Together with Him — Adelante en Misiones! pg 4

:
Together with Him — Adelante en Misiones! pg 4 • Buckner seeks to turn families around pg 7
CONTENIDO
3 / Albert Reyes: Responsabilidad y Potencial
4 / Buckner y Convencion: Onward on Mission by Jesse Rincones
5 / Hispanic Baptist Convention, Buckner sign missions covenant
seeks to turn families around 180 degrees
6 / Buckner
by Chelsea Quackenbush
7 / Unspoken joy by Jeanne Jacobs
8 / Big steps: Shoes for Orphan Souls walks tall by Scott Collins
becomes TOMS shoes giving
11 / Buckner
partner, launches distribution in Guatemala
Rangers, Buckner International
13 / Texas
deliver baseball, shoes and joy to orphans
House: Family of eight fills home
14 / Full
with love by Chelsea Quackenbush
among the broken: How we encounter
15 / God
Jesus on mission trips
FAMILIA
Una publicación de
Buckner International
Verano del 2012
Presidente y CEO
Albert Reyes
Vicepresidente de Relaciones Públicas
Scott Collins
Editora de Nuestra Familia
Chelsea Quackenbush
Diseñador Gráfico
Luis Perez
E-mail
[email protected]
Teléfono
214-758-8000
Sitio Web
www.bucknerfamilia.org
2
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
en servicio a los niños >>
ALBERT REYES
Better together
B
uckner International is an
of shoes being collected.
amazing global Christian ministry
It’s important as you participate
committed to shining hope and
in a Shoes for Orphan Souls drive
sharing Christ’s redemptive love to a
to keep in mind that we measure
world in need.
success in a far broader way than just
numbers of shoes collected. While big
With more than 1,100 member
congregations, the Hispanic Baptist
numbers are obviously good and a
Convention of Texas has a rich history
barometer of success, we’re reminded
of sharing the gospel and enabling
of Jesus’ story about the “Widow’s
ministry within the Hispanic culture
Mite.” A little goes a long way.
and context.
Individually, Buckner and
I was speaking with a
gentleman recently who apologized
Convención are wonderful instruments in the
Kingdom of God. But the truth is, we’re
better together.
that his group collected “only” 245 pairs of shoes. It was
fewer than in years past. He was discouraged. But I quickly
reminded him that it’s not about 245 pairs of shoes. It’s
Last year, Buckner and
about 245 children who will have new shoes, some of them
Convención signed a covenant
for the first time ever. “Think about it,” I told the man, “You
agreement committing the two
just put shoes on an entire orphanage and then some. That’s
ministries to work together. HBCT
245 boys and girls.”
President Jesse Rincones has details
of those plans in an article in this
believe God puts believers together for a reason – to work
Buckner is very much a collaborative ministry. We
issue of Nuestra Familia. There is a
more effectively in fellowship for his kingdom and for his
lot to be excited about. You can see
glory. There can be no “Lone Rangers” in God’s kingdom.
quickly that by accomplishing all of
these ideas, we are better together.
on partners like the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas
Buckner alone cannot collect enough shoes. We depend
But like everything in kingdom
to work alongside us. We cannot build enough houses for
work, it takes God’s people putting
people living in poverty and desperation in colonias along
their shoulder to the plow to make
our Texas border. We need builders from Convención to
this happen. Writing an agreement,
work alongside us.
signing it and posing for pictures
is only the start. Without the
eyes of Hispanic Baptists, I am product of the convention. In
concentrated efforts of our 1,100
As someone reared and nurtured under the watchful
Christian humility, I am proud that Buckner and the Hispanic
churches, this agreement is only
Baptist Convention of Texas are working together in a very
an idea.
intentional way.
Already, churches are responding
in a great way. Shoes for Orphan Souls
®
shoe drives are happening all across the
state. Buckner is hearing reports about
exciting successes and tremendous numbers
But more than me, I am confident God is pleased. To
Him be the glory.
