San Luis pastor says his passion is helping those in need

SAN LUIS, Ariz. - There are no borders for Pastor Manuel Castro when it comes to serving the poor and disadvantaged, especially now that he drives a semi-truck.
 
He has reached out to help feed hurricane victims in Baton Rouge, La., struck by Gustav, and has traveled thousands of miles deep into southern Mexico to help feed and clothe people in Chiapas. He also has done numerous charity events for others.
 
What is his motivation? To serve humanity through God, he says. It's his passion.
 
"I was born in a dysfunctional home ... but when I entered in the religious life, I realized I liked to serve, to help and get involved. I never imagined that this would be my vocation.
 
"God has given me the opportunity to serve at great lengths. It's like he said, 'You want to serve? Then you will serve, but you will serve big time.' And I'm not afraid of anything, I'm not afraid to drive from here to Louisiana, and If I don't have any helpers, I'll go even if I have to stop and take constant naps."
 
When Castro first started doing charity work at Gethsemani Baptist Church in San Luis, he remembers, he served about 400 pounds of food for the needy once a week. Then time went by and more doors opened up to help serve the community.
 
In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, he helped deliver thousands of pounds of food to hurricane victims. Rob Landry, operations manager of Caring Ministries Inc., based in Tucson, said he has worked with him about seven years and knows Castro as a person who is willing to go to great lengths.
 
"That ministry helps a lot of people at the border, down at the Yuma area and all the way down to Mexicali. He's really doing a great job," Landry said.

When Castro was on his way back to Yuma from New Orleans, he received a call from Crossroads Missions of Yuma asking if he was willing to make another trip to Louisiana. And he did.
 
Then about two weeks passed by and Hurricane Stan hit southern Mexico. Castro got a call from the Mexican Red Cross and an attorney from Nogales.
 
"They told me, 'We found out that you went to New Orleans two times. Would you use your truck to go to Chiapas?' "
 
It took him four days to arrive to Chiapas and four days to come back to San Luis.
 
Then recently came Hurricane Gustav, which hit the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Castro was watching the news, thinking he would like to go but couldn't because the trailer's tires were bald.
 
Then Southern Baptist Convention called Castro asking if he was willing to make a trip to Texas. He said he was embarrassed to say no because he believed that the tires wouldn't be able to make the trip. But in the end he accepted and prayed for a miracle.
 
At Shamrock Foods, his trailer was loaded with 55,000 pounds of food. He arrived to Texas with no problem, but in the back of his mind he was still worried about the tires. In El Paso, in the midst of sharing and discussing stories with other truck drivers, he said, a good Samaritan offered to pay for four new tires for his trailer when he saw how bad they were.
 
When Castro arrived in Baton Rouge, he said, he saw there was no running water, no electricity, no schools, no open stores and no open banks.
 
"The people were happy, they cried of happiness and would say two things: 'We gone three or four days that we haven't eaten any hot meals.' Secondly, they cried because they said, 'You come from Arizona to give us food and our city here doesn't do anything?'
 
"Two million people were evacuated and the people that were left needed food. We saw a lot of sadness, we saw a lot of necessity, we saw a tremendous opportunity to serve people."
 
During major holidays such as Dia Del Niño (Children's Day), Thanksgiving or Christmas, the Gethsemani Baptist Church gives out food, clothing and toy donations to local residents and across the border. This past Christmas, Castro said, the church gathered about 150 bicycles that were restored to be given as gifts for children.
 
"I have a passion to serve those who need help. I came from an abusive home. I came from a very disadvantaged home," Castro said. "I want to help abused children because I was abused as a child, I want to help children who are growing up alone because I grew up alone.
 
"I want to help marriages where there is violence because in my home there was so much violence. I want to serve God because he gave everything for me ...  that's what motivates me."

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Stephanie Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@yumasun.com or 539-6847.