I have been a Roman Catholic all my life, and the reason I continue to be so strong in my faith is for two reasons, one which I will share with you in this Letter from the Editor (Las Vegas La Voce). This is the true story of how through God's Devine intervention three families with 11 children had a very Merry Christmas.

You should know I changed the names of the people in this story.

At the time I was an employee of News 3, the NBC affiliate here in Las Vegas. I was working what is called the assignment desk. To understand this story you must first know a little about what the assignment desk function is in a newsroom. In layman's terms it is the central nervous system of a newsroom. This is where police and fire scanners are located for individuals to listen for breaking news and where incoming telephone calls to the newsroom are first picked up. With that said, here is my story.

It is 10:00am, December 24^th, 1999, Christmas Eve. I was working a day shift on the assignment desk because the Assignment Manager was off. I worked for News 3 as their Satellite Operations Coordinator and filled in on the desk when needed.

After getting the only reporter and photographer who was working that morning out the door on their assignment I began to listen to the scanners. The phone rang at 10:45am, and on the other end of the phone was a lady nearly crying. We'll call her Lilly. I calmed her down enough to hear what she had to say. Lilly exclaimed how the non-profit organization she purchased gifts for never picked up the presents. They were all wrapped up and had no child to open them. She wanted help getting those gifts to needy children. Lilly is 70 years old and unable to get around unless she gets help. And she told me no other organization would come out on such late notice to pick up the gifts.

Now, KVBC Channel 3 collected gifts for needy children but had already handed them out to all the families on the list. I thought to myself and came up with a solution. I told Lilly if anyone called looking for help I would let them know about her gifts. In all, she had eight gifts to donate, five for girls and three for boys. I took her number down and promised to call her back later in the day.

After hanging up I put my hands together and said a prayer. I prayed that a needy family would call so those gifts would not go to waste. It was not even 30 seconds after finishing my prayer that the phone rang. I smiled because I knew this call was special. I picked up the phone and a woman, Bobbie, 33 years old, was crying on the other end. I knew what this call was about. I nearly broke down myself. Bobbie told me she had five children and no money to buy Christmas gifts. I smiled because I knew it was going to be okay. I calmed her down and let her know about the donated presents. She was very excited. Bobbie had three daughters and two sons and she had just lost her job. The last of her money went to pay for rent, and she had no food for Christmas Day. I wrote down Bobbie's phone number and called Lilly right away. I wasn't concentrating on my job; I had a higher purpose on this day. And thankfully the phones were mostly calm and the scanners were all quiet.

Lilly was so happy when I called her. I was so excited myself, I was tingling all over. Lilly asked me if Bobbie was going to pick up the gifts from her home, but the other line was ringing. I put Lilly on hold and answered the other phone line. It was Suzanne, only 18 years of age, and she had three children in need of presents. She told me she did not have time or the ability to contact any agencies for help this holiday season. I took a deep breath and felt a warm calm come over me. I said to her, "Let me guess, you have two daughters and one son." Suzanne was in awe. She answered with a resounding "Yes! Can you help?"

I told her everything. I told her about Lilly's gifts, my prayers, and Bobbie. She told me she had been praying so hard that someone could help. She thanked me, but I told her it wasn't me doing anything. It was all Jesus.

I hung up with Suzanne after getting her phone number and pushed the hold key to get back on the phone with Lilly. She was ecstatic at the news that all the gifts were going to be in the arms of children. I told her I would find out how the women were going to pick up the presents and call her back.

As soon as I got off the phone with Lilly I began to pray. I thanked Jesus for making it so easy. At least I thought it was going to be easy. Not 10 seconds after making the sign of the cross did the phone ring again.

It was a woman named Darcy, 24 years old, who had three children, and she never received presents from the organization she signed up with. I was at a loss for words. She had two sons and a daughter who was only two weeks old. She had little to no money for food, let alone for presents. I was in despair. I should have known that nothing worth doing, especially if it is helping people, is easy.

