Worldwide Activity Report -- February 1998
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Copyright 1998 by The Family

         Every day, in nearly 80 countries spanning the globe, full-time Family volunteers work to bring hope, happiness, and God's love to others. Following are some highlights of their recent activities and experiences, as reported by the Family members involved.

         [Picture caption] Hot food and hope. The Family shared God's love and served a free Christmas meal to 5,000 of Mexico City's poor at the central square, the Zocalo.

5,000 fed at Christmas
From Ezekiel and team, Mexico
         "These people [The Family] are doing something wonderful. They have love for those who really need it," said a shabbily dressed man being interviewed for a national broadcast of TV Azteca nightly news for December 25. The scene: Mexico City's central square, the Zocalo. For the fourth year running, The Family was serving a hot Christmas meal to thousands of the Mexican capital's poor and needy, and putting on an all-day free concert.
         This was no ordinary soupline. Athough it took place in one day, it was the result of weeks of careful planning and preparation, and hundreds of hours of hard work on the part of dozens of members from several Family communities in the Mexico City area. While Rebecca phoned and sent faxes to scores of companies that were to donate the food and other supplies, Marcos and co-workers drove hundreds of miles to pick up the contributions. Others secured the necessary permit (no small matter, considering that a crowd of thousands was expected), organized the menu, worked out transportation and other logistics, and rehearsed their music and dance routines. Some cooked all through the night on Christmas Eve.
         Friends of The Family also got involved in a big way. A restaurant owner gave us the use of his commercial kitchen, and offered his expertise in helping us cook the food. A bakery donated 500 kg of bread, and a produce wholesaler gave 60 boxes of bananas. A Christian group gave us the use of their circus tent and their professional sound equipment for our musical performances. Many others also gave generously.
         The meal consisted of a meat sauce, beans and rice, bread, bananas, coffee, and mineral water. Cynthia Betancourt, TV Azteca's on-the-scene newscaster, called it "a menu of hope."
         Following are comments from some of the Family members who helped:
         (Robin:) Working in the serving line, face to face with so many needy and hungry people, was quite an emotional experience. Appreciation and thankfulness were written all over their faces. "Wow," they seemed to say, "it means so much that you would care about us. We didn't think anyone would remember us on Christmas."
         I still remember the gorgeous smile on one woman's face, in particular. She was carrying her baby in one arm, but somehow managed three plates of food in her free hand. A toddler clung to her skirt. I tucked an extra loaf of bread under her arm and said, "Here, take this home with you." Our eyes met, and I said, "You know, Jesus said, 'Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' You may be poor in this life, but He has riches in store for you in the next." We exchanged smiles, and each shed a few tears.
         (Rebecca:) When I was asked to secure donations of enough food to feed 5,000 people, I almost panicked. It seemed such a monumental undertaking. But after we prayed together for the project, I felt the peace of God. Only He could do such a thing--and He did!
         When the day arrived, from my new vantage point in the serving line, it was beautiful to see how happy this gesture of love and kindness had made these people. They, too, seemed to realize that a miracle had taken place, and one no less wonderful than when Jesus fed the multitudes in person. Many of them said a heartfelt "Gracias a Dios" (thanks to God).
         (Marcos:) After serving for a couple of hours, I got worried that there wouldn't be enough, but somehow there was. People kept coming through the food line for hours and hours, yet the pots never emptied. God never fails!
         (Christine, 17:) When I explained to a well-to-do young businessman who I met a couple of days before Christmas that we would be giving out free meals to the poor, he insisted on coming to help us. When the day arrived, he was there and pitched right in. Every time one of us tried to get him to take a break from the serving line, he declined. "I love doing this," he said. "This is the happiest day of my life!"
         (Ben:) As I gave out each plate of food to the poor, I felt as though I was also giving a Christmas gift to Jesus--that this was what makes Him happiest, giving of our time and love to others. This is what Christmas is all about!

Rebuilding little lives
From Daniel Mountain, Russia
         On December 6, 1997, two engines of an Antonov An-24--one of the world's largest aircraft--failed immediately after takeoff from the Siberian city of Irkutsk. The 400-ton cargo plane, carrying two fighter jets, crashed into an apartment block and a nearby orphanage. I and other Family members who were in the area immediately contacted officials to see how we could be of help.
         They told us that 140 children from the orphanage had been evacuated to another location for psychological rehabilitation, and they asked for our help. At the rehabilitation center, we were told that miraculously, shortly before the crash, almost all of the children in the orphanage had gone out for an excursion. Tragically, the few who had remained behind had been either killed or injured. Moreover, many of the orphans who hadn't been at the scene had been traumatized by the loss of their friends and home.
         As it was so close to Christmas, the staff at the rehabilitation center agreed that if we could impart to the traumatized children the joy of this special season, it would go a long way in helping them to look ahead, instead of back to the horrible accident.
         We put together and performed a Christmas show packed full of happy songs and a skit depicting the joy and hope that came with the first Christmas. The orphans danced and sang along with us, with beaming smiles on their faces. After our program, we spent time talking individually with the children and left them with color pictures of Jesus for their walls and children's stories for their enjoyment and encouragement.
         As we left, the children followed us out the door, to wave goodbye and to thank us for coming. Their smiles were all the thanks we needed!
         Certainly Jesus and His love proved once again to be the best tonic for times of despair and trauma.

AIDS prevention programs for youth
From Oliver, Nigeria
         We just returned from another medical project with a group of Nigerian doctors--this one in Lantang, a small rural town in central Nigeria. As usual, we worked alongside the doctors, helping distribute vitamins and prescription drugs, tending to the sick, and praying with and counseling those who had been treated or were waiting for operations. But this project went a step further: For the first time, we took our oldest children along to help us conduct AIDS awareness and prevention programs in the local schools.
         The programs, arranged by an organization that helps rehabilitate former prostitutes, consisted of musical performances by our kids, a skit, a brief lecture and documentary on the dangers of AIDS and how to avoid it, and a question-and-answer period. This is an urgent message for these young teenagers, as AIDS is rampant in this country and few know much about it. Seven performances in as many schools reached about 3,000 students.

Joy, multiplied by 300
From Prem, India
         One of our friends allowed us to use his school premises to host an afternoon of fun activities for nearly 300 children from the slum where we have been doing volunteer work for the past few years. When our other friends and contacts heard about the planned event, many also wanted to be involved. They organized snacks, set up carnival games and booths, and donated many small items like pencil boxes, soap, and toothbrushes to be given as prizes.
         And oh, what a good time the children had! It was wonderful to watch the kids eat to their hearts' content, romp around, and jump for joy every time they won a prize!
         One visitor, a child psychologist, said, "I have never seen such a spontaneous display of joy from so many children. Hats off to The Family! You are all doing a wonderful job! Keep it up!"
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         The Family is a nonprofit, volunteer organization. Each of the activities you have just read about was made possible through donations from businesses, associations and concerned individuals. If you would like more information about The Family, or if you would like to help sponsor Family volunteers or projects, including any of those mentioned in this issue, please contact us at one of the addresses below:



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family