Over the past several months, different members of Crossroads have gotten involved with the ministry Care for Kids La Paz in the Colonia Vista Hermosa.One family we have met consists of the parents, their son age 19, their daughter Estrella, age 17, and Estrella's four children, aged 3 weeks, 2, 3, & 4 years old.This family has so many different physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, that one can be quickly overwhelmed.Where do you begin to help?What is appropriate help?What would Jesus have us do?

This morning, I'd like to share with you some of my thoughts and feelings about Estrella's situation, weaving them in and around the narratives of Jesus' birth, as found in Luke, chapters 1 & 2.Because as I read these passages this week, I found that I couldn't separate the two stories in my mind and heart. I invite you to listen . . .

Luke 1

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth 27 to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary.

Estrella's family is poor.Dirt poor.Their house is odds and ends of wood and lamina. There is no electricity.No running water.There is never enough food.At age 12, Estrella's father introduced her to an older man and said, "This man has paid to sleep with you.This is how you will contribute to the income of our family.This is how we will have money to buy food."This is how Estrella lost her virginity.This is how she was impregnated with her first child.

28 Upon entering, Gabriel greeted Mary: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you. 29 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that.

When I met Estrella she was pregnant with her fourth child.The circumstances behind this pregnancy were the same as the first, and the others in between.She barely spoke.She never maintained eye contact with you.And I wanted to say to her, "Good morning!You're beautiful with God's beauty."But I know she would have looked at me and wondered what was behind a greeting like that.What was beautiful about her life?Why would God be interested in her?

30 But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; 33 He will rule Jacob's house forever - no end, ever, to his kingdom."

Estrella has everything to fear.She is sold into sexual slavery.Her father is addicted to crystal meth.Her children are physically abused when her father is high.She has a second grade education and is almost illiterate.She is pregnant with her fourth child, a son.Does she dream that he will be great?Or does she dream that he merely survive?

34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." 35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

I can't imagine what possesses a father to sell his daughter.I know it happens everyday.I've read about it in other places of the world.But here it is, right in front of me, now what do I do?There is such evil in the world and it often paralyzes me, makes me weep in frustration.Blessed Jesus, Holy, Son of God, hover over me with your Spirit.Grant me wisdom.Give me just one or two answers for the Estrellas of this world.

36 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months' pregnant! 37 Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

Estrella's parents speak of God.When I or others pray with them, they make the sign of the cross.They say, "God Bless You."God bless you for taking an interest in our family, for getting medical care for Estrella, for bringing food for the other children.I want to scream at her father.I want to take him by the shoulders and shake him.Shout at him, "You are an abomination before God!Look at what you are doing to your daughter!"But God reminds me that judgment is his alone.I am face to face with my enemy.Can I love him?Maybe.Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.

38 And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. Blessed Among Women.

I think angels hover around women like Estrella.They minister to her in ways that I cannot see.They keep her from falling entirely over the edge into total despair and hopelessness.Why do I believe this? Because some how, some way, this young woman still gets up every morning.She dresses herself, her children, she faces her life as best she can.At 17 she could just give up.After all, she still lives in a hovel.There is still barely enough food.Now there are even more mouths to feed.Why doesn't she just run away?Because somewhere, deep down inside of her, there is still hope.Hope has not been entirely vanquished from her heart.Is this why God has brought me and others into her life?To bring her back from the brink of despair?To fan that tiny coal of hope back into a flame? Angels walk with Estrella.Blessed is she among women.

Luke 2

1 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. 4 So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. 5 He went with Mary, his fiance, who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

Does Estrella count?She has been in and out of doctor's offices, DIF offices, government offices, and hospitals over the past four years as she gives birth to one child after another.The circumstances of her life are not a secret.There are files an inch thick on this young woman, her babies, and her family circumstances.What does it take for her to have a voice?For someone to take an active role in what happens to her?Who really cares about her?Like Mary, she is a woman on the move, traveling from place to place, always being told, "No room at the inn."

8 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. 9 Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.

There were Canadians and Americans wandering Estrella's neighborhood.They were checking things out.Assessing how to become involved. Who was hungry?Who needed housing?Seeking God's will in such a place. Where in the world does one begin in the midst of such poverty?One day, a group of us stopped at Estrella's house.Or did God call us to stop there?Did God's angel stand among us and say, "Here, right here, come and see the glory of God."Stepping out of the car and experiencing Estrella's life first hand was terrifying.

10 The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: 11 A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. 12 This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." 13 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Estrella's life is layered with tragedy.Yesterday several of us took her and her children to a pediatrician for check-ups.We were gravely concerned that the two-year-old might have been sexually abused.We were so afraid.But the Good News was that she hadn't been sexually abused.She had a horrible fungal infection that could be treated with medication.And the baby, who had had an eye & mouth infection, as well as jaundice a week earlier, was also pronounced healthy of those symptoms.I wanted to sing and dance the Good News!"Don't be afraid," God said."I'm here, even here."

14 Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. 15 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." 16 They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. 18 All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Sometimes listening to your heart, and just doing one small thing, like taking a young mother to a doctor, is enough to please God for that day.It does not remove her from her poverty-stricken situation.It does not remove her from a sexually abusive situation. It does not remove her children from a physically abusive situation.It does not build her a better house.It does not make her more self-reliant.But perhaps it does bring her peace, a measure of grace, for just that moment, for just one day.And perhaps seeing my faith in action will be enough to begin to point her towards the true and living God. Seeing is believing.

19 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. 20 The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

What does Estrella ponder in heart?What does she hold dear, deep within herself?When I leave Estrella's presence, can I glorify and praise God for everything I've heard and seen?I held her three-week-old baby Oscar today.He has petite features.Olive skin. Dark eyes.He was swaddled in an old blanket that hadn't been washed in awhile.At one point, he stirred, opened his eyes, and cried from hunger.Was I looking at Jesus?Was I holding the Christ Child?

The distance between Bethlehem and La Paz seemed only a heartbeat away.