Ric and Joy’s Story: As they worked among the poor in Mazatlan, and then in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Ric and Joy saw the poor being given emergency food and clothes, which were greatly needed, but there was no life change taking place. A class in International Development at Colorado State University convinced them that the poor and hopeless needed more than a handout—they needed a hand up—a pathway to rise above their current circumstances.

Through Vineyard Ministries in Mazatlan, they caught the idea of building community centers where the poor could receive emergency food and clothes, medical and dental care, life skills training, homework help, English classes, computer skills training, etc. As they volunteered in the various nonprofits, shared their vision around Puerto Vallarta and brought in service teams from the U.S., two important things transpired. First, they ran into many other North Americans with a heart of service and compassion, yet the visitors and expatriates didn’t know how or where to volunteer. Secondly, they met Mike Baremore serving food and goodwill with the Rotary Club in the neighborhood near the dump. Mike had the same vision and heart, and was already recruiting expats and visitors to help out each week through his vacation rental business.

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