Christmas in September at the Astrodome
Astrodome witnessing to the evacuees from New Orleans had become one of our favorite things to do, as we would always meet such precious people who had gone through so much. Our songs to them, and listening to their stories, had been the medicine that had healed so many of their hearts.
Tuesday on our way to the Astrodome, we got a call asking if we could help distribute three 40 foot trucks full of toys. When we got there we found out a FM radio station from Miami had been petitioning its listening audience for 5 days for toys for the children in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. When the trucks had arrived at the Astrodome, officials wouldn’t let the truck unload their goods because they thought the distribution of the toys would cause a riot inside the Astrodome.
As it’s pretty hard to corral and control thousands of screaming children. One of the representatives from the Family International persuaded them that with barricades and sufficient personnel it could be done safely, and this would bring such cheer to the children. So radio listeners, Family members, Red Cross representatives and police were able to bring the joy of Christmas a little early this year.
Each child was able to fill up a big bag of the toys of his choice. How wonderful it was so see the smiles on the faces of these children who had gone through so much. Most of them had lost their homes and had no idea what the future would hold for them. So Christmas, a little early, is just what Jesus ordered for them.
