One part of my job as Executive Director is visiting with our dedicated supporters. This provides the opportunity to thank them, and update them on our work; where we are in the world and our plans for the future. Last Friday, after the closing retreat for the 2011 Class of Lay Mission Helpers, I had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Leo Poxon.
I have seen Leo’s name on mailing lists, donation envelopes and invites for thirty years, so it was wonderful finally getting a chance to sit down and speak with him one on one. I am working on putting together a special article about our conversation and his history with the organization in the 2011 Mission Doctors print newsletter.
Are you signed up to receive our print newsletter? If not, please contact our office to sign up. And to view newsletters from previous years, visit our website.
“….and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!” I love this closing of Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
When we served in Thailand it was easy for me to keep the focus on ‘the reason for the season’ – partly because we were in the very small minority there celebrating Christmas, and then the focus was the celebration at Church, preparations for this with little focus on gifts, shopping and decorations.
After returning to California it became more difficult to keep that focus, and I find that it is so easy to become distracted with baking, shopping, wrapping and all the preparations – not that I become a Scrooge – but rather that the incarnation of God 2000 years ago in Bethlehem becomes secondary to all these trappings.
When lay missionaries are preparing to serve in the missions those of us who have served always try to share this experience with them, and encourage them to enjoy this opportunity to ‘keep Christmas’ in the missions. Many of us are distracted this year with concerns about finances, uncertainty about the future. Hopefully we will pause and remember what we are celebrating, “For God so loved the World” and this knowledge will deepen in us our awareness of God’s love.
One doctor and his wife will be in my prayers in a very special way this Christmas. Dr. Richard and Mrs. Loretta Stoughton are serving God’s children in Zimbabwe – despite, no because of, the difficulties the people are facing. Babies are born at St. Theresa’s people receive anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS, and this oasis of care in a country facing huge problems. Please keep them and all the people of Zimbabwe in your prayers this Christmas – If you want to give a gift in support of their work, you can go to our web site (Donate On-line using a check or credit card on our secure site.) You can designate that the gift is to support the work of the Stoughtons in Zimbabwe if you like.
“...he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!” May we all keep Christmas well – remembering what we are celebrating, honoring and comforted by the knowledge of God’s great love for us.
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!”
I have seen Leo’s name on mailing lists, donation envelopes and invites for thirty years, so it was wonderful finally getting a chance to sit down and speak with him one on one. I am working on putting together a special article about our conversation and his history with the organization in the 2011 Mission Doctors print newsletter. 
One doctor and his wife will be in my prayers in a very special way this Christmas. Dr. Richard and Mrs. Loretta Stoughton are serving God’s children in Zimbabwe – despite, no because of, the difficulties the people are facing. Babies are born at St. Theresa’s people receive anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS, and this oasis of care in a country facing huge problems. Please keep them and all the people of Zimbabwe in your prayers this Christmas – If you want to give a gift in support of their work, you can go to our web site (Donate On-line using a check or credit card on our secure site.) You can designate that the gift is to support the work of the Stoughtons in Zimbabwe if you like. 