relationships we build with these kids must go deep within our hearts or else we loose them. Because when we truly go deep within ourselves we find Jesus. How can we expect to go deep with out the core root of who we are. Jesus Christ. God breathed into us and gave us his spirit, but he also gave us his son that we may have life within him. So that we may live and share that life with others.

There is a boy at Rancho named Chuy, and Chuy is about 15 years old. He cant walk or really move any muscle in his body. He sits either in his wheelchair all day or lays on the floor. But as helpless as Chuy looks, he is smarter than any of the kids we serve. You can sit there and talk with him about science and math, or what kinds of Tacos he likes. Green salsa not red!! He will tell you stories about the other kids, and crack jokes with you. He is 100% relational, and he thrives off of those conversations and the time you spend with him.
Chuy loves so many things, but he feels so helpless, trapped in a body that doesn't move. Trapped in a society that doesn't care about him. I am pretty sure he could win like a Nobel prize or something. But whose going to give him a chance?...Jesus will. Why has God called us here? ....To live like Jesus did. But more importantly, to Love as Jesus did. As a ministry, we want to go deep with each child we serve. We want to build deep relationships with in, and we want to show them deep Love that we care about them. From the needs of Alberto to Chuy, to Lupitha, to Helberto. God has a plan for each and everyone of them.

Lastly, I cant tell you how grateful I have been this week to be able to walk, and to talk. To be able to feed myself, and go to the bathroom when I need to go. To be able to get out of bed each morning and to be able to feel, and hear and touch things. Thank you God for the wondrous things you do, even when we don't see them.

Las Vegas Mazatlan

Hey Everyone,
Sorry for not writing for a while. I just officially got Internet this week, so Ive been trying to get caught up. These last several weeks have been great and busy. We have a group coming tomorrow, and I have been working hard in my new role of site and project management.  We recently looked at a piece of property that we think would be perfect for the development of our ministry site. We found out today that the property is not available. But we are continuing to pray and ask God to provide for this need. To the left is a picture of our staff praying on the property. Our hope is to have the capital campaign ready to launch by September. Trusting in the Lord to guide the way.
We are getting ready for the summer. We have about 150 group members coming down to the nice hot weather here. We also have about 10 Interns coming as well. The guys will be staying with me, and I am looking forward to working with them and growing in fellowship. Hoping the house stays clean, but I was an intern guy a few times, and I know what the dorms looked like..... and smelled like.
Last weekend we went out to a squatters village here in Mazatlan with a local church. It was an amazing experience to work with the people there, and hear their story. We took the kids down to an open field and played some games with them. They ranged from 16 years to 2 years, so cute. We played Duck Duck Goose, or Pato Pato, Ganzo, and some other games that I'm not quite sure of the names. They call this community Las Vegas, but far from what we know, this village is very similar to a Rio community that we serve in Monterrey. Houses are made from garbage, platform skids, plastic. The floors are dirt and pirated wires run along the roads. Aside from the beautiful beaches of Mazatlan, there are places here that many folks along the golden district never see. There vision of Mexico is slightly skewed to the one that we travel into each day.
Here in Mazatlan we serve alongside 3 children's homes, called Casa Hogars. One of the homes is a special needs home called Rancho de los Ninos, where the kids have both mental and physical disabilities. We have been working with a local group called Padres e Compadres, which provides therapy for the kids. We have also been bringing groups to Padres' to work with the kids there, and provide relational development. I have been doing some research and design for a new therapy room on site at Rancho, to further the development of the kids.  Please pray that God would look after the kids and provide us with the resources and energy to build into them.
We also serve with a home called EdS, which is a Salvation Army home. The kids here range from 2- 16 years of age, and are the cutest. To the Left is Lupitha and I. Isn't she just adorable. Ive been working with the directors here to design a new study room for them. This will be a separate building on there property which will provide a space for the kids to do school work, and educational development.
God has been teaching me alot of things since Ive been here. It has been a crazy ride so far, but I am enjoying every bit of it. The greatest thing the Lord has been teaching me though is patience. When I am ready, I am ready. But he has been teaching me to slow down, and stay focused. I just love going to EdS and playing with the kids, or helping them with there homework. It is here I see the Lord teaching me the most, through the kids. Its also here where I learn more Spanish. The kids aren't afraid to call me out! The journey is continuing, and I am grateful that God is working through us to serve his children here.
Thank you for all the prayers and your continued support!
Many Blessings
Adam

Along for the Journey

I am currently sitting in a Mcdonalds parking lot stealing their internet haha. But felt a need to express a few things. The last few days have been a crazy up and down as ive had to travel to Monterrey Mexico and drive over the border to Mcallen texas. A few things took a turn with my visa and I needed to get out of the country for the process to be finalized. But in the midst of caos and travel it was Easter yesterday.
I went to a church here in Mcallen and at the beginning of the service I saw a cross on the alter with chicken wire on it. Confused as I was a lady walked by me and handed me some cut flowers. As the music started everyone began to make there way to the cross and insert there flowers in the wire. I followed and when I sat down i caught a glance at the cross and saw a beautiful glow of wild colors. It was so radiant and reminded me of just how awsome our God is. It is so increadable to know that God is above this world and this life. That he is above death but still loves us amidst our sins, that he would die for us.
Amoung all the speedbumps these lasts few days, I feel as though God is humbling me today to just surrender to him. My initial reaction is anger, but the peace of God is so tranquil that it reminds me that God is in control. When im frustrated wondering what is going on, God is beside me saying "I got this".
Today I went to to the Mexican Embassy here in Mcallen to process my paperwork. After an hour the lady told me that my Visa would be ready at 2pm. Well the story is still changing, and praying that all goes according to plan at 2. Hoping to be across the border in Monterrey by tonight. But right now just being humbled to trust the Lord with whatever happens. Please pray with me that all goes well but also that we all learn to humble our hearts to trust Jesus.

