Our Families Growing Again!
Greetings from Siempre Para Los Ninos!
I go to Africa for two weeks and return not just to a full house but to a house overflowing with children. Our room built just for workers is now filled with boys as we have 16 kids now living with us.
if you'd been hoping to visit and stay in this room... too late! Boys only.
We're hiring new staff and saying goodbye to Flor, who's pregnant and needing to rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Siempre is not currently a place for resting.
Amazingly, all the kids are getting along, for the most part. Our new children, almost all boys, are going through the now expected early adjustment period. Some fighting is happening between the boys and some taunting between new kids and old kids but if our directors didn't fill us in on this I would've never known. To the weekly visit it appears to have all the ear marks of a large family moving through the every day growing pains of controlled chaos. Pray for our leaders at Siempre and in our little church there. Siempre kids currently make up a large part of the church family.
It was Kitty's week to come and cut hair and with so many kids she set up when we arrived and cut hair full speed until it was time to leave. Everyone is excited to get a new style job and Kitty gives every kid her own special touch. This week Louis, who has a constant battle with lice, decided he didn't want a hair cut... he was encouraged to sit for one just the same... but he let us know that he didn't have to like it!
Louis enjoying the moment- Kitty showing the patience of a saint!
Noemi has a new friend in our newest child, Judy, a 10 year old girl who moved in last week. With just 4 girls it's easy to remember their names. I never thought I'd struggle with remembering the names of the kids at Siempre. But I can't keep half the new boys in line.
Judy and Noemi and a couple of our boys- sorry their names escape me
Growth is a good thing. But it brings up all the issues of our small intimate children's home quickly taking on the shape and feel of a much larger house and the needs that come with it. After our trip to Africa and visits to many self-sustaining orphanages I believe more than ever that we need a larger piece of property where we can have crops, animals and even a well to guarantee a constant water supply.
Yesterday I checked out several pieces of property around Siempre in the 3-5 acre range. Than just this morning, as I was writing this update, as if to confirm God's blessing on this direction, a friend dropped in the office and said he and his family would like to give $10,000- to be used as matching funds towards the purchase of larger property. God is so good!
To build this Memorial Day Weekend on new larger property with a greater vision to help rescue lost kids and raise them up to be well rounded young adults who love The Lord in a safe and protected community would be a great blessing. Together, we can make this dream a reality. Too many children across Tijuana and northern Baja are living in 3rd world poverty without the warmth, love, support and security Siempre offers. Join me in building more than we ever imagined in Mexico this year. God is in this... you can be as well!
Thanks to each of you that prayed for us while we were in Africa. The trip was beyond amazing. Africa has written itself across my heart. This trip was only a beginning of what I'm certain will be a lifetime partnership with the great work God is doing in Kenya. We had the opportunity to work with children in every circumstance, from those living on the streets sniffing glue to kids in the local academy. Our hearts were broken by the poverty so many are forced to live in yet we were blessed by the sweet spirits of the people. Thanks so much for your prayers.
Hanging out with the kids of Kitale, Kenya
may God richly bless you today. Keep Siempre and our growth in your prayers. If you've not registered for Memorial Day Weekend yet, sign up today! I know it's going to be a weekend to remember for a lifetime.
Siempre,
Eric
You can support a child on a monthly basis and begin to build a lifetime relationship or support Siempre Para Los Ninos for a day, week or month. Without you our doors would close. To learn how you can rescue kids in poverty go to siemprekids.org it's easy and can be auto deducted from your bank account or from your credit card. Or give me a call with questions- 951-689-5806.
We've got $10,000- to match before May!
Donate this week and you'll receive a beautifully printed copy of my Africa journal with full color photos throughout as a small token of our appreciation.
I'm open to speak to your church, club, group or business concerning Siempre support.
PS
If you prefer not to receive our weekly updates just let me know.
Thanks so much to those of you who forward this to your own friends, family and associates.