Merry Christmas!

Friends and Family of Assist international,


Rather than send a quarterly newsletter, I decided to write a Christmas letter. Christmas is a time to count our blessings and to share our love for family and friends through getting together, sharing meals and gift giving. Some people are extending their appreciation of God's blessings by remembering the poor and needy as well. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. My wife, Charlene, has grounded me for December so that beyond work, we will see our grandchildren in Christmas musicals and programs, bond with family and friends and count our many blessings.

For sure, this year may have been our greatest outreach in many countries around the world in our 17th year of operation. Nancy Farber, the Chief Executive Officer of Washington Hospital (WHHS) in Fremont California, leads an 1100-bed hospital with a local population which is extremely diverse. She writes: "Our trust in Assist International is so substantial that I would not consider committing our resources or efforts to projects like in Afghanistan without the very capable, dedicated and effective team at Assist International. We know that when we donate equipment and supplies they will get where they are suppose to go, will be functional and beneficial to the recipients. Speaking as a hospital CEO, I can say we have great confidence and trust in our relationship with Assist International. Assist International is one of those altogether rare organizations that lives out its charitable purpose faithfully, driven by a commitment to serve humanity."


I am humbled by such relationships with people like Nancy Farber and Sam Downing, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare Systems (SVMHS), and others too numerous to mention. Sam Downing and SVMHS have been our most faithful partner in medical projects around the world.


Because of your gifts, 98% of cash, goods and services goes directly to the poor and needy, which allows Assist International to receive a sound rating from Charity Navigator for solid fiscal management indicating that Assist International outperforms the majority of non-profits in fiscal responsibility. We are dedicated to serve people around the world with the resources that you have sent our way.


I am humbled when I think of all that has been accomplished this year: OVER 200 volunteers have built orphan homes in Romania and Uganda. In Lira, Uganda, alone, 10 homes have been built where the orphaned children, some who have escaped from child soldiering, now have a place of refuge and a secure home. Assist International hosted the Romanian Orphan Choir in Western US in September. I get teary when I see these kids sing and know that once they were abandoned (rejected) and orphaned. Now they have a mother and a father and a hope and a future. These kinds of stories drive me.

In 2007 alone, 90 medical volunteers helped with 9 major medical projects in Vietnam and the Africa countries of Uganda, Mali and Djibouti. That does not count the water, power and medical projects done in Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.

I am truly blessed to be part of Assist International and its wonderful staff. And I can't thank you enough for standing with us, believing in us and partnering with us. As you know, we have felt compelled to enlarge our distribution center. The small warehouse cannot meet the need. We are in the middle of building a 24,000 sq. ft. distribution center. A number of letters have gone out asking for assistance. At this moment, $45,780 has come in. I am praying that this $1.5 million project will eventually be debt free.

So I wish each of you a blessed Christmas Season. Take it from me we are blessed to live in the US. I almost kiss the ground when I return home from a developing country. We are truly blessed. I hope you count your blessings this Christmas season. I hope you love your friends and family more than ever...and thank you for your support of Assist International.

Warmest regards,
Bob Pagett - Assist International