Our Group Photo - It seems like it's changing with each week.
A challenging day at Siempre- God saves some things for Wednesdays.
We arrived to a house in turmoil. Two of our kids, Mario and his little brother Isaias had run away. Mario was involved in a severe breach of Siempre rules- and possibly the law -overnight and one of the kids was telling on him- so he ran and took his younger brother. Their mother is on the streets. Their father lives a 45 minute drive away in a shack. They ran to dad. After dropping off our cargo and passengers for the day as well as dealing with some of the fall out of Mario's overnight violations, Alejandro and I were joined by Dexter, a first time visitor to Siempre, who's native language is Spanish and headed out after the boys. The next two hours held more than I had ever imagined.
After a long trek across half the dirt roads from one end of TJ to the other, we arrived at their dad's house. Mario and Isaias were out front - Isaias helping his dad, Mario hanging out with a group of neighborhood kids. The decision had already been made to return all of Mario's papers and full legal responsibility for Mario back to his father. Alejandro handled this with the coolness and compassion of a journey man social worker. Dexter kept me fully informed on everything with play by play translation. Then Alejandro looked directly at Isaias and told him to get in my truck, it was time to return to Siempre. This is where everything turned into even greater heartbreak. A father's day story for the ages.
The boys had lied to their dad on return about everything they'd been doing and Alejandro had all the school paperwork to back him up. Their dad was devastated by their failure to succeed at siempre- and told them as much. When Alejandro welcomed Isaias back the dad went to his son- held his arm and told him to leave. It was more than the 9 year old could take and he began to cry and tell his father he wanted to stay with him. Dad's eyes and voice revealed his love. He kept his arm fully around Isaias shoulder and told him again that he must return to siempre. Crying, Isaias countered each of his father's arguments for him to go with a reason why it was better if he stayed. Through it all Alejandro teamed with the father, in both compassion yet strength, telling the truth in love about the lack of opportunity for him in that shack on the side of the road -vs- all siempre gave him.
The boys run the household. The pastor of the local church stopped in mid-conversation and said they've basically grown up on the streets doing whatever they want whenever they want at all times of the night and day. Groups of older kids with cars- kids that looked like serious trouble was going on in their lives- stopped to shoot the breeze with 13 year old Mario. The father son debate raged in full tears for 30 minutes or more. Living with dad there's no school, no promise of meals, little room in the shack and none of the benefits of church or well being Siempre offers. Dad begged Isaias to go. Isaias was adamant. He didn't need school. He'd get a job. It didn't matter that he was only 9. He could do it. He refused to return.
Intervening, I asked if we couldn't give the family a week to consider their future together and then return? Alejandro said that Isaias was already in trouble at school, if he missed this final week- he was out. He'd already been sent home last week and threatened with complete expulsion- as in he could never return. His dad pushed harder for his son to leave. The son cried loudly and refused to be budged. I ended the debate and said it was time to leave. Alejandro's heart was so huge for the kids that I think he would still be there trying to persuade him to return. With tears, everyone agreed to part.
I hugged Isaias and told him how much I'd miss him- he held on to me and cried. I turned to Mario, surrounded by older kids now, and told him, "No mas miercoles." (No more Wednesdays.) Our day together. Big tears rolled into his eyes, looking down, very embarrassed, he reached into his pocket, took something out and pushed it into my hands, the keys to siempre. Before leaving he'd stolen them. My heart broke. Just three weeks ago he'd been the one to open the door to siempre's new addition after the dedication. He seemed like life was going so well for him. Now here he was at a shack without a door, in deep trouble and returning the keys that had meant so much to him that he'd taken them. The lump in my throat was huge. We hugged goodbye, headed to my truck and drove away from their little hill so very far from the promise and hope of Siempre Para Los Ninos. Alejandro was silent. The same question hit each of us deep in our hearts: "What good can happen for these boys here?" Hopefully the lessons learned while at Siempre will last a life time.
If I was Isaias, I probably would've stayed with my dad as well. If I was their dad I probably would've been far more selfish and encouraged them to stay with me instead of begging them to leave. It was a day of powerful lessons learned. Each of our kids at Siempre carries their own story of heartbreak. With every visit I learn far more than I ever anticipated. Keep Mario, Isaias and their dad in your prayers. Survival is now their primary objective. The pastor in their local church knows that they're back in the neighborhood. Hopefully he'll invite them to participate in their fellowship.
Eva, Aida and Lindsay
Jacqui, Arturo and Lupita- the chicken pox are gone! Praise God!
Children at Oasis of Hope in Kitale, Kenya- a daytime drop in center for street children that has asked us to help them build an orphanage. They're on our weekly update- Hi Geoffrey! Jambo kids! Habari? Last week they began to pray in earnest for the kids of Siempre and their chicken pox- today the epidemic has past. Kid's in poverty have a pretty direct line to God! Jesus loves all the children of the world.
New slippers for Noemi- as well as a couple dozen new shoes for all the kids- thanks Brent and Jacquie!
While we were gone- Debi, Julia, Jacquie, Lindsay, Dexter's son Dexter and his buddy John had an extra two hours with the kids and made the most of it. The entire household needed the break. Work has been moving forward steadily on getting the new addition ready for total move in because next week we have
10 New Children in one week!
We had that many kids want to come in last week and they've made them wait until we're ready for move in on the new rooms. That will be an addition of 12 kids in two weeks! We're approaching 30 kids at Siempre. If you've ever considered full sponsorship of a child- never a better day than today. Needless to say ten new kids increases our budget demands by a whole bunch! Learn how at siemprekids.org.
We closed the day with one of our rare family gatherings. We do it each time we've lost a child. We gathered together in the front room and I spoke with the kids about the importance and value of our Siempre family. I told them how much they meant to us and how strongly we believe in them. I asked them to promise to do their best to protect the Siempre family, to never violate our rules and to never run away when there's a problem. I gave them a full and honest reporting on what happened with the boys. Then, we prayed together, kids were crying, adults were crying... it was a warm, family moment... and we all hugged.
Last year at this time Siempre was a building, empty of children. Today, Siempre is a family, filled with the love, joy, expenses and challenges that come with family life. We could never do it without your financial support, love, encouragement, hard work and prayers. For those of you that have come to love Mario and Isaias and will probably never see them again, I'm sorry for the loss... but thankful for the investment of your hearts. A house filled with kids still needs us and ten more are on the way. Alejandra is still fighting chicken pox away from Siempre- keep her in your prayers. Alejandro, Aracelli and Bianca are taking the loss of the boys as if they were their own. Pray for them. Keep all the kids in your prayers, they represent one billion children living in poverty around the world today. Siempre is our beginning, our foothold to make a difference for God in the lives of kids everywhere. Our God is a great God and He has a great plan for our work together. I'm so excited He's willing to use us. Kids need us now, more than ever,
Pearla and her little brother Manuel, our newest residents- already working around Siempre.
Siempre,
Eric M. Denton
5623 Arlington Ave.
Riverside, CA 92504
951-689-5806, office
951-907-9100, cell
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. Or mail your donation direct. Make checks payable to Siempre Para Los Ninos.
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.
Thanks so much to those of you who forward this to your own friends, family and associates.
Thanks for being part of our growing support system.