Albert Reyes
President and CEO,
Buckner International
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
3
Buckner y Convencion:
Onward on Mission
T
By Jesse Rincones
he little boy playing in the front
knowing the child would have to
together to change the physical and
yard of the house laughed and
recover in cramped, unhealthy and
spiritual lives of children and families
played as we drove up. He looked like
unlivable conditions of a shack in the
with the love of Christ – in the colonias
any other boy his age that you might
colonias.
and around the world.
see on any given day across any given
town in Texas. But, I soon discovered
partnered with churches and volunteers
An exciting start
this little boy was much different than
to build the boy’s family a new home.
any I had ever known.
When they gave the family the keys,
with Buckner is a state-wide Shoes for
they also gave this little boy a new life
Orphan Souls® campaign among our
nia, his family earned an average
of freedom.
Hispanic Baptist churches. Although
of $6,000 to $7,000 a year. Like his
still in its early stages, I have seen and
neighbors, he lived in one of the five
had been thrust into life in the colonias
heard the excitement generated by this
poorest counties in Texas. Like his
– areas of extreme poverty along the
joint missions effort.
neighbors, he lived in dilapidated
southern border of Texas. Although it
housing.
felt like a third-world country, I was
SOS effort by setting our sights too low.
Like his neighbors in this colo-
Jorge described how Buckner
In just a few short hours that day, I
Our Convention’s first collaboration
In our own church, we began our
reminded that this unknown world was
I thought we might be able to collect
distinguished him from his colonia
in my Texas backyard. The poverty was
200 pairs of new shoes. When our
neighbors. For the first three years of
there. The pain was there. The need
youth group heard about it, they said,
his life, the little boy had not been able
was there.
“We’ll raise 100 shoes before
to walk.
Christmas all by ourselves!” And they
Buckner was there, too.
However, there was one thing that
Jorge Zapata, Buckner Border
Ministries director, gave me my first
And, I thanked God that
As the pastor of Alliance Church in
did. In early December, Glenn
Valenzuela, our youth minister, took
glimpse of life in the colonias. The
Lubbock, I knew that my church had
more than 125 pairs of shoes to the
doctors had given the boy’s parents
to be there. As the president of the
Navajo Nation in New Mexico. With
good news about his future. A surgical
Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, I
several months left, we were only a few
knew that many of our 1,100 Hispanic
pairs short of collecting an additional
Baptist congregations could make a
200 pairs of shoes.
difference.
procedure would
enable him to
walk.
It is exciting to hear about
congregations all across the Lone Star
But, there
was bad
Missons covenant
State being uplifted as they participate
news. The
in missions. At Primera Church in San
surgeon could
and the HBCT entered into a historic
Angelo, a small group leader heard
not perform
missions covenant.
about the SOS promotion and decided
that his small group would lead the
the surgery
Within a few short months, Buckner
The covenant is a collaboration that
will impact both the local church and
church in the SOS effort. At Iglesia
the world. Hispanic churches will be
Bautista Houston, Pastor Johnnie
strengthened through volunteer mission
Musquiz’ sister set up a satellite
training and opportunities. The efforts
collection location in her hospital office
of the Convention’s churches will be
with a goal of collecting 50 new pairs
augmented with annual coordinated
of shoes. Not far from the colonias, Bea
Convention-wide missions’ efforts.
Most importantly, Buckner
and Hispanic Baptists will work
Mesquias from United Baptist Church
and a group of Hispanic women’s
leaders pleged that they would collect
>> continued on next page
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Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
2,012 pairs in the Rio Grande Valley.
tions can rise to the large task of world
Hispanic churches’ culture, background
missions. I believe that it is a matter of
and language as a valuable asset to
Adelante en Misiones!
perspective. I can look at world
fulfilling the Great Commission and
missions through the lens of a small
Buckner’s mission. His observation of the
come at a more appropriate time. Two
church’s budget, location and attendance.
local Hispanic congregation as a rich
years ago, the HBCT celebrated it’s
Or, I can look at it from the perspective of
untapped missions resource is a refresh-
Centennial. Last year, we began our next
the all-powerful God who has sent us out
ing perspective – and a challenging one.
