Just like Christmas Eve.

When my brothers and I were kids in Washington, Christmas Eve was a delicious combination of anticipation and frustration. We were not allowed to even peek at the presents under the tree. Mom would get upset with us for shaking presents to see if they rattled. We wanted to stay up to check out the sleigh-and-reindeer thing, but Dad would shoo us off at 8:00 or so to go to bed. We wouldn't sleep, of course, but we were out of the way.

Six decades later, here I am. I woke up this morning thinking it was Saturday. Nope, it's Saturday Eve! Tomorrow morning I get together with some of my mission family to kick-start our 2011 program. We're going to descend upon the Borders Bookstore and claim a bunch of warehouse shelving, desks, office chairs, and odds and ends to take to our now-empty warehouse. Then off to the warehouse to set it all up. I scarcely can wait! And another brother has located some additional heavy-duty shelving which he will bring to the warehouse tomorrow, as well.

On Tuesday, our first load of food is scheduled in, and sometime next week we hope to move the food we have at our Pilot Freight/Miramar Transport location down. We'll have about 20 pallets ready for a packing party next weekend. 6 pallets are already designated for feeding programs in the La Mision area, and the rest will go quickly - some to Maneadero and La Zorrillo, some to Tijuana, some to Tecate. Lots of hungry kids will get fed. And so the year starts!

Debra has hired a team of exterminators to make sure no food goes to rodents - a pair of warehouse cats. All we need is a fireplace and it will be just like home. (I wonder what kind of animals we men would be if God had not given Adam his tender partner, Eve.)

As a kid, I don't remember ever being disappointed on Christmas morning, even though during some of those years finances were pretty slim. I was delighted with new clothes and school supplies. Now, the blessings are grown-up. I have never been at a place in my life where I have been more blessed than during these past few months. Side-by-side with Debra, circled by generous and helpful friends, with a family of thousands of precious kids. And directed each step of the way by a loving and caring God.

So, God, are you going to tell me what's in store for Hilarious Givers this year? Not even a peek? How 'bout I shake it to see if it rattles? No? OK - I'm off to work. I wish I knew what gifts are in store for us, but I have faith that they will be beyond my wildest expectations.

The Secret is OUT!

Prayers get answered.

On Friday I signed an agreement with the owner of the warehouse we have been using. We are going to be staying at our new warehouse for an additional 12 months!

This is a tremendous gift to our kids. It is a real encouragement to us at Hilarious Givers, and to the tireless directors, drivers and volunteers of the missions and feeding programs we serve. Instead of an hour round-trip from the border to our Miramar warehouse, the new warehouse is just five minutes from the border. We can host distributions, packing parties and other events without worrying about imposing on a busy business.

Of course, we now have responsibilities that have, until now, been carried by our generous corporate sponsors Pilot Freight and Miramar Transportation. We have the expenses of utilities, insurance, trash and the like. And when there is a delivery or pickup we can't just rely on the warehouse folks to take up the slack; we will have to arrange to take time away from our everyday activities (like earning a living - we're tentmakers here) to be at the warehouse.

All this is part of God's plan - I am absolutely confident that He will provide for our needs in carrying out His mission for us. Already we have been blessed. Our neighborhood Borders Bookstore is closing its doors. We were able to get warehouse shelving and office furniture to completely outfit our new digs for a few hundred dollars. A misfortune for the folks at Borders, but a real blessing to us and our kids.

So, keep Hilarious Givers in your prayers! It works!

Congratulations! and Thank You.

2010 has been an amazing year for all of us at Hilarious Givers. You have continued to serve thousands of orphaned and needy kids in Baja California and Sonora. The generosity of our donors has enabled us to provide medical supplies to earthquake victims in Haiti and Mexicali. Your continued prayers and support have resulted in more than a thousand mattresses being donated, trucked and distributed to folks, many of them blameless children, who used to sleep on the ground, in doorways, or huddled in makeshift shanties on farms or in the midst of a disused garbage dump in Baja. Our feeding program flourishes, and remains the central thrust of our outreach. As you read this, hungry kids are enjoying nutritous meals you have helped provide.



