“I often find myself wondering if we are truly making the impact we hope to in the lives of the children we serve,” shared Susy Gibler, Back2Back staff. “When things get tough, I wonder if we’re making a difference, if they are absorbing all the lessons we’re teaching them, and it always comes back to prayer. I remind myself of what we’ve seen God do, and then He reminds me He’s always there – caring, working, and moving in each child’s story.” 

Recently, Susy and fellow staff members were able to see their impact in real-time. They took a group of children from a Back2Back-partnering home shopping for their Christmas exchange. In small groups of four, the children walked with a safe adult and chose presents for their Secret Santa.

As they finished up and left the store, a six-year-old boy in their group saw a man climbing onto his motorcycle in a full biker outfit. The boy shouted excitedly at him, “Hey! Hello! Hellooooo!” Susy tightened her hold on the little boy’s hand, not wanting him to take off toward a stranger. 

“Before I could say anything, his older sister, quickly stepped in,” Susy shared. His sister leaned toward him, speaking firmly but kindly. “Remember, you shouldn’t talk to strangers. Remember what they’ve taught us? There are strangers, acquaintances, and friends. We don’t know that man, so we shouldn’t talk to him.” Her little brother looked at her with wide eyes and nodded his head in understanding.

“It was a sweet nudge from God, reminding me they are learning to take care of themselves and to look out for each other, and that is a gift to me,” Susy explained. This is the power of safe, trauma-informed adults in the lives of vulnerable children – kids learn necessary life skills by example and help younger generations implement them, as well. This is a victory.