Food Security Mexico Project #16359

Food and basic needs for the poor.

by Voice Of the Bride Ministries

Project Report | Nov 21, 2018
Unwrapped gifts...

By J. Wayne Kiger-Rice | Director/Founder/Project Leader

Pedro with his "new to him" guitar!

One of the things we love about what we get to do, is to take what someone no longer wants, and give it to someone else who is in need. We never cease to be amazed at just how perfect it works out.

Recently, a friend wrote us, asking if anyone in Mexico could use a nebulizer. My first response was, “maybe - what is it?” We thought for sure, one of the infirmaries could use it for a person with asthma. So we took it down to TJ, and asked around. One of our associates found the perfect home! The man in photo below, had been praying for this very machine, which I had never heard of.

On the other hand, our young friend Pedro, in Tijuana (with the guitar in the photo above), had recently mentioned that if we ever came across a guitar he might could afford to buy, to please let him know. I put the word out on Facebook, and right away, one of my friends had a guitar he had been thinking of finding a new home for.

These exchanges made for 4 satisfied households, with each person equally blessed - to give and to receive!

We are so blessed with resources in our country. I am sure you have heard the expression “one persons junk, may be another person’s treasure”. We just don’t realize how something discarded by one, could make another happy. Take a look at these kid’s faces (below), and their joyful play time with some toys we found, thrown in a dumpster outside a church daycare.

Often, at Christmas, we have families who like to have their children give away some of their toys in order to make room for new toys. It is a good opportunity to teach them to share from their abundance. We are never to young to learn to give. We are also never too old to learn a good lesson! Once, while spending time in the Philippines, I watched a little boy play with a truck with no wheels. He had the best time and did not let the lack of wheels hinder his imagination, nor entertainment. However, when I got back to the US, I went shopping for a new truck to send back to the little boy in the Philippines. I was sure he needed a NEW truck WITH wheels. As I began shopping, I started picking out trucks of various colors. I had decided he needed one of every color. Thankfully before I got out of the store, I caught myself and realized I was about to make a very common mistake with my “first world” mindset: New and an abundance was better! Why? Why was that better? How could that little boy have enjoyed himself any more than I had already observed? I did still send him one new truck. And my bet is he shared his truck with no wheels with another kid, because he knew it was a treasure.

What kind of things might you have to pass along this holiday season?

Prayers answered for a Nebulizer machine.

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Aug 24, 2018
Sponsorships to change destiny

By J. Wayne Kiger-Rice | Project Leader & VOB Founder/Director

Jasmine's cap and gown photo.

Last report we told you about Jasmine. We have been bringing food to her family for 10 years. Her family quickly became one of our special adopted families. Jasmine has just graduated from high school. We have shared before, concerning her father, who was murdered in a store robbery at his workplace, a few years ago. This life changing event, spurred Jasmine to want to study to be a criminologist. We were so blessed to be there to celebrate her graduation this month, on such a special life accomplishment. It is more common for boys to quit school in Tijuana, but it is difficult for many families to persevere with expenses concerning school costs. Jasmine persevered, with your help, and now would very much like to go on to college--again, something very difficult for young people in the poor communities we serve. She will start college this Fall. Her registration has been paid, thanks to VOB supporters, but we will need to begin her monthly tuition next month. Your joined sponsorship can help keep Jasmine in school, as we have made a 3 year commitment to see her get her degree.

The second young woman whom VOB is supporting, is Angie, one of our Tijuana ministry partner’s daughter. Angie, having just graduated from high school, wanted to go on to Nursing school. This past year, she has been waiting for a space to open up at the school she desired to go to. Angie went to work right away after she graduated high school, and has saved up this year for her future living expenses, once she starts school. VOB has paid for her registration, and will start her monthly tuition in September. We are looking for sponsors to help us carry this need. A young person in Tijuana, going on to college, will have infinitely more opportunities in life, to succeed, than a child who either doesn’t finish grade school, or has only a high school education. Learning a trade, like nursing, will truly be a GODsend for Angie, for the rest of her life. We have shared before about Angie having had cancer as a child. This gave her the vision to want to go on to be a nurse, helping others in the way she was helped when she was a child. Your sponsorship, can help Angie fulfill this dream, and have a better life. This will be a 3 year commitment as well.

Just knowing the difference these 2 young women are going to make in their communities makes it all worth it. Life in Mexico is a daily struggle. Their tuition is more affordable with the American dollar than you may realize. ANY amount you can help with each month will help us. Being able to support these two young women, following their progress over the years, is something we know has eternal blessings. We look forward to reporting on their progress along the way.

p.s. we inlcuded a photo of Wayne at Antonio's graduation. We shared last report how he returned to school after quitting for a couple years and graduated high school at 21 proud as ever! And we couldn't be more proud of him!

Angie's cap and gown photo.

Angie in her new nurse student uniform.

Wayne with Antonio at his graduation.

Wayne with Jasmine at her graduation.

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May 25, 2018
Second Chances

By Jeffrey Wayne Kiger-Rice | Director/Founder/Project Leader

Fernando, Jasmine & Charlie as tots.

Charlie 18, Jasmine 17 and Fernando 16, in the photos above and below show how long we have known them. You will remember this family, as we have shared about them over the years. We first met when they would come to our Tuesday night outreach. Soon after we met, their older sister became ill and suddenly died. Our mercy medical fund, “Karen Fund”, is named after her. Three years ago this month, their father Carlos was killed in a robbery at his work place. Yet another heavy blow to the family. With your help, VOB has since supported the family monthly, to make up the sudden loss of their father’s income.

Our main goal was to keep the boys in school, as the oldest was considering going to work full time. Unfortunately, both boys dropped out of school recently. Charlie just became uninterested, and Fernando got in trouble, fighting a lot. Charlie recently has got into some trouble. We are hoping this will help him get back on track. These are common problems with young men in Tijuana, as they grow bored, lacking encouragement to rise above their circumstances. With their dad gone, that became all the more difficult. I see them every week, and try to encourage them to make better choices. They know I love them, and they respond respectfully, but still lack initiative. I hope to get them to reconsider school. Please pray for them. We love them dearly! Their sister, Jasmine, also was greatly impacted by the loss of her father. But inspired by the tragedy, she desires to be a criminologist. She graduates high school in July, and plans to go on to college for a degree. She needs our help, and we surely plan to give it. Would you help us sponsor her each month? We know roughly, how much money it will take every month, and it’s not as much as one might think.

Antonio is a success story who we prayed for, and one who gives us hope for Carlos and Fernando! A few years ago, Antonio did not make the lottery to continue public school. We sponsored him each month, to attend private school. He lost interest and, against advice, dropped out, to go to work. He said he might return one day. Three years later, at age 19, he has returned to high school, not only paying for it himself, but will be graduating next month!

Charlie, Fernando, Jasmine now as young adults.

Antonio, a happy young man accomplishing his goals

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