Greetings!

At our current rate of growth we're going to need to open an all girls kindergarten soon!

Christina - 3 years old - came to us on June 28, 2006

Donna Paula - 3 years old - came to us on August 23

Vanessa - 3 years old - came to us this week - September 26

Vanessa's mom, like many of our kids mothers, was young, unwed, using drugs and trying to make it on her own in Tijuana.  Aracelli said little Vanessa was filthy when her mother dropped her off - birth certificate in hand - signing her over por vida - for life.  She has that same little empty, frightened look in her eyes that each of our kids come to us with... to see them on their day of arrival is disturbing.  It's so hard to fathom what must be going on in their little spirits.  They said after they scrubbed her and put her in clean pajamas, she cried for food and ate all they could give her.  Wednesday, Bill had brought candy for the kids - the kids love it, our directors dread the candy days... all those kids on a sugar buzz all at once!  Little Vanessa, knowing no one, stood next to the candy, taking all she could.

The kids pass around the candy- Vanessa never took her eyes off it

It's amazing to watch how the children of Siempre open their arms and welcome new children.  We'd just pulled up and little Christina ran full speed to my wife Debi... they're in love with each other - Debi's ready to bring Christina home forever- and Christina was yelling and smiling, "Nuevo nina!  Nuevo nina!"  "New girl!  New girl!"  Then in Spanish, as only a child can tell the story, wide eyed and with total awe and enthusiasm, she told us how Vanessa is the girl that came in the night.  "She came at night!"  "She came at night!"  Don't know if new arrivals make kids remember their first day at Siempre, but it's incredibly cool how they open their arms and welcome little ones in love, just as if they knew they were coming.  God is so good.

Little Ricardo - after his visit to the candy man - what a mess!

Siempre could be full to overflowing today if we continued to keep our doors open to every child.  Working with families we've learned that there are children we give high priority to.  True orphans- with no known relatives -get straight in, no questions asked, we'll always have a bed for them first.  Abandoned children- with a parent claiming there's no one in the family to help... and their ready to surrender a birth certificate and legally sign them over for life- kids like little Vanessa, they get the next shot at an open bed.  After that- they're so many difficult decisions to make.  Wednesday afternoon three sisters came and wanted to sign over the children of their remaining sister - who's just entered drug rehab and possibly prison -they each had their own families and the children were going to be a huge financial burden.  They asked if they could leave the kids for two years - if we would raise them.  We said no, they left crying.  It was brutal.  That brings the number to at least 12 children we couldn't bring into Siempre in the last 3 weeks.

This family wasn't poor, they'd pulled up in a newer Honda SUV, they just didn't know how they'd do it.  They didn't want to separate the kids and none of them felt like they could take all 4 of them on.  We offered to help.  Told them we felt kids should stay with their families first- come to Siempre only as a last resort, when there was no place else.  Alejandro told them to call if they couldn't find a place... so many heart breaking stories, so few beds left in the house.  Our goal is to never turn a child away.  We need to build to meet our goals.

Bianca - one of our workers pushes Danny

Almost $4,000- in one week!  The new apartment for Alajandro's family is going to open up their old room for new staff and almost double the number of children we'll be able to welcome into Siempre.  Because of your generosity we are only $6,000- short of our goal.  This is such an important step in our growth as we under gird those who have served our children so faithfully.  People will occasionally ask me, "What would we do if we lost staff members?"  I rarely worry about what we'd do.  We'd still sleep in our warm beds- secure and safe -more than enough to eat.  I do wonder from time to time what our children would do... we've made them a promise - a promise we need to keep.  Siempre - always - you've come home and there'll always be a bed, food, school, love, Jesus, waiting for you here at Siempre Para Los Ninos.  You don't have to worry.  Danny's been with us for over two years.  The shirt and cross he's wearing are from a group that visited for a week this summer from Ohio.  What are the odds he'd ever had an opportunity like that before he came to Siempre.  Today his life is filled with hope, promise and the dream of an ever expanding horizon... no longer the fear and hunger he knew before.  You're financial support keeps are doors open.  Those of you giving over and above your weekly support will open the promise of siempre to so many more children as we build our new apartment and prepare to bring on new staff.  Your giving is changing lives - it's changed Danny's.

Everyone having a good time on a gorgeous day for the group photo

Those of us who go to Siempre each week are blessed beyond measure.  I still can't believe the doors God has opened and that He let's us share in the wonderful life of these kids.  I took some time alone upstairs Wednesday and looked out over our neighboring properties.  They're under utilized and ready to be liberated to help us save the lives of the lost children of Tijuana.  There's so much more we can do.  Our little village is being encroached upon by the condo buyers of Southern California.  It's good, because the sewer is now ready for us to connect to and we can get rid of our over run septic system.  But it's also a challenge, property values are going up... and this month we struggled to get extra money to fix our broken dryer- the clothes of our kids were hanging everywhere.  God's opened this door for us and I know He's going to make a way for us to not only survive but to thrive financially.  Thousands of children around TJ have never heard of Siempre... but word is getting out... and so many are without parents and need a home.  We have to be ready to open our doors - we're always for the children.  They need us, now, more than ever. 

It would be great to have you join us some Wednesday afternoon.  When I'm in Africa next month, Ken will be taking a group down each week.  As always, you're invited.

Siempre,

Eric M. Denton

eric@siemprekids.org

5623 Arlington Ave.

Riverside, CA 92504

951-689-5806, office 951-907-9100, cell

PS

We're planning our 2007 Africa trip and you're invited!  The last two weeks of this coming February.  Lord willing we'll be working in the Massai villages of south central Kenya.  Our advance team will be there finalizing everything the last two weeks of October... I can't wait!  Keep us in your prayers... and join us this coming February.  The need is beyond describing.

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 www.siemprekids.org.  Mail your donation direct and make checks payable to Siempre Para Los Ninos, a California Non-Profit.  Donations can also be auto deducted from your bank account or credit card.  Don't hesitate to call with questions.

I'm open to speak to your church, club, group or business concerning Siempre Support.

If you'd prefer not to receive our weekly update, let me know.  No problem.

Thanks so much to those of you who forward this to your friends, family and associates.