NEWSLETTER: JANUARY, 2005

Christmas is played out differently all over the world, but Christmas Eve is pretty much a quiet family night, in the USA.

There are a few of us who like to bend Christmas Eve into a more practical occasion for giving. From a warm cheerful evening with a few close friends, we anticipate moving into a dark, cold and indifferent world of hundreds of strangers. With the border only minutes away and so many poor families unable to celebrate Christmas this special time makes a unique opportunity to minister to the needy. With that as our goal we wrap up and head in a short caravan across that magic line that separates the haves from the have-nots.

Preparations have been made in Tijuana. Our Spectrum "Cool Bus" has been loaded with hundreds of toys and blankets. Our cars have additional toys, jackets and blankets. Ernesto has ordered and purchased the fifty large pizzas, chips, gallons of punch, paper plates and cups and Paul Alvarado is ready with his guitar. Now its just a matter of driving into a night full of opportunity to do Christmas Eve.

Every one of the four main gates to the children's jail opened just like magic as we walked through them toward the kitchen while each guard greeted us. The three hundred and fifty inmates knew there was going to be pizza and they were excited. We set the long cement tables with pizza, chips and punch and like clockwork fifty smiling inmates dressed in grey jumper suits filed in holding their hands clasped behind them. They sat quietly while we had prayer. Then, as they ate, Paul played several songs on his guitar and I followed with a brief Christmas message, reminding them it's His birthday not ours. This went on in several different sessions until all the kids were fed. Yes, Christmas Eve is having convicts (and even big burly guards) hug you tightly and quietly say Feliz Navidad. Or maybe Christmas Eve is comforting a crying teenage girl that just can't take being without her family at this special time. Tonight there was an unusual freedom within those high steel walls of security.

From the jail, we drove across the city to a large remote area in the hills overlooking the ocean. It seemed the dirt washboard roads stretched on for miles. This new community has just started to build and has only a few families scattered around. At this point there is no electricity, water or sewer. There are no stores or schools for miles. The people were told we were coming with gifts for the children so they were all there quietly standing in the dark waiting for us. When we arrived we pulled out our big generator and set up lights now we could see several hundred adults and children some wearing blankets, some barefoot. The "Cool Bus" soon opened and lines of kids were let in one at a time where American teens showed them the toys; each could choose only one. To the kids it was as though a US toy store had suddenly appeared out of the darkness with free toys. The adults were so happy to get the blankets. With each toy and with each blanket came the message of Christmas in a little tract in Spanish.

Miles later we stopped in another location back toward the city. Las Carretas is a dirty and dangerous community that sits in the valley at the edge of the city dump. One access point leads to a long and winding dirt road past broken down shacks, piles of trash and pigs. Lots of pigs. When we stopped there was no one there but within ten minutes a line of thirty kids appeared from the dark. In twenty minutes there were more than a hundred. I guess these people could be called the untouchables of Tijuana. They too had a chance to get one new toy for Christmas. For many it was their only toy. All were friendly and well behaved.

From Las Carretas we found our way to Emmanuel Orphanage where they provided us with tamales, hot fruit drink and pastry laid out on a long table. The Orphanage children were sound asleep.

It was very late when we drove home. Interstate five going north had no traffic; few stores and restaurants were open. Christmas Eve was turning into Christmas day. Again, this year our Christmas Eve was something real special. Together we brought a little joy, happiness and warmth to the truly needy. We had another very special opportunity to show and share the love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor von