: 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 4 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 8 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 11 12 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