NEWSLETTER: APRIL, 2010


ALL THAT WAS LEFT

No one expects a fire; it's always a surprise. Sunday night in Barrio Las Cruces was windy, raining and cold. Jubenteno and his wife Rosa were sound asleep in their small slapped-together house on the side of the canyon while their sons Jesus and Luis were asleep along with their sister Belen. The children were sleeping in a little room atop the house. Their electricity, like in so many of the houses along the street, was filched from the power lines along the road about 50 feet away. Simply a long lamp cord attached to two of the main power lines.

Their two lights were off ... but a short in the flimsy wiring was heating up. At about 3:00 am it started the fire.

Jubenteno smelled smoke and woke Rosa. Feeling the heat, they jumped up and ran from the house. It was in flames! The kids? They were still in the burning house. Rosa was screaming, calling the kids. Only the neighbors responded.

That night, not only did the house burn down with all of their possessions, but their three children were killed in the fire.


ROSA & JUBENTENO

Mom called Hortensia in tears. Hortensia and flowers represented us at the funeral of their three children. I can't imagine Rosa's anguish.

Rosa knew of Spectrum because she and her children would hike a mile to join our big activity every third Thursday for a shower, haircut and some food for the family. Everyone in the community knows about Spectrum. Spectrum helps people in need, and they were in need.

Jubenteno and Rosa moved in with some friends while the neighborhood, friends and Spectrum helped furnish the bare necessities of a new house. When the people had cleared the ashes, Ernesto and his crew of workers built a small starter house for them. Of course, we couldn't replace the lives lost but we could help them start again.

This is just one little narrative to let you know another of the many ways in which your gifts help us help them. A little house like this is one way we build a credibility for the message we preach. Thanks once again for trusting us to spend your gifts wisely.

Von, for all of us working across the fence.


JESUS


BELEN


LUIS