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God did it... and it's not uncommon to
watch those God uses in His service to do it... to share
their families. Pastor Israel and Vanessa, Alejandro
and Aracelys have all generously opened their
families to each of the children- and to so many of us
who visit -giving above and beyond all God would ask
of them to help build the children of Siempre. That
hilarious picture is Marian's new Christmas puppy.
She may be Pastor Israel's daughter but she shares
the puppy and all the love it has to give with all the
children. I imagine it would be easy to want more of
your mom or dad's time for yourself when they're filled
with loving so many others... our leaders have
graciously opened their hearts, families and even their
new puppy, to everyone, and their children and the
children of Siempre seem so much the better for
it. "Share and share alike." "Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you." Words of wisdom and
The Word of The Lord are being lived out seven days a
week, 24 hours a day at Siempre. No wonder I enjoy
every visit and feel like I've learned something new on
each return trip. God's good. I hope you're planning to
open your family for days of miracles and wonders as
Siempre's work continues to grow. It could start with
something as simple as a little special time with a
new puppy. Sure glad it's theirs!
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Ask any parent... ask them after a long
night awake
with a sick child... ask them as they sit in the
emergency room of a hospital or stand at the window
late at night
wondering when they'll be home, where they are... ask
them when they help with homework after a less than
perfect report
card... or after shopping for groceries or back
to
school clothes.... children are an invitation to joy we
never imagined... and a responsibility that can
sometimes overwhelm our senses and make us want
to run away. That's exactly why some of Siempre's
kids live with us- someone ran out on them when the
responsibility outweighed the invitation to joy. I Love
this afternoon group shot from a week ago: sun
setting, light perfect, kids together. It wasn't like that
Thursday morning: kids were at school or working on
homework, it'd rained hard all night long and we
unloaded a HEAVY gear in what seemed like ankle
deep mud. I was proud to be standing along side the
men wrestling with dental chairs, they could've been
anywhere, doing anything... but instead they'd given
their mornings to serve abandoned children and
people living in poverty... the responsibility end of the
invitation to joy. It's easy to get caught up in cute
pictures or fun afternoons and miss out on the big
picture and the long nights ahead for Siempre Para
Los Ninos. Success in the lives of each of our
children will require an ever expanding base of people
willing to give not just because of the invitation to joy-
but because they're ready to stand through the hard
moments of responsibility that come with raising
children. At the end of the day it's those challenging
moments we often remember as highlights... as the
time our relationships became bonded for life... when
we had the moment to stand up with those who've
been left out or to run... and we chose to stand
together as family. Siempre, it means always. It's
cold and raining across Tijuana. Too many children
are living outside the promise of always warm, always
protected, always loved, always a future... outside of
Siempre. They're always cold, always hungry and
always hoping just to make it through the day. You're
invited to join us in both the joy and responsibility of
loving and caring for the children of Siempre. It's not
political and it's certainly not about me... it's always for
the children... they need us, now, more than ever.
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"For such a time as this..." with the heartbreak in Kenya, the challenges of getting our dental office set up at Siempre, the cold wet weather in Los Angeles and our work on the streets with the homeless... it's easy to get down and wonder how we could ever meet the need... or we can embrace the moment and accept that just maybe God's allowed us to build the young foundation of our work in these areas "for such a time as this..." (check out the whole story in the book of Esther in your Bible). We can ignore the need... but it's at our own risk, or we can respond and share in the opportunity to change eternity... and if not eternity, make today a little easier on someone in the middle of the suffering. I can't believe God's trusted so much into our simple hands. We have the opportunity to change lives. We're going to the streets Sunday night... back to Siempre Wednesday afternoon... and so many of our friends in Kenya need our prayers today. My brother-in-law Dan heads for Kenya and Rwanda this weekend... please keep him in your prayers. It's an invitation and a responsibility. There's joy in both. You're invited.
siempre
 Eric Denton
Siempre Para Los Ninos
email:
eric@siemprekids.org
phone:
1-951-689-5806
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