I took Darcy's phone number down and hung up with her. I prayed that someone else would call with gifts to donate. It was now 3:30pm, and I called both Bobbie and Suzanne about how they would pick up their gifts. Neither one had access to a car, nor did Suzanne even have a license. I made a snap decision and said I would pick up the gifts and deliver them. I got their addresses and called Lilly to get hers. She was very happy I was coming to pick the presents up. She told me she wanted to thank me for helping her.

Four o'clock and it was almost time to go. I still hadn't heard from anyone who had gifts to donate, but I wasn't worried. I knew deep down that Jesus would take care of the problem. I cannot explain it, but I had no fear.

The clock was now at 4:30pm and it was 'crunch time' for the newscast to be put on. I was helping the (video) editor finish up because they were behind. I also took in the reporter's story on the microwave receiver because they were on location.

In the back of my mind I still knew I hadn't heard from any other people who were giving away gifts. I had decided I was going to go to the grocery store and pick up food for the families. I was thinking it was the least I could do.

Now, working in television news many people think it is a glamorous career, but it isn't. You cannot expect to become rich or barely even be comfortable in a behind-the-scenes job in the media, especially in Las Vegas. I was strapped myself for cash after holiday shopping. But this wasn't about me or my problems; I wanted the children of these three women to have a memorable Christmas.

The newscast came and went with no problems, and it was time for me to go. I said a quick prayer to Jesus and was just about to walk out of the newsroom. The phone rang, and even though people were in the newsroom just seconds ago I was all alone. I looked around and smiled. I picked up the phone and quietly but confidently said hello. On the other end was the soft voice of Marcia, an 83 year old woman. She wanted to know where she could donate some gifts because her great-grandchildren were not going to be able to visit her. She explained that she did not want to mail them to their Las Vegas residence because that was a 'waste.' She told me the kids had everything in life already and she didn't want them to have these gifts. After all, her grandchild thought his family was too busy to visit her for the holiday, so she was all alone and didn't need these presents. I was overcome with joy. I looked up and beyond the dirty ceiling above me and said, "Jesus, you are truly amazing."

When I talked to Marcia I knew that the gifts she had were for two boys, and a newborn great-granddaughter. When I told this to her she said, "How did you know?" I just laughed and said it was part of His plan. I did not know what else I could say.

I proceeded to take down her phone number and directions to her home. I decided to go to Marcia's home first and pick up those gifts. She not only gave me the presents, but since she was going to be without family this Christmas she was spending it with friends, so she gave me all the food in her home. That consisted of two turkeys with all the fixings. I was so grateful for Marcia's generosity and knew that my next stop was going to be just as wonderful.

I arrived at Lilly's, the first donor's home at 5:45pm, and knocked on her door. When she opened the door she was in tears. I wasn't sure what had happened. It turns out they were tears of joy. Lilly not only donated gifts, but she had an entire chicken dinner that she was going to prepare the next day for family. Her son decided to take her out, so she wanted one of the families to have the groceries she had purchased. I was amazed and overwhelmed with what I could only call 'MIRACLES.' Everything fell right into place. Every child was getting a gift, and the presents donated matched the child's age and sex perfectly. I was astounded.

So now it was time to deliver the presents. I felt with all the stuff I needed to deliver I needed help. As soon as this popped into my head my cell phone rang. It was my brother, and it was like he knew what I was doing. He asked me if I needed any help. I answered positively and went to pick him up. I didn't ask him how he knew I needed help; I just left it at that.

We went to all three homes. Delivering food and presents to these three families with single mothers. All the children were excited to see us. The three women all cried tears of joy and gave us hugs on the way out.   

Doubters of God and his miraculous ways will say the story is false, but I assure you as a journalist it is all absolutely true. Many may say this was all coincidence, but again, maybe if it was one family but three families, two donors, and everything else fell in line, there is no mistaking that God used my brother and I to deliver a miracle on the eve of when we celebrate his son's birth.

God is good and God will use us to deliver his miracles if you just let Him into your life.

Buon Natale!!!!