Christmas at the Dump

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Christmas Day 2005, and as we gather in the Sam’s parking lot, there are many familiar faces that I know from around town. Dennis and Faye that hard working missionary couple that teach the children English out at the city dump, along with Carl and Peggy and Jim and Linda, who also spend 5 afternoons a week out there, are all here.  Jimmy, from the Baptist Church who has built many houses for those that had no place to call home, is here, looking like Santa Clause. Actually, we had 3 Santa’s this trip. There are many others who I recognize from Calvary Chapel and the Baptist Church as well. My wife and I along with Connie are here from Dulci Refugio. I saw Monty Merrell, and told him that I was especially glad to see him, because last year he was on a different mission at this time.<br>

A cast of about 60 or so, in about 15 cars, now, all paying close attention to Dale, as we make ready for another of our Christmas Parties.  We have enough food to feed 2000 people, but none of it will we be consuming.  Our advance patrol was out at 10am gathering food, clothing, toys, candy and various other articles that will make life a little more fun for the less fortunate families that live and work out around the City Dump. Marlene, Dale’s wife, and Vera, are the key players in organizing this small army that will shortly be invading the City Dump. We will start by caravanning out along the almost deserted streets this morning, to complete our mission which has been in the planning stages for many weeks.  There was a degree of uncertainty about whether we could pull this off, because of the closing of this dump, but at almost the last minute it was a go.  Of course this was no surprise to Vera, who knew all along that it would happen just as she had planned it.<br>

As we rolled into our destination, we took no one by surprise, for they were already waiting for us to appear.  As quickly as possible, Dale got the vehicles lined up as pre-planned, and everyone that was not in a pick up, dropped their tailgates, to make ready to distribute their precious cargo. It was just like one of those great big tail gate parties that I had read about.<br>

Vera put my wife, Conchita to work, helping to have the large crowd form a long line.  Soon the line was moving from vehicle to vehicle, each one carrying a large bag into which all sorts of things were put. There were 600 fully cooked chickens, plus all that goes with it, plus all the other items I mentioned earlier.  So for about 2 hours they came, and then, the last chicken was handed out, and we were finished.  We had more than enough to go around, and so we were able to give more than just one chicken to some families.<br>  

The best part of all of this is the happy smiles and all the Feliz Navidads along with Muchas Gracias that we receive from these very polite families.  I have been fortunate to be able to participate in this adventure now for 3 years, and if you ask me how I intend to spend next Christmas Day, my answer will be, “Why at the City Dump of course, where else?”