Christmas end of semester at S.T.A.R.T.S.

What a joy was the end-of-semester event at S.T.A.R.T.S!  Toya had, with good assistance from our other volunteers, prepared a Christmas play with the children.  Parents and families showed up in good numbers and waited patiently in the seating section we had set up inside the gym. 

While addressing the crowd it suddenly dawned on me that this was probably “it” for most of them in regards to their kids participating in a Christmas play!  What with school doing all they can to be politically correct and religiously neutral, there are hardly any traces left of Christmas celebrations for them there.  Several of the mothers had dressed up and done their hair, and almost everyone had a camera or video.  There were smiles all around and the kids were practically unrecognizable  during the play from the practices; they sang out when they were supposed to, they acted their roles – and didn’t act up – paid attention and did their parts to conserve the dignity of the Christmas play.

With monetary help from the food bank and Parkcrest Seventh Street church we were able to purchase a van load of food.  Every family went home with a huge box with food, and some with extra plastic bags filled with food items, too.  All the children went happily home with one wrapped gift each.

“It’s more blessed to give than to receive”, yet the blessings we received from sharing this event with the families we serve is something we all carried with us in our hearts.

http://vimeo.com/33921358

Don’t give to feel good; give till it hurts!

Last Saturday we saw the joy on the faces of the children as they received their ornately wrapped, personally labeled Christmas gifts at our three children’s homes in Mexicali.  By a “clerical error” one of the girls valiantly put on a smile when asked to show her gift.  It was evident that she had only received a “generic” gift, so a second search under the tree was necessary until our volunteer found the gift with the girl’s name and picture on it.  What a difference, what a beaming smile was produced when she saw the result of some unknown benefactor having purchased a gift with only her in mind!

YesWeServe is about “changing the world, one child at a time”, and you have an open invitation to make that happen, in Mexicali, in Ghana, in India, and at S.T.A.R.T.S. right here in Long Beach, CA.

Research shows that 1/3 of giving to charities takes place during the last month of the year.  As we all know, children often lose interest after the beautiful grift-wrapping has been ripped off, or the wheels come off the new toy truck, or the battery to the talking doll goes flat. 

Our ministry, on the contrary, focuses on long term, sustainable impact. All year long.  And we need your help to make it possible to continue providing the growing help and support we have been offering over these past six years. 

Please prayerfully consider sending a year-end check to support the exciting ministry of YesWeServe!

Please send your tax deductible donation to this mailing address: 

YesWeServe Inc.

2436 East 4.th Street, #44

Long Beach, CA 90814

God bless you during this Advent and Christmas season!