When Father Antonio Perdomo moved his family from New Mexico to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas in early 2002 to become pastor the then vacant St. George's Orthodox Church, the family's used Ford F150 pickup truck had already experienced one previous long cross country move as well as a rebuilt engine. Prior to their time in New Mexico, the family lived in Georgia for many years.
"When Father drove off from our former home in Georgia headed for New Mexico," commented his wife, Elizabeth Perdomo, "he was pulling an open trailer behind the pickup truck. Even then, he looked like something out of 'The Grapes of Wrath.'"
Since that time, that same Ford has experienced many hard miles in between, including several trips from the Rio Valley to Mexico City. Six years later, that same old pick up truck has nearly 200,000 miles to its credit, now badly leaks oil and has been "grounded" for long journeys by the Perdomo's auto mechanic.
That trusty Ford Truck is Father Perdomo's main means of local and regional transportation, used for all of his ministry visits and trips, such as this Theophany season's many house blessings all over the Valley. St. George's is the only Orthodox Christian Church in the Rio Grande Valley, and includes parishioners from Brownsville to near Rio Grande City. St. George's nearest Orthodox Church neighbors to the North are found in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. "And fourteen hours to the South, in Mexico City," said Father Perdomo.
However, in addition to Father's use of the vehicle for pastoral purposes, this utilitarian Ford truck has become an essential ingredient in many of the outreach ministries. Located in Hidalgo County, the second poorest county in the nation, St. George's Church and the Perdomo family initiated a number of service programs during the past few years on the South Texas border, just miles from Mexico.
Twice a month, Father uses the camper top covered pickup to go to the Food Bank of the RGV to bring back large loads meant to help feed many of the area's needy and poor who come to St. George's Food Pantry. Father Perdomo has fed well over 20,000 people since he began this program just a few years ago.
Besides hauling food from the Food Bank and other sources, Father uses the truck to assist Casa Amparo, an orphanage for girls located in Reynosa, Mexico, and to transport goods and young people during various Service Retreats which St. George's hosts in the winter months and throughout the year. Father Perdomo also uses his truck to visit some Orthodox Christians in Monterrey and elsewhere in Northern Mexico, in cities and towns which do not yet have established Orthodox missions or churches. Father Perdomo also drives to Mexico City several times a year and personally delivers to the Orthodox Bishop Alejo boxes of icons and other liturgical items collected throughout the season, for distribution and use in various Orthodox missions throughout Mexico.
"What we really need right now," Mrs. Perdomo said, "is a 'new' but used pickup truck; one a few years old which is full sized and can seat six people, but which has relatively good gas mileage. We need a truck we can trust: Completely reliable mechanically which doesn't already have too many miles." Perdomo continued, "It can be either standard or automatic and it doesn't need to have lots of bells and whistles. A campertop would be great, too, because we need to keep loads of food and such dry and secure." Perdomo added, "We model and make is not so important. We just need it to be a hard working, reliable service ehicle which will get the jobs done."
Since St. George's Orthodox Church is a non-profit organization, the donation of cash or a vehicle to these programs would be tax exempt. To contact Father Perdomo, call 956-781-6114 or 956-358-8875. For more information about the various service projects with which Father Perdomo is involved, see their St. George's Ministry website at:
www.stgeorgepantry.org
When Father Antonio Perdomo moved his family from New Mexico to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas in early 2002 to become pastor the then vacant St. George's Orthodox Church, the family's used Ford 150 pickup truck had already experienced one previous long cross country move as well as a rebuilt engine. Prior to their time in New Mexico, the family lived in Georgia for many years.
"When Father drove off from our former home in Georgia headed for New Mexico," commented his wife, Elizabeth Perdomo, "he was pulling an open trailer behind the pickup truck. Even then, he looked like something out of 'The Grapes of Wrath.'"
Since that time, that same Ford has experienced many hard miles in between, including several trips from the Rio Valley to Mexico City. Six years later, that same old pick up truck has nearly 200,000 miles to its credit, now badly leaks oil and has been "grounded" for long journeys by the Perdomo's auto mechanic.
That trusty Ford Truck is Father Perdomo's main means of local and regional transportation, used for all of his ministry visits and trips, such as this Theophany season's many house blessings all over the Valley. St. George's is the only Orthodox Christian Church in the Rio Grande Valley, and includes parishioners from Brownsville to near Rio Grande City. St. George's nearest Orthodox Church neighbors to the North are found in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. "And fourteen hours to the South, in Mexico City," said Father Perdomo.
However, in addition to Father's use of the vehicle for pastoral purposes, this utilitarian Ford truck has become an essential ingredient in many of the outreach ministries which St. George's and the Perdomo family have initiated these past few years.
Twice a month, Father used the camper top covered pickup to go to the Food Bank of the RGV to bring back large loads of food to feed the area's needy and poor who come to St. George's Food Pantry. Father Perdomo has fed well over 20,000 people since he began this program just a few years ago.
Besides hauling food from the Food Bank and other sources, Father uses the truck to assist Casa Amparo, an orphanage for girls located in Reynosa, Mexico, and to transport goods and young people during various Service Retreats which St. George's hosts in the winter months and throughout the year. Father Perdomo also uses his truck to visit some Orthodox Christians in Monterrey and elsewhere in Northern Mexico, in cities and towns which do not yet have established Orthodox missions or churches. Father Perdomo also drives to Mexico City several times a year and personally delivers to the Orthodox Bishop Alejo boxes of icons and other liturgical items collected throughout the season, for distribution and use in various Orthodox missions throughout Mexico.
"What we really need right now," Mrs. Perdomo said, "is a 'new' but used pickup truck; one a few years old which is full sized and can seat six people, but which has relatively good gas mileage. We need a truck we can trust: Completely reliable mechanically which doesn't already have too many miles." Perdomo continued, "It can be either standard or automatic and it doesn't need to have lots of bells and whistles. A campertop would be great, too, because we need to keep loads of food and such dry and secure." Perdomo added, "We model and make is not so important. We just need it to be a hard working, reliable service ehicle which will get the jobs done."
Since St. George's Orthodox Church is a non-profit organization, the donation of cash or a vehicle to these programs would be tax exempt. To contact Father Perdomo, call 956-781-6114 or 956-358-8875. For more information about the various service projects with which Father Perdomo is involved, see their St. George's Ministry website at:
www.stgeorgepantry.orgSpecify Donations for: "Father's Truck Fund"