100 years of service with the theme
on mission empowered by His Spirit and
Adelante Convención (Onward Conven-
with the promise that we will be with us
store for the Kingdom work of Buckner
ción). This year our challenge is Adelante
until the end of the world.
and the Hispanic Baptist churches in
en Misiones (Onward on Missions).
Texas.
leadership of Buckner’s President, Dr.
Albert Reyes. I know that he sees the
en Misiones! n
The missions covenant could not have
It is easy to wonder whether this large
convention of many small congrega-
I am grateful for the vision and
I look forward to what God has in
Together with Him – Adelante
Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas,
Buckner Firman Pacto Misionero
DALLAS – Líderes de la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas
estamos mirando a nosotros mismos como colaboradores y
y Buckner Internacional se juntaron el 12 de enero en las ofici-
promotores de los esfuerzos misioneros. La capacitación y las
nas de Buckner para firmar un acuerdo que los dos grupos di-
oportunidades que vamos a recibir en esta colaboración van a
cen que facilitará programas de misiones y servicios misioneros
permitir que nuestras congregaciones aceleren el proceso de ser
para la comunidad cristiana hispana. Jesse Rincones, presidente
iniciadores de las misiones.”
de la CBHT, co-firmó el “Pacto Misionero” con el presidente de
Buckner, Albert L. Reyes.
vención Bautista General de Texas, estuvo de acuerdo. “Es un
Rolando Rodríguez, director del trabajo hispano de la Con-
En general, el pacto le da a cada grupo un perfil más alto en
la promoción de misiones, ofrece más oportunidades para que
los miembros de la Convención participen en misiones de servicio voluntario, y tiene por objeto mejorar el trabajo de Shoes for
Orphan Souls (Zapatos para Húerfanos), el proyecto de Buckner
de ayuda humanitaria.
Reyes dijo que la alianza dará a Buckner “un enfoque más
intencional y deliberada en la importancia de la iglesia local y en nuestra misión,” y agregó, “Esto nos conecta no sólo
a las iglesias, pero las iglesias que tienen en común el origen
hispano, lengua y cultura. Hay muchas cosas que vamos a hacer
para aprovechar estas circunstancias en los países y zonas con
culturas similares.”
Rincones, quien también se desempeña como pastor de la
Iglesia Alianza en Lubbock, Texas, dijo que el acuerdo es importante para la Convención debido a “la rica experiencia y los
recursos que Buckner trae a nuestras congregaciones.”
nuevo día para la Convención, una oportunidad nueva. Durante
muchos años, las iglesias hispanas se han considerado como
“Durante muchos años, las congregaciones hispanas han
sido los beneficiarios de los esfuerzos misioneros bautistas,” él
un campo de misión – ahora se han convertido en una fuerza
dijo. “Ahora estamos viendo un cambio de mentalidad y nos
misionera.”
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
5
Buckner seeks to turn
families around
>>
>
degrees’
By Chelsea Quackenbush
6
ZAACHILA, Mexico – Fifty
director of Latin American programs
with a local church in hopes of
Mexican families are working with
said.
spiritual transformation.
Buckner staff to turn their lives around
by participating in the “180 Degree
lies learn basic life skills, like organiza-
change and to accept advice. The
Project” through the Zaachila and
tion, hygiene and job skills, things they
best candidates are the ones that are
Mefiboset Community Transformation
may not know due to their circum-
most needy and most apt to change,”
Centers. In early 2011, casework-
stances. The project coaches them to
Shores said. “We encourage the fami-
ers did a census to identify needs in
organize their kitchens and bedrooms
lies to volunteer after they go through
the community, and then identified
by using what’s available, like building
the program so they can turn around
25 families from each location who
clothing dressers out of cardboard
and help others.”
