Our 2022 trip was filled with unexpected turns, lessons learned, unique experiences, and positive moments of growth, joy, and community with new friends. It was also a wonderful opportunity to share life with my daughter Madison throughout (including specific meaningful moments along the way).
Our first challenge was during a layover in Mexico City as we scrambled to get to our new flight to Monterrey while having boarding pass issues in a different country absent of English speakers. With only seven minutes to spare, we finally made it to the jet and were on our way to Monterrey.
We arrived and were transported to Back 2 Back Ministries’ campus where we’d sleep, reflect, play, and eat many meals (as well as getting to know both ours and another missionary team from South Carolina). It was from this home base that we’d travel to one of the many children’s homes partnered by the organization throughout the following week to play with and serve the kids (who had suffered abandonment, neglect, and abuse). To properly prepare us for these times, we were given regular training about trauma and how best to love these kids accordingly. At the end of each day, we sat with a Back 2 Back team captain to reflect and digest the day we had just experienced.
Projects at the children’s homes included the construction of bunk beds and door frames, concrete mixing and pouring for a second floor, and painting a covered play area.
Play with the kids involved card games, Connect 4 (of which I became the grand champion), water fights, crafts, tag, swimming, and soccer.
Our wonderful meals together were filled with amazing local Mexican food including tacos, tostadas, tomalleys, chilaquiles (nachos), salsas, rice, fruit (covered in spices), Mexican hot dogs (with cheese inside and grilled spiced onions on top), and El Pollo Loco.
On Sunday the 17th, we attended a North Point church partner in Monterrey, Mexico (We locally attend a satellite of North Point called Gwinnett Church). This Mexican partner church had a similar setup with Waumba Land (infants and toddlers), UpStreet (elementary kids), and other shared programs. It was neat to see, in such a big world, how God was reaching people in local communities around the globe in similar ways to our home church. We also got to experience what it was like to watch worship and a sermon in a different language (we had English translation headsets during the message).
Halfway through our week, I was a first responder to a medical incident. It was intense and overwhelming as I scrambled to assist while calling for help. While I played a small important role in the overall event, the team also jumped in to take care of and bring this person back to consciousness before transporting them to the hospital. While I myself was insufficient by myself, we collectively were used by God to protect and care for this person as the scenario unfolded. And by God's grace, she recovered fully and was able to rejoin our group for the remainder of the trip. I was a mess the few hours that followed, but processing it live with the team helped me embrace and move past the emotional overwhelm that came with the experience.
There are more stories to share, so don’t hesitate to ask me about the bumpy bus rides, small group chats, Cover Your Assets, river baptism, the wailing wall, giant Jenga, grilling hamburgers, Rosa’s salsas, giant mountains, the airport bird, and more.
I’ve included some photos below that capture our mission trip. To protect the kids, there are many photos that I cannot share publicly but am happy to share privately.
Until next year when I go again with David (Madison wants to go back again too!), Godspeed!
Jason and Madison Montoya
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
We are overwhelmed and grateful for the God-given generosity that’s been expressed through your giving. We were able to meet and exceed our fundraising goals in an unexpectedly rapid fashion. It's stunning and humbling to have you meet our needs in such a life-giving way. We can now carry forward your life-giving generosity this summer to the orphans of Monterrey, Mexico.
While we’ve raised enough funds for my and Madison’s part of this trip, we do encourage those who still want to give to proceed, as these additional funds can be used to help those on our mission team who have yet to meet their fundraising goals. And if our team exceeds our fundraising goals, Back2Back Ministries receives the surplus.
Thank you for your support! It will not only transform the lives of children in Mexico but also the people involved along the way including us and you!
We’ll keep you posted about further developments, so stay tuned.
Grace and peace to you.
Jason and Madison Montoya
Help Us Serve The People of Monterrey, Mexico - This Summer
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
News & Updates
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7/15/22
Cleared of Covid, we left for Monterrey, Mexico!
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6/12/22
We had our final in-person meeting before we depart for Mexico next month. The only tasks left for us are a final virtual zoom meeting and a covid test a few days prior to leaving! Please pray for us and those we'll share life with during our time in Mexico!
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4/30/22
Madison's Passport arrived today! We are now both able to travel internationally. To Mexico we go...
