NEWSLETTER: AUGUST, 2008

The kids from the orphanage lined up behind my SUV - waiting for me to open the back. There are always goodies there. They love pistachio nuts, so I carry a bag with me for such occasions. Nuts like these are good for the kids and better than sweets.

The children waited with smiles of expectation, holding the bottom of their shirts or dresses out as I'd drop a handful of nuts into their makeshift bag. The kids would look up at me smiling, then at their shirt full of nuts, and walk away saying, "thank you" ... Well, many said thank you.

I must admit I love playing practical jokes, and I thought to myself - this next little boy is expecting a handful of nuts like everyone else is getting ... but I'm going to drop just one little nut into his shirt and watch his expression (and the expressions of the others).

As I remember, the boy was about six years old. He pulled his shirt out and looked at me smiling, expecting his handful. I reached into my bag of pistachios and grabbed a handful as he watched me expectantly. Holding my handful of nuts high, I dropped one single nut into his little shirt. He looked in his shirt at the one nut, then looked up at me, then back down again at the nut. He waited a moment ... sort of puzzled ... then looked up at me and smiled. He even said thank you then slowly walked away with his lone nut while the rest of the kids laughed hilariously.

I just couldn't let this happen. This kid was so grateful for his one little nut! I called him back and smiled at him while he looked at me rather puzzled. "Hold your shirt out," I said. He did and I gave him two big handfuls of nuts. The happy little boy gave me a big broad smile and said thanks while walking away happily holding his shirt full of pistachios.

As I was driving home that evening, I got to thinking about that little boy and his one pistachio nut. He was grateful for what he got, even though it wasn't as much as the others got. His sincere gratitude was what got to me.

If God has emotions, and He does, isn't there a principle here? When one of His children shows gratitude even for the little blessings; God must want to bless them with even more. It just works that way, doesn't it?

A little pistachio nut in a small kid's shirt taught me a lesson on gratitude I'll never forget. (You might try this with your kids at home and watch their reaction ... that might be an opportunity for a lesson or two.)

Thanks again to each of you for giving us this opportunity to represent you in Tijuanas dark world of need. For all of us working in Tijuana, Pastor von

P.S. We still are in need of childrens clothing. If you have any new or used kids clothing or shoes, we could sure use them. Kids ages 6 to 12.