fit their profile of candidates for the
boxes they find near the trash dump.
program.
from the Mexican government, which
Buckner social workers help fami-
Caseworkers teach about the
“There has to be a desire for
The program is funded by a grant
dangers of leaving food out all day,
Buckner has received for the third year
poverty, they often don’t see the need
and how to dig a proper septic drain-
in a row. Caseworkers and volunteers
to organize their homes or keep them
age away from the house. They assess
are crucial to teach the skills necessary
clean,” Dexton Shores, a regional
the family’s needs and connect them
for a successful program. n
“Because the families live in such
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
M
y third week in
Peru, my team and I
served the community of
Pamplona at a Buckner
Community Transformation Center. I had only been in
several Bible stories
Isaiah 55:10-11
and verses. It was
is a beautiful
picture of God’s word
rather entertaining to watch, I’m
sure. Yet, apparently Belen was
and how it flourishes and does not
sharing with her mother each night
return empty.
what we had learned together
Peru for two weeks and my most
that day.
come down from heaven, and do
recent Spanish class was in high
At the end of the week Belen’s
not return there without watering
school. Language was a barrier for
mother came up to me and handed
the earth and making it bear and
me. However, one little girl remind-
me a precious yellow bag she
sprout, and furnishing seed to the
ed me that sharing God’s love does
made for me. She made it yellow
sower and bread to the eater; So
not always require a translator.
because Belen had shared with her
will My word be which goes forth
that it was my favorite color, and
from My mouth; It will not return to
is 5 years old, owns a little dog
she wanted to thank me for sharing
Me empty, without accomplishing
named Chocolate and loves to
the love and joy of Christ with their
what I desire, and without succeed-
dance and play hide-and-seek. She
family.
ing in the matter for which I
also does not speak any English.
sent it.” n
that God’s power and grace is
Her name is Maria Belen. Belen
Her beautiful smile was the first
This experience reminded me
to greet me each day and the last
beyond languages and cultures. It
one to give me a hug when I left.
is incredible to witness His gospel
We communicated nonverbally
message spread worldwide through
and by the end of the week, I could
the faithfulness of his followers.
understand her rather well. What
I did not know was how much she
culture always produces barriers,
understood from me.
but by actively showing love and
leaning on God’s guidance you can
Through my spotty Spanish and
role playing, I shared with her
“For as the rain and the snow
Spending time in another
be a useful tool for the Gospel.
>> Jeanne Jacobs served as a
volunteer with Project Go last summer
in Peru. Go to itsyourmission.com
for more information about how to
serve as a Project Go! volunteer.
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
7
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Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
yet there they are, kneeling at the
feet of impoverished children.
From the Start
for Russian Souls” at KCBI Radio in
Carlos. In the
Dallas in 1994, he saw it as a way
other shoe is a note
from somewhere in the
I
t’s a
scene I’ve
watched for
13 years, going
back even before
Buckner took over
what is today Shoes
for Orphan Souls®.
The mission team files into an
orphanage where a horde of giddy
and excited children wait. It’s chaos
in the best possible way. Boxes sitting
on the floor are ripped open and
eager hands extract the contents –
shoes.
Mission volunteers, as excited
now as the children they are
about to serve, reach inside
the shoes and pull out
crumbled pieces of paper.
In one shoe is a child’s
name – Sergei, Misha,
When Ron Harris started “Shoes
Juan,
United States written with
to infuse immediate help into the lives
of orphans he’d seen stranded in the
wastelands of Russian orphanages.
love by a shoe donor from
Five years after that initial drive,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida.
Shoes for Russian Souls garnered
“God loves you.” “I’m praying for
about 5,000 pairs of shoes annually.
you.”
