EL GRITO/ El Bicenternario/200 yr Independence

On September 16, 2010 was Mexico's 200th year of independence. We normally celebrate at Douglas and then go downtown for the actual Grito (yelling) part. But this year we decided to bring the Grito to the Jovens (teens) on our property.
We had 2 groups here. They all brought their green, red, and white to wear, which was great. It was a great day making flags and painting them on our faces. We went over to Casa Hogar Douglas and ate a YUMMY buffet dinner. Then we all headed back to our property for a night of fun.
We had virgin Pina coladas whipped up for everyone, we streamed the Mexico City celebration on 3 different televisions in our palapa (hut), But the best part was... THE FIREWORKS. that is right. We bought fireworks and i don't mean little sparklers i mean FIREWORKS. It was awesome.

I captured the Grito at CHD led by one of our jovens, LEO, on video. If you would like to watch it you can by clicking here...

Engagement Party

My best friend Amanda Taylor threw Rodo and I a Surprise Engagement Party! Rodo and i had gone to the lake to visit with my parents for a few days prior. Then on that day we drove in i was so ready to hold colton, amanda's new baby. I had no make up on and rodo and i were very tired. We got to Amanda's house and i basically grabbed Colton right away. Amanda had told me that she was meeting with a bride for her wedding planning business, Embellished Weddings. So i was just going to wait for her at her house. She had been texting me all day. i thought it was because she was so excited to see me, but it really was because she had a house full of people waiting for us. When we arrived at her house people started flooding from her back hallway. It was a wonderful surprise. Amanda had a cake made that was a hot air balloon. it was precious. Lots of people that we love were there with cards, bride magazines, and big smiles. Amanda, thank you for throwing us an engagement party. You are kind of ridiculous because you just had a baby and you threw all that together. I love you so much. it means the world to me that you are so excited for mine and Rodo's future together. Thank you for all the time and work you put into that to make us feel special and loved. I loved the cake, the magazines, and the crazy fun necklace! It was such a fun surprise! I LOVE YOU GIRL!

Fundraiser 2010

My Fundraiser was on August 19, 2010. It hit me that only 3 of my supporters had actually been to Monterrey and really KNOW what it is that i do here. So, i decided to take a video camera around for the month of June. With the help of one of our interns, Adam, i was able to make a video of my life here in Mexico. All the areas of my life and ministry here were covered. It was a dessert fundraiser. Some of my friends made some yummy desserts and it was our snack while we were all watching the video. I got up and spoke a little bit about how my life is going to be different these next couple years from my past couple years. i have a NEW ROLE here at Back2Back. My main job here is FOOD QUEEN. Basically i break down how many guests we will have and how we are going to feed them. i break it down literally to every slice of bread, every piece of cheese, every piece of turkey, every bag of chips, drinks, cookouts, pollo loco runs, and help vita (our cook) figure out how many people she needs to feed. There is so much more detail than that but i figured i wouldn't bore you with details. I had been praying for God to give me something, job related, that i could call my own. And He did! i am very excited about this new role because it is different. i won't be going out with groups every day. i will be sometimes just not all the time. i will still be debriefing because i love that. I will also continue to invest in the lives of the teens that are here. And i will be the head person for the new STINTers. God has big things in store for this year. i am excited to see how everything unfolds. on top of all of that, i am getting married. So learning out how to balance work, teens, relationship, prep for wedding stuff, and the actual marriage is going to take time. I am just praying that God gives me good balance. Please join me in prayer for this upcoming year and my ministry here with Back2Back.

If you wish to see the video i can mail it to you. email me your address at pomchick003@aol.com. i left a copy in Oklahoma so people can pass it around. But after you watch it i might ask for you to send it to someone else, if you wouldn't mind.

If you wish to support me monthly or through a one time gift, please make checks payable to Back2Back Ministries and we ask that you DO NOT put my name in the memo but for proper deposit to write on a separate sheet of paper BECCA GANTZ so they know what account the money goes to. Also note that there is a automatic withdraw for those that would want to or are willing to donate monthly. And ALL monetary donations are TAX DEDUCTABLE!!!!!

