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It's always a celebration! Left to right,
that's Consuelos, (our newest worker), Brenda, (who's
served Siempre's kids for over two years), Enoch,
(celebrating his 7th) and Enrique, one of our first 4
children. Enrique turned 17 last week... unbelievable.
It's hard not to look at Enrique and Enoch and
remember their first days with us. Erique was a
skinny little kid with a smile that filled his face. Today,
he's a skinny young adult- still smiling -with four years
of school behind him and a bright future out ahead of
him. His success and leadership in the household is
so important to younger kids, like Enoch, who look up
to him like an oldest brother and begin to believe that
if he can, they can. Birthday parties... every one's
unique and exciting for kids who come to us from
backgrounds where a celebration, a cake, a special
gift may not have been possible. But with all the
celebration- each one of them would gladly trade it to
have a home with mom, dad, safety, love... with kids
like Enrique, someday he'll build that home of joy. We
want each of Siempre's kids to know that we're always
there to be all the family we can be for them through
their loss and heartbreak. Pray that Siempre will
always be a place where children are able to look
forward to and feel special on their special day.
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That's Cinthia, hugging a couple of sick
boys: Juan Daniel and Ricardo. Fever and flu has run
its course through the household and it seems like
the youngest kids get it twice for each time one of the
older kids get's sick. Not only are our workers
amazingly loving and devoted, but each of the older
kids, both the boys and girls, take their turns helping
out with the younger children. A bond of love has built
that feels so intensely family that you don't have to visit
for long to catch the "siempre experience."
Wednesday afternoon, I hadn't even opened the car
door when little Brenda pounced on me and thrust a
piece of paper in my hand. Putting it in my pocket, I
rounded up some kids and had them help me unload
the truck: clothes, a couple of big turkeys for Easter,
food stuffs... it was like unpacking a variety store... in
the hustle and bustle I forgot Brenda's note... late
Wednesday night, after a long wait at the border, (the
DOWN side to spring break), I discovered it in my
pocket as I sat down to rest, at home, with a cup of
tea. It was a perfect drawing, everything well within the
lines and the color choices just right... and in orange
crayon, Brenda had written that it was just for me,
Pastor Eric. Made me wish I'd kept every special gift
from the children of Siempre... putting it next to my
chair, I buried the moment deep within my heart and
thanked God for Brenda... for Siempre... for her
leaders... for you. Brenda can be a quiet child and it
would have been so easy for her to have been
overlooked, but she's well loved at Siempre. She's a
beautiful little girl and it would've been so easy for her
to fall into the hands of human traffickers, pimps, the
child porn industry of TJ, but she's safe and protected
at Siempre. It all happens one child at a time.
Thinking back on the moment- holding the picture in
my hand -remembering the precious note in orange
crayon... can't imagine why God love's me enough to
let me share the gift of Siempre. Can't imagine why
anyone would let themselves miss one precious
moment of the miracle. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
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Need to stop writing- our second Good Friday service of the day begins in several minutes. God loves us so much... it's a really Good Friday. We have our working Memorial Day coming with our biggest addition yet to Siempre... next month we have our 2nd Annual Golf Tourney - it's how we'll pay for the building. We need your support and participation- it's going to be an incredible day. And remember, we still go to Mexico every Wednesday afternoon- you're invited... in fact, 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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