I’ve watched this scenario time
had reached its limit. Because its
and time again from Russia to China
broadcast signal covered only the
to Central America and even the
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Harris
U.S. I’ve taken countless photos of
knew their capacity to collect shoes
those mission volunteers peeling off
was limited. He believed the program
filthy socks and replacing them with
could be much bigger.
clean, new socks and brand new
shoes.
when Harris asked if Buckner was in-
terested in taking over the program,
Every time, my focus is on the
But Harris knew the radio station
Leaders at Buckner agreed. So
feet. After all, shoes are the star, so
it didn’t take long to say yes.
feet are important.
fall of 1998, shipped them to Russia
But now, replaying those scenes
KCBI collected its last shoes in the
in my mind’s DVR, I realize there is
and hosted a team in February of
always an unseen hero; another part
1999 – the station’s last. I joined that
as important as the feet – the knees.
group on the trip to see how things
were done. It didn’t take long to
No, we don’t put shoes on knees.
But without knees, we don’t put shoes
realize the magnitude of the ministry.
on feet.
Within the first year, Buckner
implemented two strategic changes.
By global standards, our
Buckner volunteers are wealthy. And
The first was to move the shoe drive
>> continued on next page
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
9
SOS: Adelante en Misiones
up three months, from November to
we changed the name to “Shoes for
today, but
August. That would allow us more time to
Orphan Souls” – SOS. That led to
for the first
collect and ship the shoes, ensuring they
expanding shoe drives beyond Texas.
nine years Buckner
would arrive in Russia about the same
operated SOS, it was an orphan itself,
time as the first seasonal snow.
Opening Doors
shuffling from location to location. It was
hard for volunteers to know where to go
We began the process early, anticipat-
Over the past 13 years, we’ve used
ing an Aug. 1 launch of our drive. That
every cliché imaginable to talk about
to sort the shoes.
same year, the Texas Legislature approved
Shoes for Orphan Souls. “A step in the
the first-ever back-to-school tax-free
right direction.” “Best foot forward.” “If
Humanitarian Aid Center opened in 2007
holiday weekend – for the first week of
the shoe fits…”
that SOS finally had a home. The center
August.
was built specifically to accommodate the
We underestimated the potential.
But the best and most descriptive may
It wasn’t until the Buckner Center for
be, “Getting our foot in the door.”
massive influx of shoes and socks and to
Where KCBI had topped out at 5,000
handle the number of volunteers flocking
pairs, we decided to show enormous faith
2.5 million children all over the world
to SOS each year.
and set a goal of 10,000 for our first year.
since 1999. Throw in a few million socks,
By Aug. 31, we had collected 17,500
and the impact on the lives of children is
attracting nearly 6,000 volunteers
pairs of shoes, 20,000 pairs of socks and
exponential.
annually who prepare the shoes for
more than $60,000 in cash.
worldwide shipping. Having an actual
In November 1999, Buckner hosted
a new pair of shoes through the years,
presence, a place to point to as “shoe
our first-ever “Shoes for Russian Souls”
those shoes were the first thing in their
central,” boosted the overall image and
mission trip, where 83 people traveled
lives they actually owned. Orphanage
popularity of the program both within the
to Russia and put shoes on the children’s
directors often expressed initial skepticism
Buckner family as well as externally.
feet.
when Buckner promised new shoes for
That success led to the second strategic
SOS has supplied shoes to more than
For many children who have received
Once the center opened, it began
Another significant influence on the
every child in the orphanages. But when
shoe program through the years has been
change – the name change. Realizing the
the shoes and teams of volunteers arrived,
its acceptance as a cause by Christian
scope and potential of the ministry,
the doubt left. Buckner earned the
radio stations around the country. Literally
reputation of an organization that fulfilled
from coast to coast, SOS has captured
its promises, unlike many groups the
radio stations and their audiences who
directors had seen.
