Pan Dulce

Calling All Golfers

We are about three weeks away from the Sewell Golf Classic in Dallas on September 16, 2013 at the Bent Tree Country Club. This event will benefit the work of Buckner in North Texas. If you are in Dallas and enjoy golf, make plans to join us by recruiting a team of four golfers. It is a great way to have fun and benefit the work of Buckner in the DFW area. We are featuring a Four-Person Florida Scramble format.

For more information call Kendra Lovelady, Buckner Events Manager at 214-758-8017 or email her at [email protected].

See you then!

Shining Hope by Turning Hearts

Dr. Richard Ross spoke at our weekly devotional time this week on the topic of raising teens and older adult children that reflected a heart to heart connection. He said this was foundational to passing on a spiritual heritage to the next generation.

His key message was based on Malachi 4:6 that says “And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”

So here are some questions he raised for us:

1. How can we know that our children will do their mission on the planet?
2. Will my child bring honor and glory to the King?
3. Do I share words of blessing with my children?
4. Do I point out the good in them?

This is the second time I heard Dr. Ross speak. I am moved each time I hear him speak about the most important relationships in my life, the relationships with our three sons. I told Dr. Ross that I could listen to him all day. What he has to say is profound, prophetic, and passionate.

I would like to recommend the materials he has written and published for you to consider whether your are a student pastor, a parent, or even a grandparent. The investment you make in your children or grandchildren will pay dividends long after you are gone.

You can find his material at his website called Turning Hearts at www.richardaross.com. One tool that has been personally helpful to me is 30 Days: Turning Heart of Parents and Teens Toward Each Other. If you have a teen and have not used this tool, you are in for a blessing.

Hope Shines Bright in Longview

On Friday, August 16, 2013, I had the privilege of serving as a volunteer at the Supply Train event at First Baptist Church of Longview under the leadership of Jane Ann Crowson, Director of the Buckner Family Hope Center in Longview. This event was a collaborative effort between Buckner, the Longview Junior League, and First Baptist Church of Longview. Plans were made to serve about 3,200 people, families primarily, with new backpacks, shoes, school uniform shirts, haircuts, and hygiene supplies to prepare for the new school year.

I met students from Longview High School, all in the International Baccalaureate Program, serving as volunteers in the Junior League of Longview. They were assisting with the distribution of backpacks.

Three volunteers travelled with me to Longview to participate in this event: Aracely Perez, Director of Organizational Effectiveness; Rocio Lopez, Coordinator of Reporting and Statistical Analysis for Buckner International Operations; and Amber Luckey, Coordinator of Support Services for the Dallas Children’s Campus.

I was overwhelmed at the need presented that day. I visited with many families that are truly struggling to provide for their children. One mother travelled as far as 2 hours to receive supplies and another mother was in line at the church as early as 3 am to wait until 8 am for school supplies. The need for support was aptly met by an army of volunteers from the Buckner Missions Team in Dallas led by Susan Williams, volunteers from First Baptist Church of Longview, staff from Buckner Longview and Buckner Westminster Retirement Community; the Junior League and others willing to help families prepare for another academic year.

Buckner was at her best today…Shining Hope into lives of children and families.

Hope Shines at the Top of Texas

I had the privilege of preaching at First Baptist Church of Perryton, Texas on August 11, 2013. Richard Laverty is the pastor. When I arrived in Perryton, I learned that I was only 7 miles from the Texas-Oklahoma border. The most amazing thing about this church is that they are totally on mission doing Kingdom work all over the world, some of it through Buckner.

On my visit I learned that Pastor Richard led the church to commission two groups going on mission: One to the Valley of South Texas to work with Buckner in the Colonias for a shoe trip this week; the other headed to Russia in October for a shoe trip as well. In the past the church has sent a group to Ethiopia; one family has already adopted a child from there; and another family is looking into adopting a teen from Ethiopia. They have a Foster Care awareness program at the church; have raised about $1400 for the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls project and collected about 286 pair of shoes to send to Buckner.

When I began my message I told them that, in my book, they have "Rock Star Status," as far as I was concerned. First Baptist Church Perryton is doing a fantastic job of engaging pure religion, caring for orphans in their distress. Hats off to Pastor Richard and the FBC Family. May their number increase.

Shining Hope in Cusco

A visit to Peru would not be complete without doing the trek to Machu Phicchu, the hidden city of the Inca’s. This city was allegedly discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. This site is a magnificent monument to the sophistication of the Inca Empire.