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4/27/22
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We've now raised 150% of our goal! This $2,295 surplus will help our team members who are still fundraising, especially for those with more family members going!
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4/24/22
We participated in our April meeting with the Mexico mission team which involved another group service project where we collected toys, clothes, and school supplies to give to children in need locally and in Venezuela.
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4/19/22
We recorded a short thank you video to share our gratitude for the amazing support we so quickly received! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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4/18/22
Wow! We are stunned. You have given us more than enough money to meet our fundraising goals! Our obligation has been met and we now can share additional funds with team members who still need help raising money.
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4/18/22
We received our first check in the mail! Donations have now been made online, in cash, by Zelle, and now by check!
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4/17/22
We've delivered all of our letters physically and digitally! And our community has stepped up to the plate! We're now at 56% raised with some additional commitments in the mail!
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4/16/22
We've received over 50% of our required donations to make this trip! Thank you to the 27 friends who made this possible!
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4/12/2022
We've received 25% of our total fundraising goal! We've got 37 days until we need to hit 50%.
Most letters have been sent. We've got about 19 letters remaining to hand-deliver this week.
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4/11/2022
Now that we've distributed most of our letters directly, we've now published our letter and videos below, to the podcast, and we've made public our video letter on Youtube.
We've also made this page visible for those visiting the website for other reasons.
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4/8/2022
We've digitally and physically delivered/sent 50% of our letters!
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4/4/2022
Madison and I hand-delivered letters to neighbors we know. Stamped, sealed, and mailboxed letters to be mailed.
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4/3/2022
We finished the trip paperwork. Printed & enveloped all snail mail and hand delivery letters. Started sending out email letters.
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4/2/2022
Finished editing our fundraising video and preparing this promotional page.
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4/1/2022
Went to the Buford Library to apply for Madison's passport (expedited).
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3/31/2022
Family fundraising planning meeting. Shooting pictures and videos for our fundraising campaign.
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3/27/2022
We met our mission team today while also learning about the area we're going to and the ways and which we'll serve the community during our team in Mexico.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction...”
Our Personal Mission Letter
In July, we — Jason & Madison — are going to Mexico to serve the local community by volunteering with our church team in local children’s homes led by Back2Back Ministries.
Your donation will make our mission possible. Money will not only help us get there, but it also funds the special projects undertaken while we’re there.
This trip is an opportunity for us — you included — to help the impoverished communities of Monterrey Mexico flourish by living the good news we proclaim about Jesus while serving the local community’s children (often facing traumatic recovery and abandonment) in practical life-giving ways.
It’s also a chance for us to grow in the love of God, strengthen our relationship with each other, get outside of our American bubble, and explore our family’s Mexican heritage. By donating, you’re helping to make the world, and this specific part of Mexico, a better place.
For us to make this happen, we need to raise $4,000 dollars —$2,000 each. Will you help?
Even if you only give five dollars, it would make a difference!
To donate, use the links on this page or send a check to 692 Barley Hill Lane, Sugar Hill, Georgia 30518 made payable to global(x) — which is the 501(c)3 charitable organization that facilitates this trip.
Whether you are able to financially contribute or not, we’d value your continued prayers.
Jason & Madison Montoya
Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
We have met our giving goals, but if you'd like to still contribute, we'll share our surplus with team members who are still raising funds!
If you'd prefer to donate offline, simply mail us a check to 692 Barley Hill Lane, Sugar Hill, Georgia 30518 made payable to global(x) — which is the 501(c)3 charitable organization that facilitates this trip.
Know someone that could contribute? Would you pass along this page to them?
Other Ways You Can Help
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Pray for us (Madison's passport arrives earl, that we're able to successfully raise funds, and that God would draw us near to him during this process).
- Send us your words of encouragement.
- Email this page to a friend (use button below).
- Share this page on your Facebook, Twitter, & Linkedin pages (use buttons below).
About Monterrey Mexico & Back2Back Ministries
About Global(x) Journeys
501(c)3 charitable organization: 58-2203569
Global(x)'s mission is to engage people on a faith-building journey to serve others around the world. They believe that one of the most significant faith-building experiences of someone’s life can take place on a global(x) journey. They partner with Christian organizations that provide service opportunities that allow us to serve at-risk children and families, churches, and the least reached.