Those fulfilled prom-
singlehandedly are responsible for
collecting more than a third of all shoes
ises gave countries and
donated each year.
orphanages confidence
that Buckner was legitimate
ers have gone a step further, organizing
And those stations and their listen-
and did what we said we
“Shoe Mission Trips” through Buckner to
would do. In response, they
visit children around the world and put
began opening their doors
shoes on needy feet.
to Buckner and asking
But without question, the strength of
for help in other areas
SOS remains within local churches. From
of childcare.
the very beginning in 1999, churches
The result is that most
grasped the simplicity of the idea – donate
of the countries where-
a new pair of shoes to an orphan. Who
Buckner has a significant
can’t do that?
presence today opened
up because of SOS.
other countries have hosted shoe drives
Today, churches in all 50 states and
throughout the past 13 years. That has in
10
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
Internal/External
turn led to churches becoming involved
It may sound odd
in a variety of other Buckner ministries.
When Buckner took over the shoe drive in
1999, we had fewer than 4,000 churches
on our database. Today, that number
exceeds 9,000.
Getting Personal
The one thing about SOS is that it
is measureable. It’s easy to tell if we
received more shoes this year than last.
We have more statistical categories for
measuring the program than Major
League Baseball.
Walk through the Humanitarian Aid
Center and you’re surprised at the level
of sophistication. Boxes are labeled with
high-tech barcodes. Our team can track a
box anywhere in the world. The efficiency
of the sorting system rivals the best assembly lines Detroit automakers have to offer.
Pairs of shoes pass through with phenomenal speed. If you visit during peak
Buckner se convierte
en Giving Partner
de TOMS Shoes,
Lanza primera distribución en Guatemala
San José Pinula, Guatemala – Por
primera vez, Buckner International realizó
una distribución de TOMS Shoes a niños y
niñas en el Centro de Transformación
Comunitaria (CTC) de Buckner. La distribución se llevó a cabo el día 22 de marzo.
Esta distribución fue la primera por parte
de Buckner de zapatos por medio del
modelo One for One™ de TOMS.
Matt Asato, director de ayuda humanitaria de Buckner International, dijo que
ésta distribución, proporcionará “salud y
oportunidad” para los niños del área.
“Esto tiene un gran significado para
los niños de San José Pinula”, dijo. “Los
nuevos TOMS Shoes le ayudará a los
niños a mantener su salud y aprovechar la
oportunidad que un par de zapatos nuevos
ofrece, tales como poder ir a la escuela.”
Roberto Tejada, director del CTC de
days, you’ll see mountains of shoes and
typical assembly line.
cardboard boxes waiting for shipment.
experience of kneeling in front of a child
But you’ll also see volunteers praying
Still, nothing is more personal than the
as they sort through those shoes; praying,
and placing a new pair of shoes on that
not for the shoes, but for the child who will
child’s feet. My favorites are the light-up
soon wear them. Posters adorn the walls,
shoes – the ones that sparkle when you
serving as reminders that this is not your
bounce. They also elicit joyful giggles. n
Buckner Guatemala, estuvo de acuerdo.
“Debido a Buckner siendo un Giving Partner de TOMS, éste regalo de zapatos significa que tenemos un socio que entiende
que satisfacer las necesidades físicas de los
niños es importante para la población que
servimos. Esta no es sólo una distribución
de zapatos, ésta es una distribución de
esperanza. “
Según Asato, la distribución en San
José Pinula forma parte de un envío inicial
de zapatos de TOMS a Buckner Guatemala, “y el primero de una serie continua
de distribuciones de zapatos para niños y
niñas que Buckner Guatemala sirve”.
“Es importante enfatizar que el compromiso de TOMS a los niños de estas
comunidades no es un evento único, sino
un compromiso para proveer zapatos continuamente, debido al crecimiento normal
de los niños.”
“Las donaciones sostenibles y responsables son parte integral de la filosofía de
TOMS,” dijo Sebastian Fries, oficial en jefe
de donaciones de TOMS. “Trabajamos
para establecer asociaciones a largo plazo
con organizaciones humanitarias, como
Buckner, que pueden proporcionar los
zapatos a niños como un componente
crítico de salud y educación, así también
como programas de desarrollo comunitario. Esto permite a TOMS Shoes tener un
mayor impacto en la salud y el bienestar
de los niños y sus comunidades.”
