Siempre's new dryer - installed and working!
A thankful Aracelli brings in the last load from the line
Greetings!
We had another great day at Siempre Wednesday afternoon. The big news for the house is that both the new washer and dryer are up and running! When you have clothes for over 20 people to wash every day this is good news! John Juhl and one of our older boys, Mario, completed the install- having to convert the gas dryer to our propane system- and their work was rewarded with applause and hugs. Great job guys!
Both machines are controlled by fancy computers with lots of presets and many confusing looking buttons... all in English. Fortunately we have the manual... also in English. So they're getting the basic functions down to begin and the kids will probably figure out the more complex features of each machine in the months to come. Thanks so much to each of you who made this new addition to Siempre life possible. Special thanks to Bobby and Jamie who work for the company that made it all possible and went to extraordinary lengths to insure that we were able to acquire the units.
Siempre's newest resident- Sara- age 15
We added another girl to Siempre this week. That's 7 girls. Her name is Sara and she's 15- now our oldest child. I'm certain having a teen base will begin to change the dynamics of the family and continue to offer new avenues of growth for our leadership. I don't know much about her background yet- but she seems like a sweet kid. Looks like she could attend any of our local high schools.
One of our long range goals was that as our kids reached High School age we'd get each of them student visa's and have some of them come up as foreign exchange students. Sara may be our first opportunity to give this a try. Debi and I had a foreign exchange student for a year and she quickly became part of the family. If it's something you'd ever be interested in participating in, let me know. Imagine the world of possibilities Sara could discover and take back to Siempre after a year of school in the states. I'm guessing the hard part would be letting her leave. Our foreign exchange student went back to Bulgaria ten years ago and our kids still tease me about missing her!
MORE ROOSTERS!
We had the pleasure of taking down SIX ADULT ROOSTERS with us in my truck yesterday... remind me NEVER to do that again! They fought with each other. Made noises that sounded like the sound track from the Exorcist. And as we slowed down to cross the boarder into Mexico decided to loudly cockle doodle doo for their lives. I'm amazed we made it into Mexico! We unloaded their cages, Alejandro opened them and just like that roosters took flight! 5 were captured but one made it up over the fence, in the background of the photo, and into the neighbors goat pens. The only chicken's that ride in my car for awhile will be frozen or in a bucket from KFC!
All complaining aside- the kids have a blast with them. Our director's planning to trade roosters for more laying hens- the adults say the one rooster we have is noisy enough all day long. Roosters have their own draw in our little community. They can have them! Last week's poultry delivery of a dozen or so little colored chicks left over from Easter are all still living and growing fast. They quickly ate through the rest of Siempre's chicken feed and they're now eating the left over rabbit food from our recently departed for dinner rabbit. It's creative farming at it's best. Plus corn, tomatoes and many other green things are now sprouting up around the house.
Arturo and me getting ready for an afternoon of hanging out together.
The kids took the pictures this week and as usual took some creative shots of each other.
This is Naftali and his brother. Naftali loves to capture the camera and take pictures all afternoon. Mostly of himself. They quickly run down the batteries by clicking pictures then running around showing them to each other and doing it all over again. Here's a great shot he took of Lynn and Aida.
girlfriends!
and of some of the girls playing with Barbie dolls on the front patio.
Each time a new child moves in they get a back pack with clothing, personal items and a gift. The girls usually get a Barbie as part of their packs and they love them and play with them often together. Looking at this picture I think of two things- first, that we should have made that porch about 12 feet wider. The kids NEVER have enough clean area to hang out in- second, what a miracle it is that these four little girls, from four different families, already live together and treat each other so much like sisters of one family. God is good beyond measure. Each of these girls is hungry for love and desperate for positive roll models. I praise God for the great women leaders at Siempre and the fantastic women who've committed to take every Wednesday to share their lives with these kids. I know that we're going to share in success stories of growth and success that will move us for years to come. We're so blessed.
Our group photo for the week- always a crowd these days.
In the back row of the photo is Dan Spain- he's been in TJ this week with Saddlebacks Jr. High ministry, adding on classrooms at a school. It was great to see him and have the opportunity to give him the tour of Siempre. Look forward to working with him Memorial Day Weekend. If you've not signed up yet for the big building event- you need to get that taken care of. It's going to be an amazing weekend. In two days we'll add 2,000 sq ft to Siempre- this year we do our first ever two story project. We're building on the existing property- no other property became available in our price range- and we're going to need every warm body.
We have the entire Marriott in Real Del Mar- just a couple of miles south of Siempre reserved. Your $300- registration pays for 3 nights lodging at the Marriott, all of your meals- Friday evening to breakfast Monday morning- and all transportation from Riverside and in Mexico. You'll not find a better or more rewarding way to spend Memorial Day Weekend, at any price. But wait, there's more! If you love to golf, the Marriott's course is top notch, tough and beautifully situated on the pacific. A group of us are going down Friday and playing together. If you're interested in joining the golf crew- it's not a tournament, just good fun. Let me know.
If you're not into heavy labor, remember, we're building more than a physical addition. Both days we're there we offer a Vacation Bible School to all the kids in the community, plus we have the kids of Siempre to care for as we invade and transform their living space, plus, Sunday evening we're having a giant fiesta and inviting in the entire community! The weekend's going to be an amazing experience and with well over 100 people already set to go we need your registration as quickly as possible so our leaders can put their plans into action. If you need help raising funds- let me know- we want to help. We don't want anyone not to go because of money.
This News just in! Siempre's going to be on TV! Unvailing The Mask, a cable network show with host June Taylor invited us to be on her show in June following our weekend for a two part series on Siempre and Jackets for Jesus. I've never seen the show, but I hear she's amazing and I'll jump at any avenue to spread the message of need for kids fighting for survival, abandoned into the poverty of TJ. Check your cable listing and see if you get her show.
Thanks for taking the time to read this long, rambling update. So many good things are happening at Siempre that it's easy to forget the loneliness, separation anxiety and insecurity that each of our kids experience after being left in our care. Keep our kids and leaders in your prayers. If like me, you enjoy the warmth and security of a loving family and home, thank God today and then ask Him what He would have you do for Siempre. God's opened this great opportunity for us so close to home- it's not an accident that you've received today's update. He has a plan for you today. My prayer is that you say "Yes!"
siempre,
Eric M. Denton
5623 Arlington Ave.
Riverside, CA 92504
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 OR 951-907-9100, (my cell- call me direct)
We've still got $10,000- to match before May! WE CAN DO IT! -
It only takes one gift to put us over the top today!
You're Invited to Our Memorial Day Building Weekend
click this link for more information
Don't forget to sign up for our Memorial Day Building Trip! Without you the new work won't be accomplished. Discover the joy of building hope. En Espanol, "consrtuendo esperanza." or something like that
I'm open to speak to your church, club, group or business concerning Siempre support.
PS
I add everyone that crosses my email desk to this list. If this is your first unsolicited update- welcome! I'm more than willing to accept your rejection if it means one more might join me in loving these kids. If you prefer not to receive our weekly updates just let me know. No problem.
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