Dear Friends & Partners,

The little boy was only six years old and yet he was the sole daytime caregiver for his three year old sister.  We had opened the day clinic, five long hours from the closest airport, where our Sri Lanka team had arrived several days earlier.  Since our doctor had prescribed a medicine which was to be rubbed on the little girl’s skin, her brother needed to understand that he must not allow his sister to drink it or she would die.

When we asked for their parents' or grandparents' names, we learned the parents had been killed in the tsunami a couple of years earlier.  The grandmother was picking tea leaves that day to earn $1 to feed them.  This six year old boy was the only daytime caregiver for his younger sister—there was no one else.

My heart ached for these two children and many others who came to the clinic with similar stories.  Our team treated 987 adults and children during the day while another team constructed a building, and we all joined forces at night to show the JESUS Film.

I knew that I could never understand the hole in the hearts of these two children and the responsibility that this six year old boy had been forced to take on at such a young and tender age. 

You and I have had bad things happen in our lives which have been heavy—some perhaps equal to the little boy and girl losing their parents and some which may have felt that heavy.  The good news is that, ultimately, our hope and dependence are in the person of Jesus.

The choice is ours to make.  Do we go forward and do what we need to do or do we just exist?  This little boy has chosen to step up to the plate and be BOTH the parent and big brother to his sister.

My question today to both you and myself is--have we stepped up to the plate?  Are we doing what Jesus has asked us to do or are we just existing?
 
May God pour out His blessings on you this very day,

                               

Chuck Watson
Director of Strategic Relationships
chuckwatson@JFHP.org
817-427-4900

P.S. Last month we requested that you consider a donation for the $300,000 shortfall prior to September 30, 2008.  We have four days prior to the end of the month and we are very grateful for the $261,483 which we have received to date.  As of today, we only need $38,517 more to meet the budget for the 322 JESUS Film teams.  If you would still like to donate, you can do so online through next Tuesday, September 30th, by credit card.  Just click here!

P.P.S. - If you would like to experience a JESUS Film Partner Trip, please join us on one of the upcoming trips! These trips are a great opportunity to personalize missions and experience the ministry first hand.

• El Salvador - Dates: December 1-5, 2008; Cost: $725 Double or $875 Single + airfare; Hosts: Rick Walker, Bernie Slingerland (in country), Chuck Watson (JFHP Team Leader).
• Dominican Republic ARK Shelter Trip - Dates: February 21-28, 2009; Cost: TBA; Hosts: Bud & Janet Welch, Darrell Leber (JFHP Team Leader)
  
• Bangladesh March 8-15, 2009; Cost: $775 Double or $950 Single + airfare; Hosts: Ron Salsbury, Chuck Watson (JFHP Team Leader).
• Senegal ARK Shelter Trip - Dates: TBA; Cost: TBA; Hosts: Tim Eby, Darrell Leber (JFHP Team Leader).
  
• Zambia - Dates: September 3-12, 2009; Cost: $1,600 Double or $2,000 Single + airfare; Hosts: Ray Cook, Gary Sidle (in country), Chuck Watson (JFHP Team Leader).