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Dozens of pictures are taken by the
kids each week. Loading them onto my laptop,
preparing to write, some cause me to laugh, others
make me sad, most touch my heart... I can only use a
few. In almost every picture it's the eyes that always
seem to stand out- it's like they're little windows into
stories yet to be told, still growing and unfolding. I'm
guessing this photo is one more self portrait of
Cinthia- there are several each time she carries the
camera -with little Lupita. Lupita's newly back at
Siempre after over a year with her mother and her new
husband... it didn't work out. Cinthia knows Lupita's
story, she's living it. But with several uninterrupted
years at Siempre, she's bright, growing and making
plans for life as an adult. Cinthia smiles and it's easy
to see a bright future. Lupita doesn't smile as much
as she use to... don't know what's happened... maybe
she's still caught up in the middle of the hard
transition. It's easy to look at a picture and imagine a
hundred things that have nothing to do with reality. But
just the fact that she's in this picture means she's
been abandoned into the arms of Siempre.
Sometimes I'm torn between thanksgiving and anger:
thanksgiving that she has a bright hope and home
with us at Siempre, anger that anyone could ever not
give everything to make sure that she was kept safe,
secure and well cared for. The eyes of children... you
should meet Alexis, Fabian, Ricardo... their eyes hide
nothing... it seems that Lupita's eyes aren't keeping
many secrets either... pray that God would take away
her fear and loneliness and give her hope- the kind of
hope shining brightly from Cinthia. Lupita needs us.
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Memorial Day Weekend, 2008, can be
a turning point in our lives and more importantly in the
lives of thousands of children and adults for years to
come. We began so small, such a short time ago and
God's directed our steps in wonderful ways. Now it's
time to insure the long term health and viability of
Siempre- to make sure that Siempre's still extending
arms of hope to children when little Diego's grown
and serving in his community. To make sure our work
can sustain itself we need to give it the tools and staff
to accomplish the task at hand. It's what we'll be
building this year and I want you to share in the work.
The miracle of Siempre's reaching into areas we
never thought possible. Last weekend a group from
Missouri visited and repainted the interior of our
original building. Imagine the stories they'll take
home to their community. Imagine how many more
hearts can be changed when the learn of the
wonderful opportunity we've been given to keep the
promise of Siempre alive. The need is so
tremendous- and the work can never be
accomplished without you and your family. It's one of
my favorite parts of Siempre- families building
together to build the promise and hope of new family
for those who've lost everything. The Dental Clinic will
be up and running soon- hopefully we'll have our
equipment across the boarder this month... not a day
to soon for Diego... These first months of the year will
slip quickly away. Mark your calendars for Memorial
Day Weekend at Siempre this year. And if you find
yourself with a little extra time- let me know, there's
plenty to do as we get ready to build. It's all for the
children.
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Thanks for your prayers... in all our work. The church we were to be at in Nairobi, in the slum of Kibera, has been burned to the ground. The pastor lost his house, along with all his families personal belongings as well. Thankfully, everyone in their church survived with their lives. But so many have lost work, homes, jobs... and until the current situation can be resolved, there's little hope in sight... Siempre, it means always, on our first trip to Kenya I learned the Swahili word for always... they need the promise now. It's easy to watch the news reports and forget that the innocents in the midst of this crisis are children- far too young to understand, yet each will feel the pangs of hunger and cold of nightfall without a roof over their heads... without a church on Sunday. Continue to pray that our work in TJ, building Siempre, can be the first expression of love that reaches out in hope to children hurting around the world. Know that I'm humbled to serve with generous and loving people like you... you're invited to join us this Wednesday... you're needed, now, more than ever.
siempre,
 Eric Denton
Siempre Para Los Ninos
email:
eric@siemprekids.org
phone:
1-951-689-5806
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