Mattresses and Clothing
Ready for pickup!

 And our outreach has expanded - and continues to blossom. We have been called to help launch a program which provides comfort to the urban homeless in Los Angeles - just last week that program kicked off by providing beds for a shelter for abused and battered women and their children. And through your generosity and thoughtfulness, the men at a recovery home here in San Diego are all sleeping in new beds, and have gotten new clothing for the upcoming winter season.



Another Mission Added:
Rancho San Juan Bosco



We add new missions almost weekly to the list of those we serve. A hospice. Another orphange. A recovery house for those ensnared in drug addiction. An amazing mission that kicks in doors to rescue child prostitutes from their slavemasters (yes, right here, right now, in 2010!) and leads them to a wholesome live in Christ. A home with 35 profoundly handicapped children led by a Christian couple from California. Each of these missions has a story to tell that would bring tears to your eyes - and none of them would exist but for the generosity of cheerful givers in our God blessed country. What a blessing to be a part of His work!

You are in good company.

Donors during the past year include international feeding programs such as Feed My Starving Children, Children's Hunger Fund, Gleanings for the Hungry, Convoy of Hope, and Save the Children. And there are food packers and manufacturers who have asked to remain anonymous. Two cruise ship lines, Holland America and Princess Cruises, who donated mattresses. On the warehouse and cartage side, Pilot Freight, Miramar Transportation and A&O Logistics have been very generous and encouraging in their support. The Hamann family and Pan American L.P. are recent additions to those who provide warehouse space - without them the mattress ministry would not have happened. Innovative Waste Solutions stepped up at a time when an important part of our ministry was about to fail and provided logistics, trucking and good counsel and encouragement.

We have shared monetary support from corporate sponsors and dozens of individuals. South Bay Volkswagen has been very generous, and the owner, Rudy, is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and devote a Saturday to schlepping cartons. A & O Logistics has helped to defray costs of cartage, and Jeremy, a partner, has stepped up to juggle pallets from the seat of his forklift on more than one Saturday.

Individual support included dads who got out of the house on a weekend to help build pallets with their teen-age kids, families who packed up and travelled to Baja for a day trip to serve an orphanage and put the lovin' on the kids, and church groups who were able to 'adopt' orphanages to provide year-round support, with the help of donated product from Hilarious Givers.

We have been able to run a 'lean and mean' charity because of the selfless help and generosity of all these angels. Financially, we've been able to provide nutrition for literally pennies per meal. I really don't think there is a more efficient feeding program than ours when measured by meals-per-dollar-donated.

Every penny has been pinched until it squeals! Just when I started to feel comfortable at one point, the director one of our supported missions pressed an envelope into my hand. Inside was a crumpled bill, taken from the collection at a poor urban church in Tijuana. The very people to whom we were reaching out scraped together a few dollars to support Hilarious Givers. What a reminder God gave me of the responsibility of our stewardship of His gifts!

Here's the 'Congratulations' part

If you were one of our 'prayer warriors', your prayers provided guidance and encouragement to us from God. Your prayers helped us cross the border safely and with a minimum of governmental interference. Your prayers crossed our paths with others of the saints who helped our mission in some unexpected way. Don't stop praying!



"Our pantry is getting full!"

 If you were a food donor during the past months, your nutrition helped thousands of kids grow straight and strong. A warm meal goes a long way to bringing comfort and solace to our precious orphans and needy kids. Plenty of panzas were full and comfortable at bedtime because of your generosity, and young minds were receptive to hear the Good News rather than worrying about their next meal.

If you donated time and talent, thank you, thank you, thank you! There is absolutely no way our mission could function without plenty of elbow grease. You dads who brought your kids to the warehouse to help prepare food for crossing the border are an absolute inspiration. You ladies who helped sort donated clothes - hundreds of kids are in school now because they have uniforms to wear. You have helped break the cycle of poverty. Those of you who shared a link with e-mail lists or on your blog or facebook or twitter - you have not only helped our mission, but you have blessed those with whom you shared.

