Every Saturday morning between 9 and 11, more than 200 women and children gather for a unique ministry. Several years ago, construction teams from Caring Hearts Ministries raised the walls on the buildings that now house The Good Samaritan Kitchen.

Jose and Alejandrina Rodriguez have served with Harold McKamish, president of Caring Hearts Ministries for a number of years. They head up the Good Samaritan Feeding Program. Most children in the U.S.A. eat at least three meals a day. There are children in Mexico who may only get one nutritious meal a day, if that. The Good Samaritan Kitchen provides both a well balanced meal to strengthen the body and a teaching from the Word of God to nourish the soul. During the winter months, families may walk for 10 to 20 blocks on dirt roads for a good meal and a good Word. Though Alejandrina started out giving the kids a warm breakfast, what they really wanted was a sandwich. Sliced bread is very rare and expensive compared to tortillas. A loaf of bread can cost $1.50 and only have 20 sliced of bread, whereas a kilo of tortilla (2.2 lbs.) costs only 40 cents and may contain as many as 50 tortillas. Each Saturday, then, the children are treated to a sandwich, some vegetables, cake or pan dulce (sweet bread . like a breakfast roll) and a drink. They eat in shifts so that those who are not eating are given a bible lesson.

The kitchen operates year round with a break during the hottest part of the summer. It is difficult to minister when the temperature outside is over 1200 in the shade!