NEWSLETTER: APRIL, 2009

In addition to our regular ministry, we've been working closely with five orphanages here in Tijuana which total about 300 kids. Most of these kids are not true orphans, but problem kids, each with his own personal story. Many kids living on their own, unwanted and un-cared for.

On our part we encourage the orphanage staffs and have Bible studies for the kids and special days with them, even big meals on occasion. We help to the extent we can but that's about as far as we can go. (We help one orphanage financially.)

Tijuana orphanages are taking a hit. Between the poor economy and the dropping peso, and by adding the media’s coverage of the drug war, the ugly bottom line quickly appears. Very few Churches come to Tijuana anymore and there are even fewer American dollars. Orphanage directors sweat each day to make ends meet and the hard working staff is paid little to nothing more than room and board. One by one, the kids run back to the streets and no one bothers to look for them ... one less mouth to feed. Sadly, budget trumps compassion. Fact of life!

Many of these kids come from the poor areas in which we work and we see the "fall out." No more school, idle time and the gang scene grows by another kid. A criminal is born.

Last week I spent time watching an orphanage of about seventy of these problem kids in action. You could see the staff of four cooking big meals, helping kids with homework while ironing their shirts for school, stopping fights, giving showers to thirty squirrelly kids at a time, fitting school clothing, and combing hair, washing bedding and clothing. Wow, that's work! All this work and responsibility for about $70 a week. Oh yes, that's ten hours a day for six days a week. Working with and living with problem kids

I guess I'm just venting my frustration because we know these kids and take them personally.

As you think of us down here, continue to pray for us and include these orphanages in your prayers. Lots of neat kids under the charge of underpaid and tired overworked staffs. We do appreciate your support and we try our best to invest your money wisely and in an unselfish way. Thanks!

For all of us working here in Tijuana, von


Cooking for Seventy Five ...


Lots of Neat Kids ...