NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER, 2006

With just a 30 minute drive from my house I easily slip across the line into another nation. Tijuana looks different because it is different, it's Mexico. The colorful city center is filled with tourists from all over, but the rest of the city of two million is shrouded in gray. Creating that gray is the ugly mix of drugs, theft and violence.

In these letters I often ask you to pray for our safety. Believe me, it's an honest request. As we drive and work in this gray zone it's comforting to know we have people praying for our safety.

Saturday night as I was preparing to leave Casa de Emmanuel boys home we actually witnessed a squealing cops 'n robbers shootout. I counted eight different cop cars in the action. No sirens or red lights just squealing tires and gunshots. I decided to hold off leaving until the dust cleared. That decision didn't come hard.

I was reminded once again that we were in the large barrio of Grupo Mexico that has a reputation for selling any kind of weapon, including anti-tank and air-to-air missiles. To be honest, Grupo Mexico can be a little intimidating and a little scary at night. Our ministry takes us into areas a Gringo shouldn't be.

People here in Mexico often fear the police as much as the criminal.

Because several of the teens we know have graduated into the police department we hear some inside stories that aren't too comforting.

Tension is mounting along the border between the lords of crime. Competition is growing and intense. Human trafficking used to be the Mexican Mafia's business but now the Cartel is muscling in. It looks like the Mafia will have to be content with prostitution, gambling and stealing. Woe unto the little independent criminals trying to get in on some of the action.

Several miles south of here in the tourist city of Ensanada kidnapping is making the headlines.

Often we are held up in police check lines with police from both Tijuana and Mexico City. Everyone is checking on everyone and the jails and prisons are always full. Thanks for praying for our safety.

Changing the subject to a brighter note. The Holidays will soon be here ... just a reminder. Before long, SPECTRUM's Christmas Gift Program will be our focus. As many of you know we give miles of smiles with simple, colorful toys at Christmas time. We hope you can be part of that extra effort. Our web-site pretty well covers what we'll be needing this year.

We want to thank each of you for investing in us as we minister to the poor in the grey zone of Tijuana. Without you we could do nothing.

For all of us at SPECTRUM, von