NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER, 2004

As I emptied my pockets the other night, I took two little teeth and a brown ticket and set them aside on the dresser. They are still there. For years we have acted as the "tooth fairy" to hundreds of kids. It's so cute to see a little kid with a big toothless smile walk up and hand you a small wadded up piece of paper with his little tooth in it. He's been saving it for two weeks. The Mexican "tooth mouse" isn't seen much in our areas and so the kids save their teeth for us. What do they get for their tooth? A cola. The brown ticket was for a drawing, and I traded it for a candy bar.

In looking at those two teeth and the brown ticket I got to thinking; Spectrum Ministries is a rather unique outreach. We are not talking about teeth and colas, although that is unique. We are different in so many other ways. Spectrum Ministries is not overseas nor is it exotic, rather we have chosen Tijuana, Mexico, so close yet so far. True, we work in another country but truer still, we work in another world, a hurting world that is invisible to those outside. Unique in that we have chosen to work with throw-away kids born to poverty, drugs and violence. Unique in that we stick and stay, slowly earning our reputation and growing up with the neighborhoods in which we serve. Unique in that most of our paid staff are Mexicans and many have literally grown up with us and been trained by us. Unique in that we have such a variety of focuses.

Challenging U.S. kids to a life of serving. Sharing the Gospel and discipling Mexican kids. Feeding and clothing the poor. Caring for the orphaned. Ministering to the kids in prison. Helping with the education of kids who want to learn but can't afford to go to school. Helping with medicine and medical needs, building houses, etc.

It's no wonder I can gather so many stories about people who live in the neighborhoods we serve. People are our primary focus, after all people are eternal. Most of our work is with kids. Why? They are the future! We have worked in our areas long enough to see the fruit of our efforts. What we are doing and how we are doing it works.

Whether it's the individual attention a little loose tooth can bring or the expense of a major medical operation, we can be there because people like yourself care enough to give. On the part of the many we serve, thank you.

We would appreciate your prayers on behalf of Hortensia. She and her son have had to quickly move from her little house in Laguna. They have been getting death threats for several weeks now. The last one was too direct to ignore. It's hard to see your son's murderer hanging around your neighborhood. He evades the police and stays in the area. We continue to work in Laguna, in fact we will be there again tomorrow. As always we count on your prayers for our safety ... and her safety.

Thanks for the privilege of allowing us to be your hands and feet and voice to the needy kids right across our border. We appreciate your investment in our ministry.

May God bless you.

In His love, von