Siempre Update 2.1.2008

Central Community Christian Fellowship

the little adventures

This Week at Siempre

Every major life event... and all the little ones in between... every good and challenging day... every great night's rest and every night filled with bad dreams... the heat of summer and the cold of winter... birthdays and holidays... the kid's of Siempre face them together. Children, abandoned by family or orphaned into poverty, often face life alone... so alone that soon they don't know when their birthday is and have little reason to celebrate Christmas or a new year. Survival is their driving force and the promise of Siempre is far from their reality. Danny's one of our first 3 children and over the last 4 years has known the promise and excitement of growing up in a house filled with hope, love and encouragement. Looking at the group shot from Wednesday afternoon... and all the little ones, not even 5 years old, I realize that Lord Willing, someday they'll not only enjoy an exciting 11th birthday at Siempre but will live in the knowledge that they're loved every day of the week. It happens because you believe these children are worth the effort, the risk, the financial obligation, to redeem from the gutters of poverty. Thanks for giving to rescue these years for Danny. Our prayer, hope and work is that he'll have the opportunity to continue to grow at Siempre- that every child in the gutter or wandering the hills without a family, will come to know the peace, joy and celebration of life that Danny knows today.

Southern California's been having winter... not like you folks in the midwest or back east get winter... but it was 34 degrees this morning and this cold weather follows a week of rain. Tijuana gets pretty much the same weather we get and Los Angeles has had twice as much rain as Seattle... so the kids at Siempre have had to deal with mud and now cold. Little Juan Daniel looks so cute all bundled up... we've got plenty of blankets and comforters for all the beds... but it's the kind of weather that can just wear workers out. In fact one of our new workers, Rosa, just quit, needing to give more time to her own children's health and well-being this winter. Keep our workers in your prayers as they search for new employees. If you'd ever like to spend a couple of days, weeks or months serving at Siempre, you're welcome and you'll return a changed and better person for the experience. It's cold right now, but as the weather changes, youth groups, small groups and church groups will all be signing up to visit. If you'd like to join us Memorial Day Weekend- you're invited - or if you've been thinking about doing a work camp, better contact Pastor Ken or Pastor Israel and get it set up quickly... little Juan Daniel's waiting!

Leaving, I couldn't find Mario to say goodbye. I found Debi looking for him as well, she said he'd been sick. We headed back to the boys bedroom and found him sleeping... burning with fever. We don't know much about Mario and his brothers. Alejandro met his mother when she left them at Siempre, but we don't know about their family backgrounds, if they have living grandparents, uncles, aunts... so much of their history is still clouded... and Mario's the oldest of the 4 boys... the others might not remember much at all. Putting my hand on his forehead, I flashed back to the many times I'd done the same with our children, when they were sick. I'm pretty good at feeling a fever. He never woke up: kids running and playing, he'd missed the party, bubbles, a bike ride... at 4:30 in the afternoon he slept... we prayed for him to heal quickly. I thanked God for Siempre's dedicated workers, Alejandro, Aracelys, Brenda, Pastor Israel, Vanessa... don't know if Mario's getting better or worse... Brenda looked like she wasn't feeling too great... don't know if Mario's ever had a dad check on him when he's sick... don't know who helps our workers through when they're sick... so much I don't know... and that's INSIDE the promise of Siempre. Outside the hope, warmth, life and love offered at Siempre, children burn with fever in the cold, without a bed or a blanket. No one checks their foreheads or prays over their sleeping forms, instead, the porn industry, human traffickers and pimps prowl the streets like sharks looking for the weak. Who can blame the child? Together, we can rescue them. Together, we can continue to make a difference. Together, we can extend the promise of Siempre to every abandoned and orphaned child. Together... without you, our doors would close. Because of you, Mario can be safely sick. Thanks so much for your continued support, love and prayers. Don't stop.

Siempre Para Los Ninos