To All my supporters that were able to make it to the fundraiser (and those that weren't), Thank you so much for your continued love and support. I would not be able to do what i do without people like you in my life. I am praying for God to bless you in mighty ways this year. THANK YOU!!!!!

BIG ANNOUCNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

okay i know it has been a month now but i have reason. i went back to Oklahoma to do some fundraising and it was right before i left that it happened. While i am in Oklahoma nothing but fundraising gets done. And now, i have time to sit down and tell you all about my life and my future.

here we go....

March 2001- Rodo and Becca Meet.
Summer 2004- Becca is in Mexico all summer and gets to know Rodo better
Summer 2005- Friendship is growing and Rodo asks Becca out for the first time. Becca says No. Not because she didn't like him but because she didn't know what her life was going to look like in the future so why go on a date just to date?
Summer 2006- Friendship continues to grow and they become REALLY GOOD FRIENDS!
Summer 2007- Enjoying the Friendship
October 2007- Jim and Betty get married. Rodo and Becca salsa dance the night away. Becca crazily puts her number in Rodo's phone.
A week later- Rodo calls Becca in Oklahoma for the first time.
Spring Break 2008- Rodo tells Becca his intentions with talking to her and pursing her on the phone.
Summer 2008- Rodo and Becca go on 7 dates before making it official.
July 30, 2008- Becca's 23rd Birthday and the day Rodo OFFICIALLY asks Becca to be his girlfriend. (one of the best days ever in Becca's books)
January 2, 2009- Rodo and Becca say "I love you" for the first time!
August 2009- Rodo goes home with Becca for the first time. Meets all of her friends and family.

So there is the story of Becca and Rodolfo until 2010. And now, the proposal story!!!!!

July 28th we set off on a surprise trip for "my birthday" and our 2 year! we get to the bus station here in Monterrey and my roomate, Hope, with her boyfriend, Cheque, were there for a surprise. So the 4 of us set off on an adventure. We went to a place called Queretaro. It is 9 hours from Monterrey. Inside of Queretaro was another town called Tequisquiapan. In that city they have a hot air balloon service. So July 30, 2010 just rodo and i got up and met in the lobby at 6:00 AM. Just me and him went up in the hot air balloon. it was SO ROMANTIC. little did i know what was coming next. When we landed, rodo put my camera on Video and asked the captain of our hot air balloon to video. i still had no idea what was going on. Then Rodo starts saying very sweet things about me and our relationship and he pulls out a ring and gets on his knee. I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. HAHA but as it came to reality i quickly said yes. SO I AM OFFICIALLY ENGAGED as of July 30,2010 at 7:45 AM.
We are so excited to see how God is going to use us together as a couple. We have been eager to get some things planned already. Our Wedding Date is March 5, 2011. Just Family is coming. But then we are going to do a HUGE reception in Oklahoma towards the end of March and everyone and anyone is invited to that. We have 6 months to prepare things for the rest of our lives. We know that the wedding is one day out of the rest of our lives. So we are more eager to plan things for our future than the wedding right now.
We ask for your prayers as we are in a new season. We ask for your prayers for our future together and for our family.

All of you need to start practicing my new last name. My name will be Rebecca Lynn Arguello. the g is silent and the ll sounds like a Y. Go ahead try and say it. haha



If you would like to see the video from the Hot Air Balloon click here!!!!

If you would like to see the proposal video click here!!!!!

Enjoy!!! This was the most wonderful day of my life. (so far) i am sure the wedding day will outweigh that haha. My fiance is the most kind, gentle, tender hearted person i know. i am so in love with him and excited that he chose ME! if you don't know him, i hope you will get to one day. Thank you for all of those that are excited for us and are praying for us.

Intern day out

Grutas de Garcia-
Every friday when groups leave we have a chance to hang out and get to know our interns more. Each staff couple has one friday of the summer to take interns out on the town. Last friday was the single staffs turn. We decided to get subway, eat it on the bus on our way to Grutas de Garcia. As you can tell from the pictures it means the caves. we had a 45 minute tour throughout the cave and it was a blast. the interns loved it.
Then we came home and ate dinner. Decided we were ready to get our groove on with some salsa music so cheque, rodo, hope, and i helped teach how to salsa dance. We danced the night away. Then around 11:00 we started a movie in the big palapa which was super fun also.
We wouldn't be able to do anything in the summer if it weren't for our interns. we are so grateful they decide to take time out of their schedules to come help serve alongside us. We are so appreciative of them.

