Dear Friends,

I'm writing to wish all of you and very blessed Christmas. I have had two Christmases already, and three to go. Then, turn around and do it all again for New Year's! Thank God I am healthy enough to do it.

    The other day, some Thai people delivered some stuff, and the little girls of Viengkhuk, for some reason, got to the boxes first and fought like tinkers until the head honcho appeared and took the stuff to divide, wrap and hand out at Christmas. The wee ones are a mercenary bunch of rodents. It was so much easier when we had only 12 – 15 kids!

    We began Christmas at St. Eileen's in Nong Seng, near Phu Fai Lom mountain. This was Saturday, Dec. 17. We have quite a community there; Catholics, Protestants, and lots of Buddhists. We had a the nativity play put off by Pai Si Tong children. Then we had Mass, and after Mass children had skits and adults got up to sing and dance as well. There was a nice meal for everyone, and everyone got bags of candy and a gift. Then, Sunday, December 18, I went to the Sangkom mountains to do the same at Na Muang Thai, for the same audience, except that Don Wai children did the nativity play. There are some really beautiful mountains and rural scenes up there. The beauty west of Na Muang Thai rivals anything in the north.

    On December 24 and 25, I have Christmases for the bulk of our Catholics, in Pai Si Tong and Don Wai. Our 114 children of SARNELLI HOUSE will join in these celebrations with the villagers. Gone is the day when the children were shunned. Many villagers work at our homes for children, and others grow vegetables, and raise fish and chickens, selling their produce to us. I now also have a staff of about 35 people as well, the majority of them being local people.

    On December 28, the feast of the Holy Innocents, school closes until January 3. Since our little chapel at SARNELLI HOUSE is named “Holy Innocents”, that will be the day of the Christmas party for our kids. We will have plays, skits, songs and the kids will get their gifts and a huge party.

    On Dec. 29, I am having a Christmas party for our catechists. These good people struggle and sacrifice for the Word of the Lord, and they deserve a party. Then, on Dec. 30, I am having a New Year's party for all AIDS-infected people in our OUTREACH program. On New Years eve, everyone has their own parties!

    Thank you again for your generosity and kindness. Our kids pray nightly for those who help them overcome the sorrow in their lives. Have a truly blessed Christmas! May God grant you every blessing in the New Year!

Fr. Mike

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