NEWSLETTER: DECEMBER, 2008

We hope each of you had a nice Thanksgiving. In America we still have so much to be grateful for. We are blessed of God.

This observation is made by one who shuttles between the contrast of the rich and the real poor on a regular bases.

Holiday Season '08 is here in all of it's color and sound ... BUT!

The experts promise this Christmas to be a very different one. Santa's Ho. Ho. Ho. will be a little less authentic and he will be a little thinner and not as jolly as in past years. His sled will have more cheap Chinese toys than usual. Christmas shoppers will be hitting Target and Walmart rather than Macy's and the more expensive stores. Christmas cards will trump gifts. Christmas carols will be more reminders of the past than heralds of the future. Yes, they say it will be different this year.


A Happy Little Girl ...

Our little Mexican kids are counting on a special Spectrum Christmas; after all, every year in the past we've given thousands of Christmas presents to the Mexican children that are poor. Each kid got a choice of one new gift for their very own. And that seems right.

There's no way we can explain away a lean Christmas on our economy because little kids just don't understand economies, so we will have to depend on any of you that can help us pull this Christmas off. We'll do the best we can.

Toys will have to be purchased (Thank you China!) and then shuttled across the border in small quantities. The earlier the better even though Christmas spans two weeks in Mexico.

Christmas weeks we will be working almost every day including Christmas Eve ...

On that special night we will find cold little rag-muffins running the streets and invite them to line up at our bus or van which will be full of new toys. They can choose only one. We will also present a Christmas program to the 300+ kids in jail where we will give them all a big meal. There will be songs, a short message, and yes, even tears. (Our Mexican crew presents this program!)


Love at First Sight ...

All of this takes work and dollars.

Thanks to each of you for your part in helping us make all of this happen. It's truly a team effort. I just wish you could be with us as we travel the cold and dark Barrios this Christmas.

There is something special about singing ‘Joy to the World' in a very dark Barrio!

We're simply a conduit sharing a special Christmas joy.

NOTE: Christmas or not, it's still very dangerous in Tijuana, please pray for our safety as we go into these bad areas where the men are often loaded on drugs and alcohol.

For all of us, Pastor von