Greetings, December, 2009

I slowly passed Daniel on the left, one of Mexico's younger drivers. It seemed he had car trouble. I stopped to take a look and see what kind of help he needed. On a closer look it seemed he had a total car problem. His engine (his two feet) looked like they could go on forever, and his brakes (his two feet) worked well, but the suspension was gone and steering was bad! The front wheels were in bad shape - out of alignment, out of balance, out of round and his right rear wheel kept coming off. But he was not one to be discouraged. Daniel was happily sitting in his little red economy convertible with a three-foot wooden antenna! Wow! He had no radio though, - bummer! Now if only the car would work. Smiling contentedly, he just sat there pretending. That's what you do when you're poor ... you pretend (I gave him a little chocolate bar to help start the engine).

This year kids down here in Tijuana are poorer than ever, using their toys until they are literally wrung out ... quite unlike their rich northern neighbors.

Soccer balls are always popular with boys young and old. I recently found what has to be most used soccer ball I have ever seen. Take a look at the photo!

This letter, then, is simply a reminder that during these next few weeks we'll be needing hundreds of little gifts to distribute for Christmas. We will have eight big special programs. We get a special Christmas Eve thrill when we drive into poor neighborhoods without streetlights collecting shivering kids and adults to share the blankets, tarps and little gifts you've given us.

I'll be honest, this Christmas looks a little scarier than usual as our U.S. economy continues to sink. If you can again help us to buy gifts this Christmas, we would sure appreciate it. Many of these little kids faithfully come to our Bible Clubs.

If you would rather send us a package as a home project, be sure to check Spectrum's home page for ideas of toys you can purchase.

OUR MAILING ADDRESS:
2610 GALVESTON ST.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92110

PHONE:
(619) 276-1385

I know the economy has hit many of you and that some of you are without jobs. We're sorry and empathize with you. Christmas looks bleak indeed. I just came in from our Spectrum Board meeting and our income is lower than it has been in many years and we're literally living from check to check. It's during times

like this that we learn to trust God. Somehow He'll work it out.

Many thanks to each of you for your faithful gifts and prayers throughout this lean year. We wish you and your family a nice Christmas Season and a happy, healthy and more prosperous New Year!

From all of us working down here with the poor.