March 2009

Imagine your life as a single parent, with little or no hope of change for the better. Your only hope is the Feeding Center where you and your daughter go for food, clothes, and teaching. Ironically the name of the center is Wings of Hope.  This is the story of such a young woman.  With her daughter Denise, Diana came to the center 3 times per week for what we offered. (Denise is the little girl that asked Pam, do you have Jesus in your heart?) She found more than food and tempora

l things. She found the love of a savior and in time, much, much more. 

A man, by the name of Jose Luis, was coming from the church that staffed the feeding center, to work with the children. In the process of time, his eyes feel on Diana, the single mother raising an 8 year old girl in a terrible place. Having lived a less than exemplary life style, Diana was not the perfect choice for most men, yet to Jose Luis; she was the woman of his dreams. A romance budded and soon hope came to life for them.  Jose Luis asked Diana and Denise to join his home. They were married in 2007 and soon after, they left Saltillo to work in an orphanage in 

Baja California. After serving for two years there, they have now returned to the place they were rescued from. Now Denise has a new little sist

er named Bitia, to keep her busy and a nice home to keep her warm and safe.

Today Jose and Diana are back in Saltillo working in the Feeding Center where their paths first crossed.  I asked Diana why they had returned, she told me, “In the orphanage, the children had everything they needed supplied to them, but here the children need so much more.  God has called us back here to work with these children who have so little.” I was so moved by what she said and am so thankful to have had a part in her future.       

Life has completely changed for Diana and Denise, (now 12 years old.) As a partner to this ministry, you too had a hand in this testimony.  We are all helping create tomorrow’s testimonies of success.

         This trip to Mexico was a busy one for Pam and me.  We were very blessed to once again visit our friends at Garland, TX. Iglesia Sobre La Roca is a powerful and exciting church that is filled with people who are hungry for the presence of God. They packed into a building, for two services, that is much too small for such a large congregation.  (This is a problem many Pastors would like to have.) I asked Pastor Gabriel, what is the key? He said, “Just love the people, and the rest will take care of itself.” They receive us there as family and we are so thankful for their love.  Their children received a special change offering which totaled $1460.00 and selected LAM as the recipient. We were once again blessed by their generosity.

Your Friends, Jim and Pam Stockdale

February 2009

Dear Friend and Partner,

This year will soon be history as we race toward the end of the first decade of the 2000’s.

I am always amazed by the difference in attitude of people. I entered a store a few days ago to collect one of our change boxes. A woman was behind the counter I didn’t know and blurted out as I exchanged the box, “I have a problem with that!” (With customers in line) I enquired as to what she meant and she began to tell me, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t think we should be helping th

ose Mexican kids when there are children suffering here.”

Of course the real problem she has is a prejudice in her heart, or illegal aliens, yet she was taking it out on children whom she has never nor indeed shall ever meet.

  The immigrant debate is one that will continue for many years I’m sure, yet does that somehow relieve our responsibility found in Psalms 82:3 (and many other references too) “Be fair to the poor and to orphans. Defend the helpless and everyone in need.” Interestingly, David didn’t specify which poor and defenseless to help, or which race.  I think they all qualify, it just depends upon us. 

Just a few minutes after encountering this hardened woman, the manager at one of their sister stores gave me a different comment. She said, “Yesterday a young boy came in the store, just old enough to read. He was reading the 

box and looking at the pictures. He handed me a 10.00 bill to pay for the gas his mother had bought, took the change I gave him and ran back to the car. In just a few seconds he was back with a dollar bill in his hand. The box was so full of change he couldn’t get the bill in. After working at it he looked up at me and asked, “Can you help me, I really need to give this dollar?” “I pushed a knife into the slot, and made a hole big enough for him to insert his dollar. He looked up at me and said, “thank you, I really needed to give that!”

  The manager was beaming with joy as she related this story to me.

 I pictured the little boy running back to the car and telling his 

mother something like this, “Mom, there is a box in there collecting money to feed hungry children, can I give something?” It didn’t matter to him if they were Mexican, Japanese, Indian, or American. He just wanted to help. 

Hunger has no prejudice. It affects the rich or the poor, black, white, red or brown. We are honored to have been given the assignment found in Luke 9:13 “…you give them something to eat.” When the Jesus makes 

something plain to you, it becomes a mission for which you will give all that you have to complete.

Thank you for your blindness to race, nationality, or political posture…we could never do this work alone.      

Your Friends,

Jim and Pam Stockdale

January 2009

Dear Friend and Partner,

            

It is impossible to visit a place of extreme poverty and be untouched by the need represented there.  Such was the case with Gary Bishop, who accompanied me to Saltillo this month.

 I was so blessed to have this new friend along with me and to see the impact that the trip had on him.  He not only shared the aviation, navigation, & communication work load that goes along with flying a private aircraft, but he also shared the joy of seeing our children.  He was truly moved by the experience and has already mentioned a return trip in 09.  

We arrived at Saltillo Monday afternoon, Dec 1^st. The airplane was full of boxes and suitcases with gifts for the children. These were unloaded and reloaded into one of our vans there and whisked off to Javier and Milly’s house for preparation for the Christmas party.  Our plans did not include being at the party, since that was held later in the month closer to Christmas day. 

            This trip was a busy one and we were on the go a lot. After being in the plane all day Monday, after a quick shower we headed to a home meeting. This was the first experience for Gary to have “Genuine Mexican” food. There is something amazing that happens when people break bread together.   Jesus knew this well kept secret and encouraged it.  An 

open and receptive attitude is the results of an evening dining together and I was asked to share a few thoughts before leaving.  I spoke about Jesus’ command that we make disciples. They are not born, or bought, they are made. It takes time, effort and money to do so. Once again we had invested all three into these fine people.

            We visited 

the Omega feeding center and were pleasantly surprised to see that the city of Saltillo is improving the area by paving the roads, installing water lines, electric poles and wires.  For those of you who have visited this area, you would not recognize it now. 

There is a new church building, the road in front is now graded and paved. I barely recognized the area. It’s amazing what the Gospel does to an area. We don’t take credit for the changes that are being made there but we do rejoice with our workers for what we are seeing done. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has a way of transforming people and places.

Before

We were blessed to be in all 3 centers on this trip. Each one is progressing nicely and doing the work we ask them to do. I was blessed to hear a powerful lesson in all 3 centers. This is extremely important to our vision. It’s not just a place to receive nourishment, but also to enrich and nourish the mind with the truths from Gods Word.

            2008 is now in the past and we must press on toward the needs and dreams for tomorrow. We pray for you and ask that you pray for us as we press on to do the will of God in our lives.

 

Your Friends,

Jim and Pam Stockdale

Latin American Ministry