Dance Your Shoes Off Easter Sunday video!!

First group!

A group arrived today from CO! We took them out to EdS to hang with the kids, and we had a cookout with them. Good old hambergasas! The kids had so much fun. Rodo and I pick up the group from the airport. I have been learning my streets here. Glad I picked Mazatlan. Its not as big as MTY haha. It is different driving here, especially when you have 15 other people in the van with you. But i am enjoying the learning experience.
Still waiting on internet, so I apologize for the brief post. Hoping to get connected soon, but down here we say flexico mexico!
My dad flys out tomorrow. I am super bummed. It has been such a blessings to have him here. I am grateful for all his help and for driving down with me. I am really going to miss him!! He got to play with little Perlita today. She is such a cutie. Here are the two of them swinging from today!

I am here!!!

Hey everyone i made it to Mazatlan safe and sound. My dad and i are getting things all set up. I dont have internet yet so thats why i havnt posted and this is brief. I am super excited to finally be here. There is so much to do and I am excited to be a part of it. Check back soon. Hoping to have internet soon!

Almost there!!

Hey everyone! We are getting closer and closer. Just arrived in Tuscan Arizona. We have had a great trip so far. The roads have been clear and no traffic. Our first night in Tulsa was good and yesterday we met up with Tim and Cathy Couch. They are a couple that used to live at our site in Monterrey. We had lunch with them in Oklahoma City and got to catch up. Last night we stayed in Albuquerque New Mexico. Not to bad of a drive about 9 hours. It beat Saturdays drive of 12 hours. Today was quick, or at least it seemed so, only 6 hours. Through the desert and mountains or New Mexico and Arizona. Tomorrow we are supposed to hear from our site director if my visa has arrived in Tuscan at the Mexican embassy. Please keep praying it comes in. Possibly we will drive half way tomorrow if the visa comes in. We also may wait till Wednesday to drive strait there. Windshield time would be aprox 14.5 hours. We will see.
Thank you everyone for the prayers. Please keep them up. The next couple days could be crazy haha. Please pray for a safe boarder crossing and drive through Mexico!
Much love
Adam

Gearing Up......

I am gearing up. My dad and I leave this Saturday at 7am. We are loading up the truck and getting it ready for the long road trip. Our first stop is Tulsa Oklahoma, where we will stay the night. We are estimating roughly 12 hours to drive there. Sunday we are shooting for Albuquerque New Mexico, which is about 9 hours, and Monday a 6 hour drive to Tuscan Arizona. I have had a few speed bumps with my Visa process and I am planning to stop by the Mexican Embassy in Tuscan to get everything Finalized. Please pray that the right paperwork comes in in time, and that everything goes smoothly at the Embassy.

Tuesday is border crossing day. One of my good friends and co-workers, Rodo, will be flying up to meet us in Tuscan on Monday night, and will cross into Mexico with us. I am grateful he will be joining us, as he is a national who knows the roads and lingo. Please also pray for a safe border crossing as well as safe travels from Tuscan to Mazatlan. We are hoping to be in Mazatlan by Tuesday evening, but may split the trip into 2 days and arrive in Mazatlan on Wed afternoon. I will be keeping our trip results updated on Facebook, as internet is available, and will post here when we safely arrive in Mazatlan.

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers. I am getting very excited, but will also be missing so many great family and friends!!! I will be updating my blog on a weekly basis, and on my website you can find all the current projects we are doing, and how you can get involved!!

Blessings
Adam

   

Benediciones de Mazatlán

Blessings from Mazatlán!

       
     Well not just yet. I am currently preparing for my upcoming departure in March, and I have absolutely enjoyed getting to know and meet with so many new and old friends. I am excited for this next journey God has for me, and I am grateful for your heart and passion to partner with me. My heart goes out to the 163,000,000 orphans in the world, and I know that as a believer in a God greater than all, together we can make a difference in the life of each child we serve.
         This past December my cousin adopted a little girl from the US. At just a few weeks old she asked my sister and I to be her God parents. As I held her at her baptism, I could see the love and joy that God had created her with. It is the same joy I experience everyday when I sit down with the children we serve. Above is little Carlitos, a boy who lives at El Rancho de los Ninos, a childrens home here in Mazatlan. Since last February, B2B has been working with Carlitos as well as the other 26 kids at the home, partnering Back2back to provide for them. Although God has been blessing these kids far longer than we have, it is amazing to be a part of a ministry that He uses to lift up these children. It has been a blessing to see how Carlitos has grown in just a year, and it is through the Body of Christ that he has the joy of a normal 3 year old.
        Would you please pray with me that the Lord will bless Carlitos and all the Children at El Rancho de los Ninos, and that He will raise up my ministry partner team in these last few months. If you think you might want to be a part of this team or know of someone who would, please contact me at agellenbeck@back2back.org or at 513-600-5083.
 Thank you for joining me in this pursuit of the orphan!
                Blessings
                 Adam