Dear Friends,

Another "Season of Love" begins - I was told a man was killed today.  He was killed at a Wal-Mart in Long Island where he was trampled to death by shoppers entering the store to gain access to the "great buys" that are available for the Christmas holiday shopping spree...I began to cry.

I will admit I was not crying for the man in particular; I was crying for humanity.  We place so much emphasis on materialism that we are willing to trample a person.  Many passages of Scripture warn us about our greed and love of money...we don't listen.  Money is not evil, our intentions and actions are.

Gift giving this season - Last year our family requested that no one buy us gifts, but rather give the money to the ministry to support the children of Kenya.  As with last year, we asked the same this year...why?  First, what better way to honor the birth of our Savior than to adhere to His Biblical commands of "love your neighbor as yourself" and "Bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ."  Use the money to honor Him, not ourselves.  Second, we have come so far away from the reason for the celebration that many only buy gifts out of guilt or a sense of obligation, or simply to have a party, not to exemplify the love of the One whose birth we celebrate.  We would rather use the funds to show His love to those who find it hard to see it due to their situation.  Third, we simply do not need more stuff.  God has continued to meet our needs as we serve Him as He calls.  We have food, shelter, clothing, and, most importantly, His love and the love of family and friends...true gifts.  We would rather have the funds used to meet the needs of those who lack the basic necessities, showing them God will meet their needs through His people half way around the world. 

Finding the Truth of the season - In this economic environment it is hard to get people to give to the ministry to literally keep the children eating in Kenya, but we will trample a man to death to buy a toy which is on sale...this is sad.  My friends, please turn to God this season and joyfully celebrate His Son's birth.  If you do it with presents to loved ones, good; if you do it with donations to your favorite charity, good; if you do it by simply being with family and friends, good.  In every case, simply remember what the season is all about...that we have been redeemed at a price which started when our Lord, God and Savior came to us in the form of His creation...He loves us so much!  

Thanks for all you have done and continue to do.  Please take a look at the photo gallery on the website as well as the blog.  At the bottom of the main page we will be posting our schedule as to where we will be making presentations on behalf of our Kenyan children.  If you can join us at any venue, please do.

Celebrate Him - May God bless you this holiday season with a growing relationship with Him.  May His love overflow in all you do and the Holy Spirit guide you to a life of true contentment in service to the One whose birth we celebrate, Jesus.

Serving Him with you by serving the children of Kenya only through His grace,

Chuck McDonald

Executive Director

PS:  We have a book entitled "Hope Lives" which helps us understand the nature of poverty, explores what the Scriptures say about the poor and discusses how we can respond to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to us about poverty.  We will automatically send this to you when you make a donation of $50 or more through the month of December.  Thank you for your support of the orphaned and impoverished children in Kenya.