Dear Friends: COMMUNICATION We are seeking the best way to communicate with our community of caregivers. For now we're planning to send written communication quarterly and e-mails for time-sensitive bulletins. Comments are welcomed. THE GIFT OF HOPE Many people have new hope because of your gifts. When we give warm clothes or food, the greater gift is their awareness that someone cares. Thank you. CONTAINERS Eight 40-foot containers were shipped this year: one to Kosovo (medical and dental equipment); one to Croatia (Magi gifts, toys, medical supplies); one to Matamoras in Mexico (clothes, food, medical supplies); and five to Anahuac in Mexico (furniture for orphanages, food, clothes, medical supplies, Magi gifts). WHERE HAS LINDA GONE? Linda was beautiful and always exuberant. I met her in 1964. Thirty years later, I was amazed at how little she had changed. Then, only one year after I last saw her, an email was received saying Linda was in a nursing home with Alzheimer's disease. Months later a friend called me to say she'd visited Linda. Some at the nursing home questioned her diagnosis and she appeared to be overmedicated. The nurse told us, "There are two patients in this facility who receive no visitors - one of them is Linda." When I heard that the Director of Social Services was looking for a guardian for Linda, I responded immediately. The next few days told me what had happened to her. When Linda could no longer work as an attorney because of difficulties remembering, her ex-husband stepped in to help. She had no family. Her holdings were dissolved by her ex-husband in what he called the "spend down" process.

When all requirements were met in order for her to qualify for Medicaid, he put her in a nursing home. For nine months no one knew she was there. Even when people became aware, they didn't understand what was going on. Linda died only days after her doctor refused to written order for her to have guardian. You will hear more about a possible "Sanctuary " for the Linda's of this world. It would be a place where people can step out of the rat race for a while - a place to find another way of living. You may find it a place to serve. REFLECTION What better time to reflect on what we are doing! It's easy to get lost in the busyness of caring for our neighbor and forget what that is about. When Jesus prayed, "Give us this day our daily bread, " did His father now answer His prayer? Of course He did - then and now. If 50% of the population of the world is malnourished (or in other words starving) as UN figures indicate, where is their food? Most of us are aware that we throw away enough food in the United States to feed the world. Why then are we not indicted by that? Why do we not rush to put our excess in the hands of our needy brother? Our hope is to bring this awareness to others and to provide a way of moving gifts to areas of need. ANNUAL MEETING Our third annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 11. Invitations will be sent later this month. The Bob Striler Servants Award will be presented this year to Alice Martin. Alice makes children's quilts, crocheted hats, and gives as much food as an entire church normally gives. You won't want to miss this opportunity to meet Alice. Looking forward to seeing you next month. Rae England Executive Director