Christmas Treasures

We're getting ready to head down to Una Esperanza for our annual Christmas outreach in a little over a week, and it's all a little different this year.  We're looking forward to seeing God's hand at work, like we do every year, but the circumstances all seem different.

We're collecting the gifts for the kids, which God is providing through wonderful, compassionate people that are responding to His leading.  That's the only way to explain it this year.  With the US economy in a not-so-great state, many people are not reaching out, including many churches that are having their own financial crises.  It's just what it is this year.  Due to the drug wars in Mexico, many people are concerned for their safety and not wanting to take that risk this year.  In past years, we've had as many as 50 people volunteering for this outreach - this year we only have about 8 confirmed.  We've had many thoughts of canceling the event this year, which is what most ministries that work in Mexico are doing this year, but God has laid on our hearts that it is still in His heart to reach these kids, regardless of what we see around us.

Mexico is indeed a very dangerous place right now, and Juarez in particular.  Depending on the source, there have been between 1300 and nearly 2000 murders in Juarez in 2008, nearly all related to a drug cartel war, and it's getting uglier, more brutal.  It's not in the US news much, but it's very real to our kids.  Mutilated, headless bodies are turning up on elementary school playgrounds.  Gangs are threatening to hurt children if teachers don't hand over their Christmas bonuses.  Kidnappings of store owners are becoming common place.

Fear is a very real, very raw emotion in Kilometer 33 as well as the rest of Juarez.  There is no sense of security from the law, as the government is under seige by these same cartels.  In the midst of this, we MUST bring the hope of Jesus.  We believe that's where He would be (and is going to be) in the midst of this Christmas season.  His perfect love has to be what casts out the fear.  Toys may be just toys in some instances, but this year, they are bringing hope and love, that these kids have not been forgotten, that God has not abandoned them in the middle of all this.  

We are so grateful for all of you that have responded in whatever way you can, and we ask you to continue to pray for God's guidance and provision as we press forward.  We ask you to pray for protection while we are down there, from about the 15th of December to the 22nd.  We ask you to pray that God's hand would be so evident to each child, each person involved in this outreach.  We pray that God would lift some of the heaviness in the hearts of the people during this time, that they can be reminded that God loves them and that He has not left them, that they are His Christmas treasures for which He gave His very own Son in exchange.