Indian Taco Fundraiser

By: Isabel Rosales-Aparicio

    From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 13th Cameron Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) held their annual Indian Taco Sale at the BCM building. Upon walking in the aroma of fry bread fills the room as people are bustling about as they begin to prepare for customers. As you walk through the hallway a cashier is sitting to the left ready to take orders and give receipts. In the middle of the room six-foot tables were placed with chairs. BCM students are standing to the side ready to serve toppings on the orders. BCM director Danny Toombs is in the kitchen making sure everything is set in place before customers arrive. Each plate cost ten dollars and comes with an Indian Taco, a drink, and a dessert. This event has been held for five years. 

    The fundraiser is held every year to help raise money for the summer mission trip the BCM goes on every year. The mission trip is either in North American trip or a International trip. They partner with the International Mission Board (IMB) to help decide where the best place would be to travel and serve in. In the past their have gone to serve in Texas, Connecticut, Latvia, Canada, Africa and many more places. The cost of going on a mission trip can be expensive.

     Director Toombs holds missions near and dear to his heart.

“I never want money to be what separates someone from God calling them on a mission trip” Toombs said. 

    He encourages BCM members to consider going if they’ve never gone before because “there is so much to learn and many ways we can help.” Toombs said. 

    The cost of mission trips includes travel, food, stay, entertainment, and other potential things depending on the location. Each mission trip has it’s on goal, some involve tearing down buildings that need to be remodeled, remodeling rooms, cleaning out areas that have been struck by disasters. They have helped build playgrounds, farmland, school buildings, helped take care of children, and given any other aid that is needed. The Indian Taco sale is where the BCM receive most of the money for missions. 

    This summer they plan to take an international trip. There are many options but each one depends on the COVID-19 restrictions in other countries and in the United States of America. Currently the BCM and IMB are looking at missions’ trips in Central and South America, such as Panama, Brazil, Costa Rica, or Brazil. Over fall, winter or spring break the BCM will have a local mission trip to help show students wat a weeklong mission trip will potentially be like. 

    Disaster Relief is another organization in the Baptist General Convention, which has dedicated its time to teach others trade work to assist in natural disasters. The BCM has gone to Disaster Relief training and joined them on mission trips. Around 10-20 students attend each mission trip and typically are one to two weeks long. 

     Sicily Gonzales is a member of the BCM, and a junior studying Foreign Languages and she plans to be a missionary after graduating from Cameron University. 

    The part she loves about mission trips is “being able to help people who need a helping hand” Gonzales said. Though mission trip work can vary they all focus on ministering to those they interact with. 

    The local mission trips “are what help us see why our service is more than just getting a job done”, Gonzales said “it’s about being the stranger who reminds them there is more to life than just chaos”.

     They made over one-thousand dollars and have about one-hundred sales. For those busy they had to go ordering options. Every order was customized to whatever toppings the customer wanted.

     Dine in was a for customers as well, a football game was playing on the screen in front. Guest laughed and smiled as they enjoyed their company while eating their meal. With the money they raised they can reduce the cost of their mission trip this summer helping ease the financial difficulty on their members. Allowing them to be one step closer to the experience of a life time.