Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Also known as a backer, a supporter, a spokesperson, a champion. Child sponsorship often turns out to be much more than an updated photo and neatly penned letters throughout the year. It is about relationship. Advocacy. Championing. The effects of advocacy are… Read more
Glowing candles light up Martha’s face. She looks around the table at her friends. The purple, zebra-striped tablecloth and the cupcakes in front of her make her smile widely. Today, Martha celebrates her tenth birthday. As she closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, she considers all she has to hope for. At… Read more
Citlally, a student in Monterrey’s Hope Program for the last year, has been praying for her little sister, Paola, now 15. She’s at a point she needs to make a decision about her next steps. Together, they grew up in Del Norte Children’s Home along with their seven other siblings. Recently, their mom decided… Read more
STINT: a short-term, international staff position lasting from 3 months up to one year My adventure to becoming a STINT-er began in the summer of 2015 when the opportunity to intern for Back2Back Cancun, seemingly, fell into my lap. I had other plans of how to spend my summer, but through a beautiful orchestration of… Read more
A boat, affectionately called “La Cucaracha,” cuts through Caribbean blue waves on its way to a small island near Cancun. On board, a group of young girls from throughout Cancun rock back and forth. Some carefully peer over the side, keeping their balance on their knees. Others, like Ami, grip their lifejackets dedicated to looking… Read more
On a recent prayer walk with a mission team, a Back2Back case-worker asked a mother living in the Bonfil community how they could pray for her and her family specifically. In unexpected honesty, she shared concern of one of her sons becoming involved in drug use. Bonfil, an urban community in Cancun, is one gripped… Read more
If you would have asked Nazmin a year ago if she was looking forward to graduating, she might have told you it wasn’t happening. You see, just one year ago, Nazmin was struggling to make ends meet in school. She simply didn’t feel the drive to press into her studies and finish well, but she… Read more
Alondra handed Raquel a note. She blushed and ran back into the living room. Raquel, the house mom at Possibilities Children’s Home, was pleasantly surprised as she carefully unfolded the yellow paper and smoothed out the creases. “I’m so thankful for you,” the note said, “you feel like my mom.” Raquel brushed tears from her… Read more
Rodo comes home from work. Before he can even change out of his work clothes, he lifts his son Malakai and tosses him playfully in the air. Malakai bursts into a giggling fit. Rodo and Malakai, hand in hand, run out the door into the hot Mazatlan sun to wrestle and play as boys and… Read more
Adrian was placed at Imperio De Amor Children’s Home when he was 10 years old. He got into fights all the time. It was his way of protecting himself and his little brothers. The fights were constant and nothing seemed to calm him down.