NEWSLETTER: APRIL, 2003

The promise of war in Iraq prompted growing concern on our end as well as a lot of questions. Will they close the border? If they do, how long will it remain closed? Which of our team will get caught in Mexico and be unable to return? Will groups continue to come down and serve with us? How will war effect our finances? In Mexico they were asking similar questions. "Hermano (brother) von, what about the war? Will there be a war? Why are you going to war? Von, are you going to fight?" I guess that even more questions will be asked over these next few weeks.

By now some questions have been answered. We are at war. The border didn't close. None of us were caught. Some groups have called and canceled their trips across the border. The effect of the war on our support will probably show in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, one thing for sure is happening: Tijuana's struggling tourist economy has been cut to the bone! It seems Americans are not venturing across the border and won't plan to for a while. The poor get poorer and our food lines grow longer and violence increases with frustration. In San Diego, our lowest gas prices are well over $2 a gallon, but across the border the price has soared to about $3. a gallon, in a matter of a few short weeks, has added hundreds of dollars to our monthly fuel bill. In a war and terrorist climate, we will have to be ready to make a lot of adjustments. How do you cut back and who will get cut? In the past twenty years, I haven't had to ask these kinds of questions. I hope I won't have to now.

While we were ministering in the children's jail Sunday the guards yelled to us that our vehicles had been busted into. The rental van of our visiting Hawaiian group had it's window broken and valuable cameras stolen. My car was broken into; fortunately nothing was stolen. The alarms and guards scared the thief off. It's quite evident not all the thieves are on the inside. More poverty, more frustration, more thievery.

Little Elias was running the streets in Pana. He is about nine years old going on twenty. Short, skinny and tough he wants a job; he doesn't want school. He doesn't listen to his parents or anyone for that matter. Parents and pastor begged us to take him to Casa de Emmanuel (our boy's home.) Well, we convinced Elias to come for a short trial period. We were pretty doubtful. I figured he might stay for a day or two at best but after a few scraps with the kids he settled in. Last Monday at noon I walked in to see how he was doing. Elias was throwing a fit! He was trembling mad yelling at Robin "When my father hears about this he will kill you!" Then he disappeared behind the door in the corner while the others continued eating their lunch. I asked Robin how long his fits last and she replied, "I don't know; this is his first one." Soon Elias was sitting meekly at the table eating his lunch. A little later I caught him cheerfully doing his chores washing the dishes. He really wants to be a man but he is a little young yet. Working with these kind of boys 24/7 is a hard job and takes a lot of wisdom and patience. I find in working more than thirty years with yhis type of kid. They just want love, attention and structure. It's neat to have a house for these little kids and to see them respond and grow. Yesterday I watched them in their white shirts, red sweaters and black pants with their books in their backpacks pile into our van to be taken a few miles to school. They will be picked up again at 5:30pm.

Hortencia came to our staff meeting yesterday and brought little Roberto with her. Any of you who have been following his story know that he has HIV. I even coxed a smile out of him. He looks good but she said he is taking double the medication now. Don't you admire someone who would take a child like this into her home? None of us know his future.

Without you where would little Elias be or for that matter where would Julio, Aaron or Carlos be or the rest of the kids at Casa de Emmanuel. Without you and Hortencia where would little Roberto be? Without you where would our kids club be or our youth program be? Without you who would be praying in these cells with these young offenders? We are the only group the guards will allow in the maximum-security area. Thanks for your prayers, they are so important and thanks for your support which is crucial.