In the city of Cusco, I had the privilege of meeting the young ladies living at Buckner’s Girls Transitional Home. I met several of the young ladies, several of whom have finished their college degrees and are ready to transition into the work world.

All of the ministry we provide at international sites like Peru are fully funded by individual donors through philanthropic gifts. We start with a balance of zero each year and encourage generosity and financial support from donors and friends who have a passion for leading vulnerable children into loving and nurturing family environments.

The purpose of my trip was to learn about Buckner work in Peru, meet the staff, and encourage donors to support our work there. We have begun to develop economically sustainable models of care that will continue beyond the gifts of our donors in future year. In the meantime, I hope you will consider ways you might support the work of Buckner in Peru.

We have excellent programs, outstanding leadership under Claudia Leon, and we are making a transformational difference and writing new stories of redemption with each passing day of ministry. I invite you to join us in this kingdom mission of serving the least of these. Check out our website at www.buckner.org to learn more.

Shining Hope in Peru

On my latest trip to Peru, I was privileged to witness the changing of the guard inside the Presidential Palace in Lima. It was a majestic experience full of pageantry, formality, and national pride. This ceremony is conducted every day at noon.

We also visited a state-run orphanage with children from birth through grade-school. There are about 38 of these centers nationwide with approximately 2,400 children. This total only represents about 25% of the total number of children in out of home care in the nation. The other 75% are living in private orphanages. Gilbert Montez found his way to engage one of the precious children in the orphanage. We hope and pray that many of these children will someday be placed in a family environment.

I had the honor of dedicating a new computer lab at the Family Hope Center in Pamplona. This ceremony consisted of breaking a bottle of champagne with a hammer. Like throwing the first pitch at the Rangers fame in Arlington, I did not want to mess this up with the eyes of Texans upon me. I did break the bottle. I was amazed that both young students and one older gentleman would learn how to use the computer for the first time in their lives. These new skills will help them gain employment in the city.

It is easy to become overwhelmed by the needs in this beautiful country. Our approach calls for one on one attention for each client as family. One by one, we are making a difference and shining hope into their lives. I invite you to join us in this work. Maybe you can lead a shoe drive in your church or community; volunteer at one of our ministry sites in Texas; or travel with us to another country like Peru to experience what it is like to serve the least of these first hand. Come and shine hope in Peru.

Shining Hope in Ocorran

We arrived in Cusco by plane and then took an hour bus ride to Urcos then another hour ride to Ocorran at 14,000 feet. The ride was an adventure in and of itself. I rode with the Mayor arriving at the village of Ocorran high up in the Andes Mountains.

The community met our group with joyous greetings, confetti, and dancing. The mayor formally greeted us and I was asked to bring greetings on behalf of Buckner. We presented shoes and water filtration systems. We had the opportunity of placing socks and shoes on the feet of children and elders of the community.

At Ocorran, Buckner operates a satellite location of the Family Hope Center in Lima serving about 80 families with an average of 5 people per family. We provide the Healthy Families program there. Girls from the Transition Home in Cusco joined us for his visit.

I was amazed to see the gratitude of the people we worked with and to experience their hospitality and willingness to receive support intended to improve their community.

Peru Shines Hope

Buckner shines hope into the lives of children and families. Hope that points to a better life and opportunities to reach maximum potential this side of heaven. Buckner shines very bright in Peru under the leadership of Claudia Leon, Director of Buckner Peru, NGO.

I saw this first hand this week as I spent time with Claudia, her team, and during a visit with Ms. Marisol Espinoza, Vice President of Peru. We enjoy a healthy and collaborative relationship with the government of Peru enabling us to serve vulnerable children, their families, and orphans due to effective work of Claudia.

Claudia not only leads the work of Buckner Peru NGO but also has gained a regional reputation as an expert on Foster Care across Latin America. She recently published a book entitled "Acogimiento Familiar" as a manual for how to develop a foster care system. Claudia is extending and replicating the masterful work she has done in Peru to other countries impacting children and families in throughout the region. She is an outstanding leader, gifted, trustworthy, and visionary. I am proud to be associated with her.

The group of Buckner friends, donors, and staff shared a special time with girls from the Transition Home in Lima. Hearing the stories of these brave young ladies was a powerful time of triumph and hope. Buckner is shining hope in Peru. I hope you will consider visiting Peru with Buckner to help us shine hope in this place.