Merry Christmas

It is 12:15 a.m. here in Zihuatanejo, and we wanted to be the first to wish you a very merry Christmas.  It has been difficult for us to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  As I write this in bed, it is 77 degrees outside and 94 percent humidity.  The humidity is so high that it has left a wet dew all over the boat.  As we look out the windows it almost looks like there is a frost building up. 

I pause every few minutes to take notice of the gun fire outside.  I think it is up in the hills, perhaps in town, the locals have their own way of ringing in Christmas.  We added 5 more gallons of diesel fuel into the generator tonight so that we could run our outdoor Christmas lights and run both air conditioners all night long.  This is our equivalent of putting another yule tide log in the fire place.

There has not been a mad rush to purchase gifts this year.  We are in no competition with the locals for that most prized toy for Robert.  The stores here are packed to the ceiling with every toy and electronic item you could ever want, but no one has bought any.  The Mexican government decided they did not want their country to be a dumping ground for cheap Chinese exports, so they applied a heavy duty on anything remotely Chinese.  As a result all toys and electronics are 200 to 300 percent more expensive here than in the United States.

The stores understand this.  They do not advertise the price, they advertise the "weekly" finance rate or layaway terms.  Even with this there are still no takers, so the stores just put up signs on the toys which say "No Touch!"

With no toys to give, no PBS specials on the Tabernacle choirs to watch, the locals are left only to spend Christmas with each other, being grateful for what they have and what Christ has given them.

Wherever this note finds you, we hope that it finds you surrounded with your friends and family.  We hope that it lifts your spirits as your friendship has for us.  And we hope that it gives you pause as to the true reason for this day.

Wishing you a very merry and blessed Christmas,

            - Mark, Amy, & Robert James Read