Sobre el modelo One for One™
de TOMS: Por cada par de zapatos
comprado, TOMS le dará un par de
zapatos nuevos a un niño necesitado.
Hasta la fecha, TOMS ha donado más de
dos millones de pares de zapatos nuevos
a niños necesitados alrededor del mundo.
Los Giving Partners de TOMS se componen de organizaciones humanitarias ya
establecidas y con presencia en los países
en que TOMS distribuye los zapatos.
www.toms.com n
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
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Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
Texas Rangers,
Buckner
International deliver
baseball, shoes
and joy to orphans
SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic –
through so much in their young lives,” Collins said.
Children living at the Nuestros Pequeno Hermanos Orphanage
received new shoes and baseball tips from the Texas Rangers and
Sundberg and George “kneeling down on the floor and putting
Buckner International as part of the two organizations’ ongoing
shoes on the feet of the children. I can’t begin to tell you what it
partnership to impact children.
meant to the children and to me personally to see the humility of
these men.”
Rangers Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg, Chief Operating
Collins said he also was touched by the sight of Ogando,
Officer Rick George and All-Star pitcher Alexi Ogando helped
Buckner put new shoes on the feet of more than 230 orphans
Orphan Souls® program. Each year, Buckner distributes more
Nov. 15. The group was joined by players from the Rangers’
than 200,000 new shoes worldwide to vulnerable children. Since
1999, Buckner has given away more than 2.5 million pairs
Dominican Academy who conducted a baseball clinic for
of shoes.
the children.
The event was hosted by Buckner as part of its Shoes for
“Getting new shoes and meeting such tremen-
Buckner began work in the Dominican
dous role models on the same day had such a
Republic in 2009. Along with distributing
great impact on these children,” according to
humanitarian aid to the country, Buckner opened
Buckner vice president of communications Scott
its first Community Transformation Center in the
DR last year and plans to launch two additional
Collins. “We’re so grateful to the Rangers for their
CTCs in 2012. In addition, Buckner is in the process
dedication and desire to be such a positive influence in
of developing a plan to operate a foster care program.
the lives of others.”
“It was great to partner with Buckner International to allow
The Buckner CTCs provide supplemental education to children
these children the opportunity to meet our future players and to
in poverty-stricken communities by offering music, literature, Bible
be able to provide them shoes that are so needed,” George
and vocabulary classes through an after-school program. Other
said. “It is important for our organization to give back to the
programs include personal growth classes such as hygiene,
communities that we are in and it was an outstanding experience
self-esteem and parenting instruction.
for our players and staff to have this interaction.”
During the clinic, Rangers players worked with the children
in stations to teach fundamentals such as base running,
throwing, hitting and basic stretching exercises.
“It was so impressive to watch these talented young
In September, the Texas Rangers worked with Buckner to
host more than 250 Dallas-area children served by Buckner at
a game with the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers Foundation also
presented a check to Buckner to support the 133-year-old
organization’s work in the community. n
baseball players work with children who have been
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
13
En el Valle del Río
Grande, cuando hace
calor, hace mucho
calor.
Los Urbanos son diligentes en mantener
Buckner y le platicó que Buckner ayuda
la casa limpia y cuidan de la casa tanto
a las familias necesitadas en las comuni-
como les sea posible, dijo Rafael.
dades del sur de Texas. A través de Buck-
“Hemos estado orando para una
Y cuando hace frío, hace mucho frío.
ner Aracely consiguió los uniformes para
nueva casa y sabíamos que esta vez sería
Pregúntele a la familia Urbano. La
que los niños pudieran ir a la escuela.
