ANOTHER BLESSED YEAR FOR THE FATTED CALF!
We worked to grow and improve the impact of our programs to glorify and obey God by serving the fatherless and less fortunate. We are blessed and excited to see God transforming lives through career and training experiences. Relationships are built over time and many are working together to share the gospel.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God:
ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
PRODUCTOS CARNÍCOS LA MISIÓN
Productos Carnicos La Mision (PCLM) is a for-profit Mexican business that is owned by two U.S. nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations: The Fatted Calf and House of Life and Hope. PCLM consists of three separate business units: a meat processing business unit: Carnisimo, a cattle ranch: Rancho Agua Viva (Living Water Ranch), and a restaurant: Carnisimo Burgers. Each business-as-mission unit operates as a for-profit entity, with purpose to spread the gospel, build relationships, serve others, employ people and create environments to help people grow spiritually.
Employees of Carnisimo, Rancho Agua Viva, and Carnisimo Burgers at our Christmas Party.
From left to right… Fernando, Cesar, Duane, Martin, Horacio, Miguel, Jonathon, Eduardo, Claudia, Karolina, Alexia, Joel, Betty, Ramon, Hector.
Carnísimo
Carnísimo is our value-added meat product brand. Five employees produce high quality meat products for the local community and northern Sonora. The main income is from the sales of fresh beef to taco stands as well as beef jerky and snack sticks to convenience stores. The brand has become recognizable in the region as a company that strives for a high-quality eating experience.
RANCHO AGUA VIVA
Rancho Agua Viva is growing in its mission to provide profitable beef genetics that thrive in the Sonoran Desert, as well as teach and demonstrate effective ranch management practices. The second crop of registered bulls is being sold to local ranchers, while the females are being retained to expand the current breeding program. The four RAV employees manage seed stock and commercial herds totaling 108 breeding females. The weaned calves and replacement heifers are raised on irrigated pastures at the company-owned headquarters near the children’s home Casa Vida u Esperanza. The mature cows run on a 3,000-acre rented ranch in the mountains. We are excited to be renting a different ranch this year, with better forage, less rugged terrain, and a growing relationship with the landlord.
CARNÍSIMO BURGERS
The restaurant Carnísimo Burgers opened in 2018 and quickly became known for the best burgers in town, earning a 4.8 rating on Facebook and a 4.6 rating on Google. A steady stream of customers resulted in the restaurant achieving profitability much quicker than the other two business units. Carnísimo Burgers has a simple menu with four items: Burger, BBQ, Bomba, and French fries. Beef is ground fresh at the adjacent Carnísimo plant and never frozen. The BBQ is pulled pork and the Bomba is a jalapeno-cheese sausage, both made and smoked at Carnísimo.
EXPO ESPERANZA CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY!
The program EXPO Esperanza was founded in 2010 with the first event taking place that summer in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico. The tenth annual EXPO Esperanza was held August 1 to 3, 2019. The “10th Anniversary” was celebrated with special recognitions, tie-dye shirts, anniversary decorations, a custom-designed photo booth, and an anniversary cake at the EXPO Awards Banquet. EXPO continues to build leadership and courage among the participants as they conquer their fears of handling a large animal, getting up on stage in front of an audience, or bringing their art or cooking creation to an expert judge for critique. EXPO is not just an event, but a summer-long activity. Participants are involved in classes, training, practicing, community service, and animal husbandry throughout the entire summer preparing for EXPO.
EXPO not only benefits the participants, it also gives summer interns, caregivers, parents, and the community an opportunity to come together to see “the fruit of its labors” at the end-of-summer event. Twenty-one of the 22 judges at EXPO 2019 were from the local community, allowing relationships to be formed and strengthened, as well as providing opportunities for the children to grow emotionally by interacting with respected members of the community on a professional level.
Intern Program
The Fatted Calf internship program gives college students the opportunity to serve the children living at Casa Vida y Esperanza by using their talents to teach and enhance skills through working on “4-H type” projects and animal practices. As a result of the time and energy spent with the kids, the interns develop relationships with them, which leads to a deeper understanding of their needs and the impact that they are making on their lives. 2019 intern Dawson says, “In just one summer with the kids and experiencing one Expo, being able to see how much the kids grew in such a short time, was incredible and I am beyond thankful to be a part of it.” The interns are stretched outside their comfort zones living in a new culture with a different language and teaching young children and teenagers that come from difficult pasts. Intern Mandy said, “I will forever be thankful to The Fatted Calf for giving me this opportunity, to CVE staff and kids for making this summer so life changing, to my family and friends for supporting me, and most importantly, to our great God for giving me this experience and growing me closer to Him this summer.”
In the past 10 years, The Fatted Calf has sponsored 34 internships to college students for Expo Esperanza.
PERSONNEL TRANSITIONS
Amanda McClure moved back to Illinois this past August. The Fatted Calf is grateful to Amanda for her 18 months of service to the mission. Some of her biggest contributions during her time in Mexico were organizing summer training for the children participating in EXPO Esperanza and teaching a Seven Habits of Highly Effective People course to the employees of PCLM.
Jonathan and Bere Aupperle joined The Fatted Calf team of missionaries in November after serving as house parents at Casa Vida y Esperanza for ten years. Jonathan main responsibility will be to manage Carnísimo Burgers, mentoring employees and establishing a culture aligned with our mission. Additionally, Jonathan is one of four “teachers” in the Magdalena church.
Duane and Ann Wulf have been serving with The Fatted Calf for ten years. Due to the current needs of their own family, they will begin the process of transitioning back to the USA over the next several months. They plan to remain in Tucson, AZ in order to continue to be involved in the mission of The Fatted Calf in different roles and assisting with the transition as needed.
Joel and Kristi Leman have over four years with The Fatted Calf and continue to serve in Mexico. Joel’s primary responsibility is to manage Rancho Agua Viva, mentoring employees and helping local ranchers improve cattle genetics and management. Joel is also a “teacher” and a member of the leadership team of the Magdalena church.
ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSITIONS
Our desire is for the mission of The Fatted Calf to continue for years to come, and with that goal in mind we are working towards becoming an affiliated mission program of the Apostolic Christian HarvestCall organization (harvestcall.org). Being affiliated with a larger Church-based organization will keep us more accountable to our mission, will provide enhanced missionary support, and will aid in the long-term sustainability of the mission, especially regarding missionary transitions. Lord willing, the process of becoming an official HarvestCall affiliate should be finalized in 2020. Under HarvestCall, The Fatted Calf will still remain a separate 501(c)3 organization with its own Board of Directors, and donations may still be made directly to The Fatted Calf as in the past. This transition does not change the need for your continued support, and we greatly appreciate the support of each of you, whether it be prayers or financially.
We sincerely are grateful for your prayerful, financial, and physical support in 2019. We look forward to what God has planned in 2020 and ask for your prayers as God guides us through changes and transitions of the programs and businesses of The Fatted Calf. May His love work in and through our conversations and interactions and strengthen the relationships that have been formed through the years to bring honor and Glory to Him, to build His Church, and spread the Gospel.
