NEWSLETTER: DECEMBER, 2005

Aaron and I were talking in front of the children's jail when Roy pulled up. Parking his rusty car, out he jumped in full uniform. He was now a police officer in full gear. Looked like he belonged in Iraq with all the stuff he had on ... and of course his pistol. He smiled proudly as he shook our hands. I think he just wanted to let us know he made it and now he is on the right side of the law. Knowing Roy ... from his messed up childhood through his teenage fighting years ... seeing him as a police officer was a surprise. And then again maybe it wasn't so surprising. The police here are proud of being tough. It's nice to be appreciated and he appreciated the help we were to him through his rough years.

Today we were again allowed inside the big jail dorm, a big cage packed with young boys. Thanks for your prayers. You would be so encouraged to see the kid's respect for us and to listen in to the talk. When the whole group of kids voluntarily come to the end of the big building to listen it's impressive. And they did, more than a hundred young boys crowded around us literally sitting at our feet and all over the beds. My subject was the cross and torture of Jesus being crucified. After I had pretty well finished, one kid sitting on a bed asked why He was crucified, was it for religion or for us? What a set-up! Of course I was happy to take it from there. Several other boys also asked good questions, while others offered little untold parts of the story. When we left, kids were shaking our hands and saying thank you for coming.

All of this played out in a big cage of unruly young tigers! Preaching the Gospel and sowing seeds to hungry hearts sitting on a cold concrete floor. What a great feeling! Thank you for your prayers!

In Pana last Thursday Hortensia brought me to a cute little brown haired girl. "This is Jasmin," she said. "She has something in her mouth, what do you think it is?" Little Jasmin opened her mouth. I saw a large swelling under her tongue. I didn't like what I saw, it looked too much like a tumor. Her mother looked worried and anxious. That questioning look of "What is it?" and "Can you help us?" I have seen that look so often before. The counsel I gave was the counsel anyone would give. "Get her to a doctor fast and get a biopsy." Hortensia will see to it that it is done. Then this whole thing comes around to face us with cold hard questions. How far do we go with this? All the way? What is our part? It's always hard making these kind of decisions. Thanks again for your prayers.

Just three small parts of the real-life mosaic that is our ministry. Thanks for your love, prayers and encouragement. Thanks too for your gift that makes it possible for us to be working here in the dark with the light of the Gospel.

For all of us, von