diferente”, dijo Aracely. “Es una moti-
familia de ocho solían dormir acurrucados
vación para mi familia. Como Dios nos
en el suelo en un remolque pequeño en
hogar nuevo comenzó en lugar del viejo,
permite crecer, queremos ayudar a otra
un barrio de las colonias. Así llevaban
destartalado remolque.
persona. “
durmiendo tres años. No tenían agua
caliente.
nuevo hogar cerca de una escuela local,
espacio para cocinar, para sentarse y
pero la promesa se rompió. Aunque la
hacer la tarea, y para dormir. Todo está
Rafael Jr, 10; Omán, 7; Miriam, 6; Karla,
familia había sido engañada previamente,
impecablemente limpio.
de 20 meses; y Karina, 8 meses, no
“sabíamos que había algo diferente con
podían ir a la escuela. Sus padres, Rafael
Buckner”, dijo Aracely.
Gabriel Flores, coordinador de viajes mis-
y Aracely, se sentían desamparados.
ioneros de Buckner. “Se veía a leguas que
casa nueva, toda la familia hizo fila en
la transformación y ayuda a ésta familia
el pasillo para tomar una ducha caliente.
sería un éxito. Su jardín y el remolque
Los niños, Rocio, ahora tiene 14 años;
Un día, Aracely y los niños se encon-
traban fuera vendiendo fruta a sus vecinos
14
cuando conoció a una chica que sabía de
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
Poco después, la construcción de un
En el pasado, les habían prometido un
Cuando finalmente se mudaron a la
Ahora los Urbanos tienen un amplio
“Han pasado por muchas cosas”, dijo
estaban limpios – algo que no se ve a
menudo. Ellos no tenían mucho, pero
lo que tenían estaba limpio.”
Rafael y Aracely coinciden y
sienten que su familia está más
unida ahora y que son capaces de
ayudarse unos a otros. Tienen una
motivación para mejorar la vida y
hacer algo. También con la ayuda de
Buckner, Rafael consiguió un trabajo
como cocinero principal en un restaurante local, Don Felipe. Aracely
cuiden la casa, no sólo porque
los niños aprendan para que sigan
vende frutas frescas en la ciudad.
alguien se las dio, sino porque qui-
cuidando de las cosas en la vida. Su
eren”, dijo Flores. “Ellos quieren que
familia es simplemente increíble.” n
“Ellos les dicen a los niños que
God Among the Broken
How we encounter Jesus on mission trips
I
By Analiz G. Schremmer
n my mind, there is something almost magical about
and we both cried. I still pray
missions.
for him.
“Life changing” is such a cliché expression. But when
In Guatemala I met a boy
people go on a mission trip, they do come back a little
who had spent several hours a
different. They understand others a little better. They
day tied by the neck to a post in
forget themselves a little more. And they experience
his home while his mother went
Christ intensely.
outside to beg for money. He is
now under the care of Buckner and, at age 4, is learning
There is a collection of images that I store in my mind
from mission trips. I remember putting my cross around
how to speak. He sat on my lap as he led us in prayer for
the neck of a teenage girl before saying goodbye to her in
his dinner.
Mexico. And I remember how she and all her little friends
ran behind us as our van drove away on that dirt road.
Matthew 25:40 says, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you
the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my
I remember the helplessness of not being able to tell a
In each of these children, I experienced God.
Vietnamese orphan about the hope that comes from Christ
brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”
because her country wouldn’t allow it. Then I remember
how that same girl drew a picture of a man on a cross
mighty Creator of the universe.
with a big heart. “Jesus,” she said, smiling. “Yes! Jesus,” I
said back. And I patted my heart.
your lap. That is Jesus whom you are loving. A Buckner
When we serve the lowly, we are serving the allWhen you love them, listen to them and carry them on
I remember little Jose in Honduras. He was the aban-
mission trip is not done just for the children and families
doned son of a prostitute. The orphanage worker had to
who are hurting, but for our God who dwells among the
tear his little hands off my neck when we said goodbye
broken. n
Verano del 2012 • Nuestra Familia
15