Also, Spectrum's first and only Federal IRS audit was completed last week. As you can guess, a Federal audit is a lot of pressure and takes a lot of work. We're happy to announce that we passed our audit with no problems. Thanks to the Lord and Eloy Garcia, our bookkeeper. We just thought you folks supporting us should know how the audit came out.

NEWSLETTER: SEPTEMBER, 2008

My van was full of excited kids returning from camp. I bounced down the dirt road into Barrio Trinche, stopped the van to let off Toño and most of his friends, then continued down the road with ten- year-old Miguel. Falling from his top bunk Friday night, he had hit his head and broken his arm. I wanted to explain the fall to his parents and give them his X-ray. Miguel seemed a little uneasy about taking me to his home. He led me on a path between some houses and down a little trail on the side of the canyon. It was a sad picture. His drunken father was leaning against the doorway of his small, dirty shack. When he saw me and the boy returning with a broken arm, he worked himself into a rage. Miguel disappeared through the doorway leaving me to face his father. Fortunately his mother arrived on the scene and told his father to shut up! She had a more urgent matter for me: Toño's and Daniel's father had hung himself that morning and I needed to go there. Reina is now a widow. Twelve-year-old Toño and ten-year-old Daniel and their little brother and three sisters have no father. I walked the distance up the road wondering what to say.

Again I was led down the dry canyon through several trash-filled yards and past small houses. I came to the house. I called for Reina and Toño. In a short time, they slowly came out and joined me. I looked down at the rope that was lying on the wooden floor next to my feet. Reina was in tears. The kids stood around very quietly, looking puzzled and afraid. Toño showed no emotion. In Trinche, real men don't cry. After expressing my sorrow, I asked Toño to walk with me up to my van. We sat together inside. I was glad for my tinted windows. By now Toño was dabbing his eyes. There must have been something about this abusive, alcoholic father that he loved. What do you tell a boy who was so full of life and happiness this morning, returning from his first camp, when he's come back to the death of his father ... and by hanging? Real men in Trinche die by bullets, knives, drugs or car accidents, never by hanging! I again hugged him, told him he was now the man of the family and gave him $250.00 to help with the funeral. We drove together up the road near his house. I said goodbye and shook his hand. It's hard to grow up so fast. His father will be buried in the dry, trash-filled cemetery for the very poor right next to the dump. Today this man and this tragedy will be buried, only to resurface again some tomorrow as another tragedy. As sad as that is, that's life at Trincheraso.

Thanks for your prayers and support that keep our unique ministry in dark Tijuana going. We appreciate your faithful prayers for our safety.

This site is maintained for Spectrum Ministries by David Pence/ACE Micro