If your contribution was to share awareness of Hilarious Givers at your workplace or in your church, please know that you have made a difference.

And, of course, no organization can function without financial support. Our financial support grows with each passing month - Praise the Lord! Some have contributed regularly, and some have been moved to give a one-time donation. Some have encouraged friends to give by launching facebook campaigns or contribution chains on a blog. Every penny received has been applied to the mission, and multiplied by others who have donated time, talent or treasure. We grow in numbers only as our financial ability allows. Please consider making a one-time, year-end, tax-deductible contribution to support this wonderful cause. And for those who have committed to regular donations through the new year, our heartfelt thanks.

Congratulations for what you have helped accomplish, for being the hand of God on his mission here on earth. But the job is not done - and will not be until we hear the words "Well done, oh good and faithful servant!"

On His path,



Judd and Debra

http://www.hilariousgivers.org/MakingaDonation.dsp

The Amazing Trips: shall yourselves find blessing

What can I say... I'm overwhelmed with emotion ...  I'm reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. 

Please read this beautiful blog and watch the video that our Dear Friend Jenna has put together.

We asked Jenna, her husband Charlie (and their triplets) to join us on a venture that would probably change their life. Well, after much discussion between Jenna and Charlie they felt the best decision for their family (at that time) was to have Jenna go to Mexico with us and leave Charlie home with their amazing trips.

So, early one Saturday morning in December 2009, we picked Jenna up. Christmas gear on, passports in tow, lunches packed, camera's charged and ready to go and so were we.

We met up with a group of people from Rancho Vista Church, we then loaded cars up with food, clothing and toys and headed south to "Campo De Esperanza" Maneadero, Mexico.

This was a day that changed the lives of thousands, bonds were created, memories were made, people accepted Christ, kids got toys, clothes and hot meals were served that day...

        A life changing event happened for many people on that day,

   because of caring people.

Jenna, taking food from her packed lunch to feed a hungry, crying baby.
A Mother's Instinct at work.
 

 Jenna giving lessons in photography

I hope you will enjoy this particular blog of Jenna's as much as Judd and I did.   This is the link to Jenna's Blog:   The Amazing Trips: shall yourselves find blessing  

Jenna is one of the most Beautiful Passionate people I know. God has blessed her in many ways, her heart is amazing, her spirit is uplifting, she has the most adorable, intelligent, kind and loving triplets (in this world if you ask me) and a wonderful husband. You'll realize this when you read Jenna's blog.

Oh and while you're at it, enjoy the rest of her blogs. However, I must warn you, Jenna's blog is like a good book that you just can't put down. So, get your hot cocoa ready, a comfy blanket and curl up by a fireplace if you can...

Merry Christmas!  

Jenna even managed to buy a few Christmas presents on the way home without stepping out of the truck.
She's Amazing!



November 31

Last week marked a full month of having been blessed with the generosity of Hamann Property Management and Pan American, L.P. And what a blessing it has been! We have been able to provide ‘gently used’ mattresses to hundreds upon hundreds of needy kids in Mexico. Thanks to the generosity of the Hamann group, Holland America Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Miramar Freight, Innovative Waste Solutions, South Bay Volkswagen and others, kids are waking up well rested after having slept on comfy beds; these are children who have known nothing but sleeping on the ground, insulated from the dirt and cold by a sheet of cardboard from a box salvaged from the dump or perhaps a fragment of builder’s plastic sheet. What a gift!

We are also helping to launch an effort to supply beds to the urban poor and homeless community here in the U.S. We have teamed with ‘A Good Night’s Sleep’ based in L.A. and been able to provide more than 100 mattresses to a women’s shelter – providing a sanctuary for abused and homeless women and their children. And a local men’s recovery home asked for 3 dozen mattresses for their patients; we were able to provide them on the spot. This outreach was not part of our plan, but evidently part of His.

