Greetings, January, 2010

One of Spectrum’s more unique ministries is dedicating Christmas Eve day and night to serving the poor across the border. Christmas Eve gives us a real personal relationship with our people. It’s a giving time, of course, and it’s a special Christmas time as well.

This letter then, is a mosaic ... a few thumb-nail text and photo chips from our Christmas Eve that made that day so special. (Thanks to you for making it possible.)

Armando, with his dozen-or-so pre-teen kids, worked from early in the morning making over 1000 burritos and creating dinner for the hundreds of kids at the CMI ... the T.J. teen jail.

Early in the afternoon our COOL Christmas 'gift’ bus, loaded with hundreds of new toys, blankets and tarps, climbed the cold barren hills to the Ijido area where kids were waiting. Some families walked for miles to get there. Thanks to you folks for providing us with a great variety of new toys, blankets and tarps. Parents got a blanket or tarp and all the kids left the bus happy with their toy and ... a purple stained thumb, no returns. (See photo)

The CMI, though dark outside, was alive and well with eating a good meal. That night the guards and kids were maybe a little less enemies and more friends. (See photo)

Hortensia, Dave and I went a different route. We gave gifts out to many of our families in poor Barrios (See photos). Then we picked up 12-year-old Roberto and headed to the DIF orphanage for AIDS kids to visit his sisters and little brother. AIDs is greatly feared in Mexico, so the little kids at that orphanage get few visitors. They greeted us with hugs. Of course we gave gifts to everone. We all were sad when it came time to leave; Roberto with his little sister Jasmin sitting on a couch hugging each other ... both in tears. "Von, when are you coming back?" Jasmin asked. (No photos allowed.)

Then we were off to see Pepe, the little crippled boy. His neighborhood is dangerous and very dark at night. We parked near the cemetery hoping no one would break in my SUV and walked up to his house with gifts. In Mexico the houses are not heated so Pepe was sitting bundled in clothes with a pair of little gloves on his hands. He chattered about everything: his Christmas tree with bright lights; the three or four little unwrapped gifts below. Roberto gave him a new little Hot Wheels car. Pepe excitedly told us how he won an award at school for dancing. (Even though he couldn’t do much with his arms or legs ... he tried, he wiggled, he won!) (See photos)

While we were visiting Pepe, the COOL bus with it’s crew and another lload of gifts stopped in the very dark and poor community of Invasion (people who 'invaded’ the hillsides and built their shacks.)

Kids and adults—bundled in anything ... sweaters, coats, blankets, whatever—were standing there in the cold dark night waiting. Another load of your gifts went into the cold and dirty little hands of the poor in the Canyon. The smiles? They were warm! (See Photo)

Later, our crew stopped in at Emmanuel Orphanage and enjoyed a turkey dinner with about twenty of the boys. On the menu were turkey, spaghetti, and pizza. The last kid got the carcass, and he was happy! This year the orphanage couldn’t afford Christmas trees so they hand-made them.

THIS PHOTO SAYS IT ALL!!!

So much more could be said! We’ll be at it until the 5th of January. More loads of your gifts. Thanks for the privilege of representing you to our kids and families on the wrong side of the fence.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! From all of us implimenting your love to the poor across the border.