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Good Friday Update
Everyone's Ready for Easter
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Mar 21, 2008 - Vol 3, Issue 9
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It's always a celebration! Left
to right, that's Consuelos, (our newest worker), Brenda, (who's served
Siempre's kids for over two years), Enoch, (celebrating his 7th) and
Enrique, one of our first 4 children. Enrique turned 17 last week...
unbelievable. It's hard not to look at Enrique and Enoch and remember
their first days with us. Erique was a skinny little kid with a smile
that filled his face. Today, he's a skinny young adult- still smiling
-with four years of school behind him and a bright future out ahead of
him. His success and leadership in the household is so important to
younger kids, like Enoch, who look up to him like an oldest brother and
begin to believe that if he can, they can. Birthday parties... every
one's unique and exciting for kids who come to us from backgrounds
where a celebration, a cake, a special gift may not have been possible.
But with all the celebration- each one of them would gladly trade it to
have a home with mom, dad, safety, love... with kids like Enrique,
someday he'll build that home of joy. We want each of Siempre's kids to
know that we're always there to be all the family we can be for them
through their loss and heartbreak. Pray that Siempre will always be a
place where children are able to look forward to and feel special on
their special day.
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That's Cinthia,
hugging a couple of sick boys: Juan Daniel and Ricardo. Fever and flu
has run its course through the household and it seems like the youngest
kids get it twice for each time one of the older kids get's sick. Not
only are our workers amazingly loving and devoted, but each of the
older kids, both the boys and girls, take their turns helping out with
the younger children. A bond of love has built that feels so intensely
family that you don't have to visit for long to catch the "siempre
experience." Wednesday afternoon, I hadn't even opened the car door
when little Brenda pounced on me and thrust a piece of paper in my
hand. Putting it in my pocket, I rounded up some kids and had them help
me unload the truck: clothes, a couple of big turkeys for Easter, food
stuffs... it was like unpacking a variety store... in the hustle and
bustle I forgot Brenda's note... late Wednesday night, after a long
wait at the border, (the DOWN side to spring break), I discovered it in
my pocket as I sat down to rest, at home, with a cup of tea. It was a
perfect drawing, everything well within the lines and the color choices
just right... and in orange crayon, Brenda had written that it was just
for me, Pastor Eric. Made me wish I'd kept every special gift from the
children of Siempre... putting it next to my chair, I buried the moment
deep within my heart and thanked God for Brenda... for Siempre... for
her leaders... for you. Brenda can be a quiet child and it would have
been so easy for her to have been overlooked, but she's well loved at
Siempre. She's a beautiful little girl and it would've been so easy for
her to fall into the hands of human traffickers, pimps, the child porn
industry of TJ, but she's safe and protected at Siempre. It all happens
one child at a time. Thinking back on the moment- holding the picture
in my hand -remembering the precious note in orange crayon... can't
imagine why God love's me enough to let me share the gift of Siempre.
Can't imagine why anyone would let themselves miss one precious moment
of the miracle. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
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Need to stop writing-
our second Good Friday service of the day begins in several minutes.
God loves us so much... it's a really Good Friday. We have our working
Memorial Day coming with our biggest addition yet to Siempre... next
month we have our 2nd Annual Golf Tourney
- it's how we'll pay for the building. We need your support and
participation- it's going to be an incredible day. And remember, we
still go to Mexico every Wednesday afternoon- you're invited... in
fact, you're needed, now, more than ever.
siempre,
Eric
Siempre Para Los Ninos
phone: 1-951-689-5806
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