Our Mission
To reflect God's love to those in Ensenada Mexico and surrounding communities by offering a helping hand, supporting local children through school supply events and Christmas gift events, and building a strong sense of community.
Our Vision
To reflect God's love to all people in Ensenada, Mexico, and surrounding communities by offering a helping hand to everyone, regardless of age. Through school supply events, Christmas gift distributions, providing essential food items to those in need, and fostering a strong, supportive community, we strive to embody the love of Christ in every act of service.
Why we do what we do
God has blessed us and so we bless others. Many of the people living in Ensenada live below the poverty line. Many families have to choose between feeing their children, and having a roof over their heads. Extra things like school supplies and Christmas gifts are often impossible. By providing these things we can be the hands and feet of God, and show the children and their families that God loves them and cares about them. It also gives us a chance to share the Gospel with those who might not believe it.
Although kindergarten through 8th grade is free parents are still required to pay for uniforms and school supplies. If families cannot pay for uniforms or supplies their children do not get to go to school. There are no scholarships in Mexico. For the older high school grades they have to pay not only for uniforms and supplies, but they have to pay for the school itself. By giving children school supplies you are taking some of the financial burden off the families and allowing the kids a chance to get an education and have a better future. During Christmas time, many families don't have celebrations. Christmas is just another day that parents have to work, or there isn't enough money to buy even small gifts. Providing small gifts to kids helps them feel loved and special. ​
How we started
In 2019, during the pandemic, Egla was awoken by a dream at 2:00 a.m. In her dream, God was watching her and telling her that she should hand out school supplies to children in her neighborhood. Not fully understanding the dream but knowing it was important, she woke Carlos up to tell him. Carlos told her she needed to talk to Mark. Mark Quaas, founder of Walk the Talk Missions, has been a mentor and friend to Egla for many years. Mark told Egla that this was a message from God and she had to follow through.
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That first year, Egla walked to each house in her neighborhood, collecting names and ages of children so she could get enough supplies for each child and grade. Many people shut the door, unwilling to give that information to a stranger, but instead of giving up, Egla continued with "Egla's Back to School Program for school supplies". What she was calling her outreach at the time, and a few families were willing to come to her event. With the help of her family and friends, Egla held her first school supply event. Here, she shared the love of God with the kids and adults who came, played games, provided a meal, and handed out Bibles and school supplies.
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After the success of that first event, Egla knew God had given her a purpose, and she had to continue with that purpose. And so, Reflejo De Amor was started. Reflejo De Amor is run by Egla and her husband, Carlos. Together, with lots of prayer, hard work, and the help of their son Jahyvin, family, and friends, Reflejo De Amor has grown and expanded year after year.
Where we are today
It has been 5 years since RDA started and the school supply program has grown exponentially! Not only are we doing events in Ensenada and surrounding communities we are also doing events up in Tijuana. We have added a Christmas toy event and have helped orchestrate other community events and building projects with Walk the Talk Missions.