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"Hogar!"
we call it siempre
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June 12, 2008 - Vol 3 Issue 4
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this week at siempre
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Our Favorite Sites
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Medical Clinic Wednesday and Dr. Ricks had patient's waiting. A few of Siempre's kids were under the weather and a number of community members were in need. That's Aida, who just turned 15, saying ahhhh... you never get too old for that! Each week when we roll up the kids come to unload whatever's in the back of the truck... the really good weeks we've got the good doctor ready to serve. Siempre's clinic is a blessing and the need only continues to grow.
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Siempre's older boys were on restriction this week and not able to join me for a bike ride. Curious as to what had happened they started going through a long list of bickering issues that all sounded like normal family stuff... then Aracelys pointed at Danny and said: "That one's in REAL TROUBLE. Fighting, again." Danny's just 11 and got in a fight at school last year. When I asked the particulars they said that he'd fought with Antonio, Siempre's second oldest boy, and hit him with an iron! They brought Antonio over and showed me the bruise on his chin. Confused, I asked: "An iron?" And all the women made hand signs as if they were doing the laundry... I was stunned... Danny's a sweet kid, one of our first boys and for the life of me I couldn't imagine him swinging at Antonio with an iron. Turning to him, seeing the shock, or disapproval on my face he blurted something out in Spanish, then put his head in his hands. Everyone around me began to laugh- he looked like he wanted to cry. Asking what he'd said, they told me Danny had pleaded: "But the iron wasn't hot!" Boys... a housefull of boys growing up like brothers... everyone at Siempre needs our prayers! Thankfully Antonio was only bruised. Hopefully Danny's learned his lesson. Pray for our workers.
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"Hogar! Pastor Eric, Hogar!"
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The girls asked if I would take them on a bike ride, since none of the boys could go. Karla, Noemi and Cynthia jumped on bikes and we cruised around town, bought sodas and Carla wanted off as soon as possible... friends from school were spotting her and she is nearly 16! Once we dropped her off, the three of us headed out towards the ocean- getting to a high spot on the rocky road, we stopped and Cynthia cried out: "Hogar! Pastor Eric, Hogar!" Pointing a half mile or so across the canyon I followed her hand to see Siempre and the new building- it all looks so big now -the girls said it looked beautiful. Digging into my survival vocabulary of Spanish it dawned on me what they had said: hogar means home. They'd excitedly pointed back at what we call Siempre and cried out "Home! Look, our house. Our home." We call it siempre... and siempre means always... it's our promise to the children. They call it home. Leaving that afternoon I drove the truck load of people with me out to that spot and told them the story and got goose bumps for the second time in one afternoon. God's blessed us so wonderfully- we came to provide shelter, warmth, love and care and He's allowed us to build a home, a family, a future and a hope... "hogar." He's too good. Wish you all could have been there. Thanks so much for giving each of Siempre's kids- Danny, who only punches with an iron if it's off- Karla, quickly getting too cool to ride a bike around town with Pastor Eric, Noemi and Cynthia who had a new view of "our" buildings and quickly recognized "home." So many others are waiting to be rescued. We can't stop now.
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Siempre's Open Invitation
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Samaritan House @ Siempre... love that photo from Saturday night of Memorial Day Weekend... God's opened the door to serve the poorest of the poor... children abandoned into the depravity of the streets of Tijuana and God's given us not only the opportunity to serve them- with the church, Siempre and now to serve you and a world of people with a desire to give of themselves to share a great work for God through Samaritan House @ Siempre. The little missionary apartment in drywalled and looking sweet. A group of workers were down there Saturday, a drywaller was in Monday and Pastor Ken's down doing plumbing today. If you'd like to spend some time helping us complete the task- there's room for your entire family, your entire small group... for some of you, your entire church! I'm praying for a group to come down and purchase bunk beds and spend a couple of days assembling them and getting the rooms in order. But if putting in light fixtures, flooring, painting or something else is more your style... there's plenty to do to make the house even sweeter. And if you know someone- or if you are someone -who feels called to serve Christ, His church, children... we've got an opening that comes with an ocean view that can't be beat, a home filled with children ready to love and undergird you and a church in Mexico and here in the states ready to help you get started. You can spend your life on something genuinely great! Call me if you're interested- or just email me -or forward this email on to someone who might be interested. That wonderful sunset shouldn't be wasted too many more nights. Someone's going to say: "YES! I'm here God. Use me." And we're going to share their joy! I look forward to the day when every day of the year is scheduled at Samaritan House @ Siempre with groups coming in from around the world to serve, learn, teach, build, work, lead and love... don't miss one moment of the miracle... sign your group up today!
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The group photo was taken upstairs in the front room of the mission apartment. The kid's are anxiously waiting for an advocate- someone who'll give their life to fundraising, bridge building and just hanging out together living at Siempre... what are you planning on doing with the rest of your life? What do you hope to have at the end of the day? Home is waiting at Siempre... just ask Cynthia... Jesus said: "See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." We call it Siempre Para Los Ninos. It's an open door that's changing lives- because of you -the door remains open... it's a door that "no one can shut" because of Jesus. Can't imagine a more exciting invitation to serve... we're going this Wednesday afternoon, you're invited... you're needed, now, more than ever.
siempre,
Eric Denton
Siempre Para Los Ninos
phone: 1-951-689-5806
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