Each mattress is a blessing and a true gift to the person who received it. And each gift fulfils the biblical admonition to reach out to the least among us – to care for the widows and orphans – to raise the poor from dust and the beggar from the dunghill. Each of these gifts would be in a landfill now but for the selfless generosity of our supporters and volunteers. The mattresses are given to any who ask who have a need, and at no cost.

The owner of a "99 Cents and Up" store retired and closed his doors. The inventory of his store, largely kids' clothing, was generously given to Hilarious Givers to distribute. Debra and the ladies sorted the goodies for distribution during this Christmas season. Most has already been given out - the rest will go to needy folks before year's end.

 We have been offered an additional supply of mattresses from other cruise lines. At this point, my response has been ‘we’ll see’. I would love to be able to continue this ministry into the new year, but of course that would depend upon the continued generosity of our gracious benefactors.

Please pray for the continued viability of this worthwhile ministry.

Opportunities to Serve …

November 20th & 21st, 2010.

Fellowship…





Help needed November 20th, and 21st, 2010 at the following locations:

Saturday Morning, November 20th from 9:00 to 10:30 at the Miramar Warehouse. We will be making food pallets for the Thanksgiving weekend pick-up. 

Saturday Morning, November 20th, from 11am to 1pm at the South Bay Warehouse. We will be unloading mattresses from a 53’ Flatbed.

Saturday Morning, November 20th, from 11am to 1pm at the South Bay Warehouse. We will be packaging presorted new clothes in preparation for our Christmas Gifting.

Sunday Morning, November 21, from 9:00 to 10:00am at the South Bay Warehouse. We will be unloading mattress inside the warehouse.

For Mattress information, contact Judd at 619-534-6801 or at Judd@HilariousGivers.Org



For Clothing Organization, contact Debra at 619-534-6801 or at Debra@HilariousGivers.Org

Warehouse Locations:


Miramar / Pilot Freight, 9340 Cabot Dr. Suite G, San Diego, CA 92126

South Bay Warehouse, 1405 30th St. Suite E, San Diego, 92154



Thank You For all your Help!

Judd and Debra Wheeler

Pre-Christmas note

Here are excerpts from an e-mail I sent to a supporter this week; I can't seem to find the time to update our blog, so I'll take the lazy way out.


Dear *****,

I thought I'd take a moment to share with you what we at Hilarious Givers have been up to. Remember the store inventory you helped pack up and load onto a bobtail? Tens of thousands of dollars worth of kid's clothes, grown-up clothes, kitchen items, toys and the rest have been sitting on pallets in boxes waiting to be sorted. Debra organized a group of ladies (and a couple of guys) on Saturday to sort all that precious gift in preparation for Christmas. We will be able to supplement the Christmas outreach of several local churches by providing gifts of needed clothing and the rest. I have attached a few photos of this weekend's activities.

This has been a weekend filled with His grace. We distributed a 53-foot truckload of mattresses to orphanages within our Mexico ministry from a warehouse recently so generously donated to us. Somewhere near 500 mattresses have passed through those doors on 30th street since we got the keys last month, and about 300 more are coming from Holland America Line before year's end. And as if that's not enough, Princess Cruises is donating an additional 100 mattresses; we received the first 50 on Saturday and expect the remaining 50 this week. I fully expect that we will have provided more than 1,000 comfy mattresses to deserving kids and their families before Christmas. What a blessing! None of this would have happened but for the generosity of our selfless donors. Hundreds of deserving kids are now sleeping on comfy mattresses instead of cardboard on the dirt. Praise God!

The need is unrelenting. The generosity of our donors is limitless. We feel so blessed, so gifted, to be able the be the hand of God in this endeavor, and to have been introduced to many who have had a part in making it all possible. Over and over I feel overwhelmed, fail to see the solution to problems presented, and ultimately surrender the problem to God . And over and over someone like you sees the need and steps up. The ultimate earthly reward is to see the gratitude in the faces of the kids we serve; I pray daily for the ultimate heavenly reward - to hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Bless you and the continued success of your business.