“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali
I’m fascinated by the origin stories of how people start big things. I love hearing how people have done fantastic things just by following a thread that often starts in such an incidental or accidental way.
My guest on this week’s How to Share podcast, Gil Gillenwater, has a great origin story. In 1987, he and his brother, Troy, went on a Thanksgiving-inspired road trip to deliver food to a town in Mexico. They took a wrong turn and ended up in Agua Prieta, a town right on the US-Mexican border and were stunned by the living conditions and abandoned children.
Gil started a non-profit called Rancho Feliz that has served the Agua Prieta and surrounding communities in these ways:
- Awarded 3,700 scholarships
- Issued 6,854 graduation certificates for adults
- Built 1,220 houses
- Distributed 64,000 bags of food
- Donated tons of medical supplies
- Constructed orphanages, education centers, childcare centers, and volunteer centers
And more than that, Gil and his mission have also enriched the lives of the people who have come to volunteer. Rancho Felix has coordinated 27,462 volunteer visits. Gil documents these accomplishments and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border in his beautiful book, Hope on the Border.
Gil tells us why me-first culture isn’t working and how enlightened self-interest provides a path out of spiritual poverty. He shares why he doesn’t like the word “charity” for either giver or receiver. Instead Gil hails the 28,000 volunteers that work with Racho Feliz as guardian warriors.
We talk about education as the ultimate tool in the border crisis and how providing that can change lives. And we talk about how the ability to see ourselves in others proves to be a life changing gift.
This is an incredible conversation with an amazing guardian warrior that shows us enthusiasm and purpose that transcends borders. I know you’ll love it.
Takeaways
- When’s the last time you heard good news about the US-Mexico border?
- The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.
- Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
- Creating opportunities in one’s home country can reduce migration.
- Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.
- Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
- Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.
- Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.
- The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.
Here’s a short clip of Gil describing enlightened self-interest as an antidote to our me first, greed is good culture:
Here are some ways you can watch this compelling and inspiring episode:
- The podcast player embedded below
- Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater
- Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
- Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast
Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.
This is the last podcast of 2025! Thank you to all you amazing listeners/watchers/readers who have been so interested in and supportive of all these amazing guests sharing their interesting stories about learning, writing, and growing in this one wild and precious life! Stay tuned for more great episodes in 2026! I appreciate you!
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Links for this episode:
Gil’s organization: Rancho Feliz
Gil Gillenwater on Facebook
My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
(featured photo from Pexels)
(feature quote from Enlightened Mind 622 – The Rent You Pay)
Surprised By Joy 