Greetings from all the kids at Siempre Para Los Ninos!
After a a week of chicken pox followed by a week of teen inspired challenges, it was incredible to roll up to Siempre's doorstep and find kids playing in the yard, riding bikes around the grounds and others running out to greet us. The intolerable heat of Riverside- in the '90's - was a wonderful sunny day at the beach down at Siempre with blue skies, ocean breezes and temperatures in the '70's. All that, coupled with children anxiously awaiting our arrival, made for a pretty great afternoon.
I had made a decision to take a small, experienced group this week, not sure what type of situation would meet us. Debi and Lynn immediately jumped into loving the kids with snacks and coloring books to explore together, while I headed off to meet with our leadership. Our leadership is doing an amazing job at learning how to run Siempre and they've been faced with a couple of weeks that have felt like trial by fire. It was so good to be able to tell them that they're being lifted up in the prayers of hundreds of families around the world. They drew reassurance and encouragement from this simple reminder.
The challenges we faced, normal, yet heartbreaking, in many families filled with teens, quite literally have forced each of our leaders to seek new strength from The Lord for the many difficult parenting roles they've found themselves in. Please continue to keep our leadership and all the Siempre kids in your prayers. Teens in poverty face all the "usual" temptations that get kids in trouble. Those living in poverty face them without the safety net family lawyers and finances offer. We've had kids choose to leave. The rules of Siempre must protect our youngest children. It's been a week of watching our leadership grow and mature and I'm stunned at how God has lifted each of them up for the task they've lived through together. God is too good.
Faces covered in chicken pox are healing rapidly as the kids get rubbed down with vitamin e cream several times a day. The little ones were particularly excited at this weeks truck load of treats- several large boxes of chips and pretzels as well as another case of oranges from Blue Banner Packing here in Riverside.
This guy could be the Sunkist poster child!
The final steps in making the new addition ready for kids is coming along nicely thanks to everyone at Siempre sticking to it day in and day out. Special thanks to John and Carrie Juhl who spent last Friday taking care of some plumbing issues and assembling new bunk beds. Big thanks go to Mike Booth who went down last Saturday to continue to get the dry wall ready for plaster. Thanks also to Michael Dugal who spent a day wrapping up our electrical work. It's a big job and it takes lot's of people with big hearts to get it all ready. Ken's got a list of work that still needs to get done - if you want to spend a day working around Siempre, contact Pastor Ken at ken@centralcommunity.com and let him know when you can go- he'll put you to work!
Looking pretty good!
The entire exterior is going to require another coat of paint to make it look just right. Plus, we still need a patio, sidewalk, landscaping and some trees to make it ready for winter, but all in all, the kids are way excited with each little task that gets completed. I told them Wednesday that it's my goal to have the job done by August... when it happens I think we should go down and have a BBQ out on the deck... after another day of fishing with the kids! What a great day of celebration that will be.
Our group photo for the day
Up in the kitchen pass through window is Louis, in the orange t-shirt on the left, between my wife Debi and our missionary, Ralph Crain, in the yellow t-shirt. Louis is a handful- one of the earliest kids to come to Siempre, he's been both a joy and a constant source of exercise for each of our leaders, always keeping them on their toes with his bright smile, never ending source of energy and inquisitive nature. In the midst of a week that broke many of our workers hearts in ways they never imagined, Louis was a shining star as he graduated from kindergarten. Araceli took great pride in sharing his class photo and a photo of Louis in his cute little cap and gown with a diploma granting him promotion to first grade.
Without your support, Louis would never have gone to school. He's been lovingly walked through every challenge he's faced this school year, and they've been many, and has come out ready for summer vacation! Imagine, the entire household, plus the new kids coming in this week, all on vacation for the next two months. Louis is a great kid. My prayer is that some day we'll celebrate his graduation from high school, college and send him out to be a wonderful part of God's solution to the problems of poverty in the world today. With every visit to Siempre I'm encouraged by the amazing work God's invited us to share. Thanks so much for your part. Thanks for giving Louis the opportunity to go to school, to have a home, to belong. Each of our kids needs you, now, more than ever,
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