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American Idol raised more than that in
one night. It was fun to watch and great to see kids
living in poverty around the world get so much media
attention. Little Juan Daniel, pictured, Siempre's
youngest and newest resident, will never see a dime
of it. Daniel came in with infections in his stomach,
eyes, mouth... everywhere. He's spent his first days
with us very sick and back and forth to the doctor.
Makes one wonder how long he's been sick. How
long he was denied medical care because of poverty.
We don't know much about his background but we
know the hopes and dreams we have for his future.
They're filled with love, hope, purpose, safety, a great
education and the invitation to live out dreams and
goals God puts in his heart. If all goes as planned, I'll
be retired long before little Juan Daniel even
graduates from high school, much less begins to
enter adult life. The opportunity I have to invest in his
life depends on the investment I make in the long term
success of Siempre Para Los Ninos and her
leadership.
30 Million Dollars sounds like science fiction
to most of us when we consider our own finances. I'm
not sure I even KNOW anyone worth 30 million
dollars, maybe, but I'm not sure. However, each of us
is worth enough to help insure the safety of Juan
Daniel's life for the next 16 years. Some of us could
easily write a check for $30,000-, and we need to,
Siempre is a promise to children in poverty that
depends on you and me. We're not looking for help
from American Idol. Many more of us could make a
gift of $3,000-, $300-, $30- or even $3, we all can do
our part. People always tell me they want to help. I
get calls from folks after these emails saying, "How
can I help?" As we prepare to build our biggest
project ever, Memorial Day Weekend, you can help by
giving generously. It will benefit the children living in
Siempre Para Los Ninos today and all the
children who will live there for years to come. It will
help Juan Daniel. We're building a doctor's office. He
needs it!
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Great Memories. I stood with Pastor
Israel on the remnants of his home for the last six
years. It was torn down last weekend by the team
from Bridges in preparation for our Memorial Day
Weekend Building trip. Both of Israel and Vanessa's
girls were born while they lived in this little house.
They've shared thousands of meals, laughed, cried,
read bed time stories, prayed together... and now it's
gone. Looking at it from my perspective, I
remembered what a huge step that weekend was for
Central Community. We built the house and the
church in one weekend. It was a HUGE step
forward in our work. As our workers struggled late into
the night and even long before sunrise- we weren't
that many for so great a job -I think everyone thought
their pastor had more faith then brains. I know that's
the way I felt by Monday morning. Last year we tore
down the little church to build the big church- that's the
Sunday School wing in the background- it's Home to
Pastor Israel and his family for the next four weeks.
This year, it was time to bring the project together,
time to tear down so we could grow again. All growth
requires pruning. Even when it's hard and sometimes
harder to explain. If you look closely at the picture you
can see Marian, Israel and Vanessa's oldest
daughter. Vanessa told Debi she cried as they tore
down her house. Looking at her mom she
asked: "Where will I go to the bathroom?" Vanessa
said they'd be using Siempre's bathrooms... Marian
cried and said "But I want my own bathroom back."
These are great memories- and some for her right
now, not so great, she'll keep for a lifetime. We need
to honor their faith and trust in us and make sure they
get the new home we've promised!
A Great Future! It's what we're building
in the little
community. It started with the church, then the
parsonage and homes, then Siempre, now a new
kitchen, a dining hall big enough for all our kids to eat
together for years to come, a doctor and dentist office
to service not just the kids of Siempre but the greater
community as well... and on the second floor, a new
home for Pastor Israel's family, including a new
bathroom for Marian. It's going to be such an exciting
weekend. I hope you've registered to join us, are
preparing to work hard and are praying for a miracle.
And if for some reason you're not able to join us- I
hope you'll take the time to donate towards the
project. It's not just our biggest project to date, it's our
most expensive project to date. Your support is
building a future and a hope for an entire community.
Thanks so much to those of you who have already
given generously. May God richly bless you for it.
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The Golf Tournament is Set! The weather's going to be perfect and if you still want to join us... I'll bet they'll find a way to get you in. Call! The auction is Saturday evening after the tournament dinner- every penny raised goes directly to build at Siempre. Debi and I have set aside money to bid. I hope you'll do the same and join us this Saturday night for a great time together. Thanks so much to Tom and Ellen Buckingham, Steve and Shelley Hoover and the entire team that's done so much work, given countless hours, all to put on this great event for our kids. You guys are fantastic and I know we'll not just meet, but exceed our goals. Thanks also to all of you who have donated for the auction. I look forward to spending this Saturday golfing, eating and bidding on a great vacation at the auction... it's a hard life, but somebody's got to do it. You can share the adventure, you're needed, now, more than ever.
siempre,
 Eric
Siempre Para Los Ninos
email:
eric@siemprekids.org
phone:
1-951-689-5806
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