WEEK 2 OF SUMMER

Sorting through all the donations McCollum's group brought.

Famous McCollum soccer camp shirts

Serving dinner

It was one of my best friends, Kenzi Couch's, birthday this day also. I love you Kenzi. Happy 22nd!

So this week has been one of the busiest weeks of summer. Steve McCollum was here with his group of 55 people. We had another group from Christ Church at Mason, and another from Horizon Church.
Every year McCollum brings down a bunch of people and does his annual cookout with all of our guests and ALL THE KIDS WE SERVE... well almost all the kids we serve.
Last Monday we served over 500 plates, we grilled 96 kilos of meat, made 1430 tortillas, chopped 238 avacado and tomatos, chopped 20 onions, 8 ciliantro, 238 limes, 96 jalapenos, and we had 48 bags of chips. it was a busy afternoon getting all of the food prepared. we had staff, group members, and some of our teens helping out.
We had a time of games and worship with 20 centavos which the kids LOVED, me too. We did an open mic night with anyone that wanted to share something, and we also had a couple people tell their testimonies. there were lots of tears coming to my eyes while listening to one of our jovens telling his story of accepting Christ. i am so proud of the impact Tonio is having on the other teens here on campus. God has completely captured Tonio's heart in this past year.

While out with groups, i have leveled two playgrounds, and done cement 2 days in a row. i am obsessed with running the trompo (cement mixer). it has been a full full week and God has shown up in BIG ways. all of our groups leave in the morning.
Then it is time for a staff meeting, it is my turn to take all the interns out, rest tomorrow night, then do it all over again next week starting Saturday. Please be praying for strength throughout my summer. i am only going to last if i am filled up by the Lord. Pray for intimate times with Him.

Saying Goodbyes

Dulce and Katya after a cake fight!!!!!!

Edgar, Connie, and Dulce

Me and Dulce

Yessica and I

You know something doesn't feel completely right when your stomach hurts and your heart aches. I am always really sad to see people, that i have known for a long time, leave. And the funny thing is, that if the person leaving is still in a Childrens home, shouldn't i want them to leave and be with their families? my answer is YES, But it is still hard. While i know it is time for some of them to leave i also know that God has brought them in my life for specific reasons and for certain seasons. Each child that we serve has something different to offer. It excites me to be able to build into the children we serve. Those of you that know me, relationships are my thing. I love relationships. i love investing into the teenage girls here on our campus, i love hanging out with the children we serve. It excites me to get to know them.
But on the flip side, it is really hard for me to say goodbye... I have had to say goodbye to Yessica who lived in Esperanza house here on our property. She has taught me so much about life. She is super passionate about everything. And the joy that she has is straight from the Lord. God has good things in store for her life. But it was really hard to say goodbye to her. Her presence here on this campus was always a positive one and I can tell she is not here.

I also had to say goodbye to Dulce or ABBY from Manantial De Amor. She was having a birthday party and invited me to come along. it was such a fun time in knowing that i had specific time to say goodbye. sometime we don't even get the chance to say goodbye and those are the hardest. But God allowed me to spend all day with her at the girls home. I got to celebrate her birthday with her and the rest of her house. And i even got to pray with her before i left. She is a special one. she is so beautiful and eager to seek God. She is independent and can speak for herself. The confidence she has for a 15 year old girl who has grown up in a Casa Hogar, is unbelievable.
It has been a pleasure to serve both of these girls. they are both dear to my heart. I have and will not give up praying for them. Even though i could possibly never see them again which is incredibly hard for me. But it is okay because i believe God has given something special to both of these girls. I know they both experienced God in both of their circumstances. And with that, we have to trust that they experienced enough of HIM to get them through any situation that comes their way. that they will fight the good fight and take a stand against this cold world. Although it is hard to say goodbye i know good things are coming for them. PRAISE YOU FATHER FOR RESTORING THESE GIRLS LIVES WITH THEIR FAMILIES.