For a Good Cause -- Joseph Langer

* Story by Todd Karella

Joseph Langer had a life-altering trip to Acuna, Mexico, last year and

has decided to give up his job as a car salesman to dedicate himself as a

missionary.

After seeing the poverty of people living in homes made of old pallets

with cardboard stapled to them, he had what he calls his “God-inspired

idea.”

The first step in his plan was to collect donations and go to garage

sales for whatever he could find.

Having no truck to deliver the goods, Langer stuffed his minivan full

of items and had to strap nearly the same amount to the roof. Later, he

would convince his wife, Trulie, to use her minivan as well.

After finding himself with more items than could be taken, he donated

some of them, particularly the furniture and other big items, to some of

the local charities.

Packed and ready, he set out on his trip to Del Rio, Texas, where

Faith Mission International has several storage facilities. The items

must be stored on the U.S. side of the border to protect them from

vandalism and then driven across in small increments to avoid harassment

from Mexican officials on the other side, Langer said.

It’s amazing how difficult they make it to bring help to their own

people, he said.

The trip is a 20-hour drive each way, takes a week as he drives

door-to-door dropping off the items to needy families, and covers more

than 2,500 miles.

Having made three trips to Mexico over the past year, Langer has found

his new occupation to be far more rewarding than anything he has done

before.

“The reward for me is the satisfaction of seeing people who have

nothing get something,” he said. “I’ve never seen anywhere in the United

States that looks like this.”

Having dedicated his life to helping others, Langer found his $40,000

in savings didn’t last as long as he had hoped.

Using his skills as a salesman, he came up with a new idea based on an

old concept to raise funds that could benefit the missionary, local

charities and local restaurants.

His idea is “No Purchase Necessary -- The Ultimate Restaurant Tour

Book.”

It looks like a regular coupon book with one major difference:

Everything in it is free. Local restaurants and several other specialty

stores in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa have donated such things as free

pizzas and dinner entrees, carwashes and dry cleaning.

Since trying to get donations door-to-door has become more difficult,

Langer thinks this idea benefits everyone.

The restaurants get advertising for the cost of their donation, the

missionary makes 10% off the books, local fund-raisers or schools that

help sell the booklets get $10 for each one sold at $49.95, and Langer

can support himself and expand his operations.

For more information on donations or the fund-raising activities, call

(949) 723-4351 or go to the Web siteo7 newconceptsdining.comf7 or o7

thefaithmission.comf7 .