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More of the Same
a day in the life at Siempre
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April 25, 2008 - Vol 3, Issue 12
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This Week at Siempre
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Our Favorite Sites
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Rocky, dirt roads surrounding Siempre keep me motivated to bring my own bike down to Mexico each week. We've taken many bikes to Siempre over the years and many go unridden. Most of them were built for suburban sidewalks and driveways... both painfully scarce around Siempre. Bikes with shocks- even better -full suspension mountain bikes- are the right stuff and the kids can't get enough of checking my new bike out. It's such fun to be the "cool" kid! Even when you're just a kid at heart!
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Lupita jumps for all she's worth as Noemi and second time visitor Louisa turn the rope. Big jump ropes are hard for a girl to resist and there were photos this week of almost every woman and girl at Siempre jumping in at some point or the other. Don't know what they sing in Spanish- but little Lupita really seemed to know how to get up and off the ground. Louisa, on just her second visit, is fluent in both jump ropes and Spanish, immediately making her a hit with all the kids. I enjoy watching people who love kids come to Siempre... they're like magnets as children, always looking for a little special attention, reach out for that extra embrace in love. When the person speaks their language, well, they speak THEIR language and it makes all the difference in the world as the conversation goes from a clumsy "How are you?" "How was school?" "What's your name?" "How old are you?" "Where's the library?" And a few other phrases remembered from school or picked up in their neighborhood to complete conversations about life, health, hopes and dreams. After so many years of Wednesday afternoons in Mexico the kids must think I'm the slowest gringo in the world... I envy Louisa and every person we take to Siempre who connects so quickly and easily.
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They may not be loving the camera for the posed photo- but every child definitely loved the notes that came from a group of kids in a local Southern California church. Someone's heart had been touched on what they could do for the kids of Siempre- decided to have their girls group write notes to every child -dropped off at our office, along with a beautiful introductory letter and group photo -I played pony express and passed them along to our leaders at Siempre. Vanessa, Pastor Israel's wife, took a particular interest in them. No small wonder, she's a leader in women's ministry nationally in Mexico and has traveled as an advocate for women in the church. She also serves as Siempre's head cook and knows each child. Working on her English, she struggled to help every child understand what the letters said- "Hi, my name is _______! I live in California and go to school at ...... I like to ride horses and my favorite cartoon is..." You get the drift. The kids loved the notes and carried them like treasured gifts. Reading the names at the bottom of each note they looked at the group photo and tried to imagine which child had written them. A simple bridge between cultures. One more reason to connect and break down social, ethnic and economic barriers. One note said: "My mom's from Mexico. I understand some of the Spanish she speaks and I guess I'm part Mexican. But I can't write in Spanish." They read it over and over. Siempre's a gift to so many. Maybe someday the girl who's mom is Mexican and speaks Spanish will be able to visit Siempre, introduce her children to the children of Siempre, new friendships will be formed. Vanessa didn't know what to do- all the notes ended with: "Will you be my pen pal?" Pastor Israel had a tough time explaining what a pen pal is... hopefully some of Siempre's kids will write back. Someday I'd like it if every child at Siempre had their own Blog for children around the world to follow and respond to... building bridges of hope... breaking barriers. It's part of what God's all about at Siempre.
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Siempre's newest family member- Abbey, seen here in the arms of Julia, had a tough Wednesday afternoon. Debi and Julia packed a backpack full of items that each new child at Siempre receives. We arrived not long after lunch- the kids were anxious to play but Debi and Julia were anxious for Abbey to go through her backpack. She loved every item all the way down to her very own towels. Wrapping them around herself, she said she would "wear them" after her bath that night. (Siempre doesn't have baths- just showers -maybe someday we'll have to put in at least one tub for the girls). Everything was good... and then it wasn't. Abbey started shaking, scratching, her skin began to swell and she became noticeably red. Eyes filling with tears in just twenty to thirty minutes she'd come down with a high fever. It was frightening. Soon we had Dr. Ricks on the phone, asking him to diagnose by phone from Laguna Beach... he said, "Get her to a doctor!" Alejandro had been out doing some chores and pulled in with his van, mid crisis. Hearing what was going on, he asked: "She hasn't eaten lintels has she?" I'm thinking, what are the odds of that? Apparently lunch had been lintel soup and one of the last things Abbey's mom had told Alejandro was, "Remember, she's allergic to lintels." She was rushed off to the doctor where they did whatever they do for lintel allergies and Julia talked to Pastor Israel Thursday morning and he said all is well. Couldn't help but think about raising just our own family's and how tough it is to get everything "right" with kids we've known from birth. Add to that the pressure of watching over 30 children, each from a different background, different parents and some, like Abbey, new to the household, not old enough to know their own special issues. The leaders at Siempre have been asked to carry big responsibilities and they need our prayers every day. It was amazing to watch their calm in the crisis. Thank God Abbey's ok. No more lintel soup for her! I'm certain they're going to be keeping an eye on her with every new food group. So many kids... so many needs.
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Ready to pour the slab! Pastor Ken and John Juhl, two of the guys who've been at the heart of each of our buildings, have spent the last two Wednesday's in Mexico making ready for the day. Wednesday they got the underground and propane lines in the hard, rocky "soil" on our new property. Something will happen almost every week until we build Memorial Day Weekend. You can still join us for an incredible opportunity to share the miracle... they told me Sunday that the official size of the building is 3,528 square feet! WHOA! In just two days! We're definitely going to need you! Register at this link... now! Saturday, tomorrow, is Siempre's 2nd Golf Classic - the more money they raise, the less I need to beg for to get the job done. The property's paid for- now we just need to pay for the building. If you can join us to golf, volunteer or for the auction- DON'T MISS IT! It's going to be perfect weather. If you need to miss it- send the biggest check you can. Donations NEVER get too big. Siempre's been built on miracles- I'd love nothing more than for you to share in the miracle about to happen in the days to come. Ken's working more often in preparation- if you'd like to join him, just call. We're going next Wednesday afternoon- you're invited, you're needed, now, more than ever.
siempre,
Eric M. Denton
Siempre Para Los Ninos
phone: 1-951-689-5806
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