Tuesday, March 22, 2016

THE CURSE OF BEING FREE


A couple of days ago a lady asked me "Von, have you ever considered writing a book?" I've been asked that question many times and my answer was a routine… "No. I'm too busy living life to stop and write about it." At age 87, I have little time left, so there won't be any auto-biography written.

To encapsulate my life between two colorful covers would be hard to do; it would be thick and clumsy and that's exactly why it hasn't been done.

Who I am. What I've done. Where I've been, and what I'm all about, has been carefully written down and stashed away in the cyber-world of webdom. My life and thinking are open to all. They're public. They're free and I guess that's where I made a mistake. . .what's free, is cheap and cheap has no value and what has no value is, in a word, worthless.

I'm a prolific writer, at least I think I am. I've actually been writing all my professional life. Not only the who, what, and why of von, but loads of helpful study material. But it's not between two covers, it's not for sale ... it's free.

I've written hundreds of blogs containing stories and opinions… last month my website, "PASTORVON.com" received more than 38,000 hits, my web-site has been on the Web since 1995 My website is a mosaic of stories, advice to Youth Workers, pastors and missionaries. It's loaded with photos, videos and cartoons. Pastorvon.com sits there quietly waiting for those who want to look and learn.

Friday, March 18, 2016

FIRST THERE WERE TWO


Indeed life is not fair. In Mexico justice is directly proportional to how much money is involved that's why I have to carry hundreds of dollars of cash on my person. Dangerous, of course ... and I well know money doesn't end corruption, it feeds it, at least where I work that's the case.

Rafa was standing on the corner. A cab was parked near him near the curb. The young woman driving the cab revved the engine and then something went terribly wrong; she slammed the car in reverse and pressed hard on the accelerator! The taxi zoomed backward jumped the curb running hard into Rafa standing there. The bumper rammed into his left leg in such a way as they couldn't extract his leg from the cab. Red Cross was called and ended up cutting off his leg to free him from the cab. A public, painful and bloody mess.

Could Rafa get financial help from the cab company? In our Country of course he cold ... but this occurred in Mexico. The girl driving the cab was the daughter of the owner of the fleet of cabs. Oddly enough the judge ruled in favor of the cab company and poor Rafa got nothing. Unfortunately, the judges in Mexico are crooked, the police are crooked, the institutions are crooked. In Mexico the only good guy you have on your side is your money.

Yes, we are helping people like Rafa, and his handicapped son Ronaldo trying to live on only $60.00 per month. We are helping many others like him. The two of them are living in a little one room bungalow that an American charity group built.

Thanks for making this good stuff happen.

Monday, March 14, 2016

LITTLE DADDY-MAMA NOE


Noe and his two little brothers run Barrio Laguna's dirt roads at will. Noe, is a small thin ten year-old. They love their Grandma but she's very old and can't keep up with them so they run the streets. Noe's mother is in prison along with their two uncles.

When Hortensia visits Barrio Laguna Noe often asks about von, he wants to meet von. His older brothers tell him about the days when Von visited their Barrio. Noe said “when Von came he used to give showers to his brothers and the kids played games and had fun when they were little, I want to meet Von."

Well, Hortensia finally gave in.

Last Saturday she picked him up, and he traveled with us several miles to our program to a poor Barrio named Ihido. Boy, the little ten year old sure looks like his brothers, blue green eyes and all..." Rather handsome little tyke. Noe, a visitor, blended in with the Ihido kids.

In our monthly visits to different Barrios, the kids have fun! They laugh. They have a blast with games and competition, winning toys, chocolates and dollars. No wonder they like von's Competition Days.

In these monthly visits we share food and help for the poorer mothers and families.

In the afternoon as we were leaving, I asked little Noe if he liked the day. Wow! He did ... I noted it was his lucky day, so I asked him how many dollars he collected. "Nine", he replied with a big smile. "Noe, what are you going to do with all that money" I asked. without stopping to even think, he replied. "I'm giving it to my grandma, we don't have much food."


Noe helps take care of his two little brothers while his mother is in prison. He helps wash them and feed them and change their pampers. His father and older brothers are into drugs and stealing They're what we call "Malandros" or feral teens that surface at night. Little Noe is small but does little jobs when he can. No he doesn't like his father or brothers "because they are always trying to take money from me."

When he got home that night, his oldest little brother ran to him and jumped into his arms. Noe, "Where you been all day?"

Thursday, March 10, 2016

WE GET ALONG OKAY


I'm convinced that God has given a special gift to Hortensia, a "special magnet" that attracts her to needy people. Rafa was a pick-up along the road, he looked so tired she had the cab pull over and pick him up. Indeed he was tired, it was a long trip for a near blind one legged man. Rafa is nearly blind, can hardly hear and with only one leg, he has to use crutches. He has a thirteen year-old son he calls special, and Rolando is special; handicapped by severe autism. Rolando goes to school each day. Hortensia asked him how the two get along in their little shack.

"It's been very difficult, several times the Government has tried to take my son away from me but I'm fighting to keep him. I have a small pension (about $60 per month), and we can get along okay." You could get a sense a bit of pride in the comment."
Looking around Hortensia could see they are very needy. First of all, they cook with wood outside. They have no propane stove and live on very little food. Clothing? What they have on their backs.

In the cracks and crevasses of our Barrios, it's not hard to find those in need ... and with your help we can help lift the burden

Rafa has carried so long. It just seems the Lord leads us to situations like this. First let's get them a stove, some propane and some food to cook on his new stove.