Our day at
Siempre started with a party! Donna Paula & Christina (smiling) play
while Valaria makes a mess of her cake!
Happy
Birthday Aracelli!
There were
cake and presents, kids running everywhere and lots of singing as we celebrated
Aracelli's birthday last Wednesday. Her birthday was Sunday and
as surrogate mom to all our kids she's deeply loved. She said her
bed was covered with children at sunrise, singing, shouting "happy
birthday!" and doing all they could to make the day special for her.
She's well loved and rarely alone. One of the benefits of such a large
family! We did the few things we could to add to her joy.
Bill, one
of our new Wednesday regulars, joins Aracelli, Vanessa, Brenda, Bianca,
Brenda, Cynthia and Enrique for a photo
The kids
are hard core back to school and I think they were ready for our arrival.
They needed a break from homework! It never ceases to amaze me how kids
who once had little or no time for school now give 100% as our staff works with
them. Every child seems highly motivated this year to do their best and
make us proud. Siempre's gaining such a pro-education reputation
that parents want to move their kids in so they can receive the benefits
provided our children. One child in particular, from a family of elderly
parents- just 13 and the last child at home - had to be turned away because we
need to honor orphans as our primary work. Another family, 7 children,
whose mother is very sick, wants us to take all 7 kids. We're praying
that mom improves. Seven new children from infancy to 12 years old
will put a weight on our workers that will be hard to bear. Not to
mention the heart break the kids would face in losing their mom.
Once we get
an apartment built for Alejandro's family, we can hire a young couple to move
into their room as additional workers. We'll need them as Siempre begins
to discover our limit of how many kids we can hold. We're hoping to be
able to keep a total of at least 30, possibly 36. If the mother of the 7
children takes a turn for the worse, we'll be near our limit in one move
in. Keep the household, our existing children, our workers and directors
in your prayers. We want to be for all the children in every
circumstance... always, siempre. We're currently planning a fall weekend
trip to build the new apartment. Let me know if you'd like to join us.
Our group
shot for the day - cool and wonderful weather near the coast!
After a
shortened visit we jumped in my truck and headed off on a follow up visit with
Noemi, Louis, Lupita and Arturo at their new home with their mom. It's
about a 45 minute drive east of TJ, inland, towards Tecate. Tijuana is
growing extremely fast and the entire drive was filled with warehouses and
manufacturing plants of HUGE international corporations with familiar
names. It's a corporate corridor running just south of the border that's
supplying jobs for thousands of people. With every new factory they build
hundreds of cookie cutter one and two bedroom condos they call "pia de
casa" or foot of the house. Like a starter house. Somewhere
near it's heart is a company store and many of the people live between their
little homes, long hours in the factories, and domestic life of the
neighborhood. They're the growing "middle class" of Mexico.
Everywhere there are signs out with every business hiring more
workers. Average pay - between $55-$75 a week. Less than the average
laborer who crosses the border makes in a day in the US. It's a hard
life.
Our kids
resettled just off a little dirt road between two very poor communities.
Most of the homes were made from scrap wood, cardboard, garage doors and
old pallets.
Lynn and
Debi sit on the porch of the kids new home - dirt floors - very little
protection from the weather
Plywood
over the water barrel. This is where clothes are washed, children are
bathed and food is prepared.
Their one
window - no glass or other protection from the elements
the toilet
in their outhouse- just a simple hole in the ground
I know most
of you will never visit a family living in this kind of poverty. It
touched me deeply, driving from the coastal beauty and California style wealth
the kids celebrate at Siempre Para Los
Ninos to this families humble home. Our kids mother had
only visited a few times in two years, yet when given the opportunity to return
to the mom who'd left them with us... they did it in a flash, regardless how
harsh the conditions. The power of a mother's love.
The kids
mom is a fantastic young woman who feels blessed to have a 2nd chance with her
family. Her new little baby is beautiful and her new husband has steady
work.
Mom -
inside their home - with her new (3 months) infant
Alejandro,
Hernan and Aracelli with Arturo, Lupita, Noemi, Louis and their puppy
The kids
were happy to see us... except Lupita - for the first ten minutes I think she
thought we'd come to take them away and she looked frightened... but once Lynn
opened her bag of gifts: cookies, candy, food for the family, she warmed up and
seemed much like her old self. We brought new backpacks and school
supplies for Noemi and Louis in hopes they're able to go to school. But
mostly we brought hearts filled with love and we were rewarded with the same
from the entire family. Arturo is talking a mile a minute... and just as
busy as Louis, and Lupita is becoming more reserved like her sister
Noemi. Arturo and Hernan, raised as brothers, played together non stop
and seemed particularly happy to be together.
When it
came time to leave, mom extended her hand and welcomed us back anytime we
liked. I was embarrassed that I couldn't offer the same courtesy to
her. She's too poor to ever hope of getting a visa into the
US. But while driving away, I tried to remember every turn, in hopes that
there would be many more follow up visits in the years to come. God is so
good. The night the kids left I cried. Leaving their home Wednesday
evening I smiled, knowing they were exactly where they were meant to be.
It's no sin to be poor... it is a sin not to extend our hands in love, kindness
and generosity to the poor. Hopefully we'll have the opportunity to help
this family find the fulfillment they so richly deserve. They've already
helped me.
Thanks so
much for your loving financial support of Siempre Para Los Ninos. Know that God's doing
great things. Orphans are being given a wonderful home and families are
being reunited. Small miracles in the eyes of today's celebrity driven
society but HUGE events in the life of every child we reach. Without you,
our doors would close.
You're
invited to join us any time you have the chance. We try to go every
Wednesday. You're needed at Siempre, now, more than ever.
Siempre,
Eric M. Denton
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.
Mail your donation direct and Make checks payable to Siempre
Para Los Ninos. Donations can also be auto deducted from your
bank account or from your 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