'Merry Christmas' is a verb in the Philippines. When a guard or a kid on the street says 'Merry Christmas,' it means good cheer, but more cheer if you give me some money.

At night, carollers come around and sing. But 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' means we've sung enough now, you can come out now and give us money. Christmas day, for many people, is a long day of taking their children around to everyone they might get something from, asking for a 'Merry Christmas.'

Dennis, to make our response a little more intentional and generous, has headed up--for years now--a 'Merry Christmas' at their home. Every Christmas morning, with growing numbers every year, hundreds of families line up at their front door. He coordinates with the other missionaries in the area to give each child a toy and each family a package of food.

This year, more than 500 families received a package of rice and sardines, and at least as many children got a balloon and a toy.