Monica's Quince

FELIZ QUINCINERA MONICA!!!  (Happy 15th Birthday Monica)
Monica and my UF Theta Alpha sisters: Betsy, Jenna, (JJ Lail and Todd), Lauren, Monica, Kristen, Kaia, Jessie and Kendra.  Quincinera's here are like small weddings- a ceremony rich with biblical significance of how this girl is becoming a woman who has the opportunity to pursue a relationship with the Lord and be a woman of God, followed by a reception with dinner, cake, games, and dancing.  Monica and her sister Teresa are 2 of my all time favorites at Casa Hogar Douglas.  They have lived there practically their entire lives.  Monica's favorite color is pink and praise the Lord the borrowed dress she got to use was PINK!  Most orphans don't have the funds, support or people to put on a Quince like this but through monetary donations from people just like you B2B has a quincinera fund and sweet Monica was able to have a quince and it was beautiful- the entire thing.

Todd (our back2back mexico director and captain for Casa Hogar Douglas) asked Monica who her dream escort would be and she said Tim, a canadian teen who lives in monterrey with his family who do business here and has helped out at Douglas for the past year.  Well we asked him and he said yes and she was totally surprised and felt like a princess walking into the ceremony like it was her wedding or something.
To the right is the pastor, Monica, Beth and Todd when she received her special quincinera bible.  Throughout the ceremony, the birthday girl receives various items of deep significance as she enters womanhood - a bible, a pillow for praying, a watch to signify that she has time to do things in her life and to pursue the lord, a ring to symbolize eternity because a circle never ends and nor do we if we accept Christ as our savior, etc.  And because Monica does not have parents, different back2back staff sponsored each of those gifts and stood with her as she received them and the pastor spoke of their significance.  

Would you join me in praying for Monica and older sister Teresa:

-   as they search for significance in this world that they would find it in their eternal father

-  for monica as she finishes up public education here in mexico and these 2 sisters make decisions regarding their future