This summer, I was often asked by mission trip guests, “What does a typical day look like in a Teen Home of the Hope Program?” Wow, the best answer is actually… “There is no typical day – each one is a new adventure!” As you can imagine, it’s semi-controlled chaos in a teen home on… Read more
Our foster daughters through the Hope Program were not allowed to date during their first year living in our house. Of course, they all quickly agreed to this rule back in August 2008 and then fought for their “right to date” all year long. These beautiful girls, who range in age from thirteen to eighteen,… Read more
I know what people are thinking. Starbucks? What a waste of money. Ok, not everyone. Those who love cold coffee drinks would argue that it’s worth it. The truth is a trip to Starbucks is not something that I make a habit of. An opportunity to connect with one of our Hope Program students, however,… Read more
This week I have been thinking about shelter in unexpected forms. Take one of my boys, Homero, for example. When Homero was twelve years old, he came to live at Manantial de Amor, one of the children’s homes in Monterrey. He had gotten into a lot of trouble at various schools and even with the… Read more
At the beginning of this year I decided that I wanted to take my running to a new level. I’m still what most would call novice, but I decided that I wanted to run some local 10K races, that I wanted to run a half marathon, and that ultimately I wanted to run a full… Read more
We recently took our boys to a nearby lake for some fishing where I happened to capture this photo of Leo. Leo lives with the Cooper Family in the James House as a part of The Hope Program. Just like my boys he is getting ready to graduate from Secundaria (middle school) and will start… Read more
If you have a family you likely know the reality of living on a budget. You know how much you spend on utilities, on gasoline, and how much you’ll spend on groceries for the month. But have you ever figured out how much money it takes to feed yourself or each of your children for… Read more
The children filed into the community center area. Their chatter was cheerful as they waited for their breakfast and a time of worship. This scene is becoming a regular occurrence at a Back2Back community center every Saturday. Desayunador, or Saturday breakfast ministry, is a newer initiative Back2Back staff have started in Mexico. The first was… Read more
When Back2Back Ministries began its work in the Dominican Republic, Co-Site Directors knew it would have a different feel from the sites before it. “We didn’t need to reinvent any wheels,” shared Hope Garcia. “There were already many organizations doing important work in-country; our vision was to come alongside them, growing their impact.” What was… Read more
Back2Back’s Transition to Independence Program comes alongside young adults as they transition from one season of their lives to a new one, often resulting in independent living. Staff teams provide mentorship, life skills, and general support to each young adult in the program as they navigate life in new spaces and areas. One of Back2Back’s… Read more