NEWSLETTER: AUGUST, 2006

It was around nine o'clock Saturday night in Emmanuel orphanage and we had just finished our teaching session. The last group of kids, dressed in their P.J's, headed down the darkened hallway and slowly disappeared into their small rooms.

A little later on my way out, I walked down the hallway toward the big door and the stairs. The thirty-five boys were quiet at last. I decided to drop into one of the darkened rooms. Leaning over the middle bunk I said "Hi" to this twelve year old boy laying there. He turned my way and said, "Hi von." I put my hand on his head and ruffled his hair, quietly asking him about his family ... his mom and dad. He said he had no mother, but he has a father and younger brother and sister, and said he was doing good in school. I grabbed his lower leg and started tickling his foot. He giggled and laughed as he pulled his foot up. That's when I noticed a foot come down from the top bunk and another little foot coming up from the lower bunk. Three neat kids that deserve homes, love and fathers that could tickle their feet. (Yes, those three kids in that room were sufficiently tickled that night.) On my way out, I continued down the hallway and on down the stairs. I can still hear several of the kids in hushed voices calling to me from their rooms, "Hey, von come in here."

Monday I was driving to our dormitory in Tijuana when Hortensia phoned me. "Von I have a couple of boys who want to talk to you." Soon, Alex, 8, and Miguel Angel, 9, were jabbering away on the cell phone. In a few minutes Hortensia rescued the phone. I'm bringing the boys and their baby sister to our meeting at the dormitory; I need to talk with you. Somehow, I knew what that meant.

When I got to the dormitory Hortensia was holding the little baby and the two boys were standing there, looking up at me. "Von", Hortensia said, "you know Alex (his father) is in prison." Yes, I knew that. "Von, his girl- friend (the mother) just died of AIDS". "Her little baby girl has AIDS, too". "What's her name?" I asked. "She has no name", Hortensia replied. Grandma, old and on drugs, can't care for the baby and she can't control the boys. The rest of the family --- father, uncles, aunts and cousins --- are in prison, leaving these two cute little rug-rats running the streets. They're tough and undisciplined.

"I'll make a few calls" I told Hortensia.

Thursday afternoon Alex and Miguil enthusiastically bounced into my car with their little bag of clothing. Wow! A ride in a nice car! We were off to Casa de Emmanuel orphanage with one short stop to say good-by to their young uncle who just got out of prison. Arriving at the orphanage was rather scary but they had each other and four others from their neighbor- hood.

They will have to sleep a few nights on the floor until we can get some beds and mattresses. Will these boys stay or will they run? If they run, what then? Answers to situations like these aren't easy to come by, that's why we often ask for your prayers for wisdom.

What about their baby sister? Again, there are more questions than answers. But then, that's the purpose of our ministry in Tijuana. Hortensia is taking care of her until ...

Thanks once again for your part in making our work in Tijuana possible. We are able to be there because of you. Again, thanks for your prayers!

For all of us, Pastor von.

We're putting out another call for children's clothing. For some reason we have been light on clothing donations this summer. Maybe we have just had more kids coming to our bath days. Thursday was hot and there were over two hundred kids taking showers. The last few had to put their grubby clothing back on again. They always ask for shoes. Thanks to those of you who have sent money for underwear and socks. Clean children's clothing we can use now.

Thanks!