a brief moment of grace...

But now we have been given a brief moment of grace... I see these early pictures from Siempre... just a little more than 7 years ago- an Indian Summer like afternoon -Arturo, just a baby in Aracelis lap, Noemi- barely up to Aida's shoulders... all the kids so small... God was watching over our innocent little flock.  Incredibly- through so many children -lovingly, He's watching, loving and providing for us still.

We dreamed of a safe place to rescue children- today it's a reality.  We dreamed of a missions house- today Alisha and Courtney, missionaries to Siempre's kids, are making that dream a reality as they give themselves in love.  We dreamed of Samaritan's House, a place to welcome workers, builders, friends of Siempre- groups now enjoy it's comfort as they come to serve.  We dreamed of Beginnings@Siempre, a home to abandoned infants- today the home is filled with joy, love and learning as little abandoned babies begin to crawl, take first steps, speak their first words and grow up protected- dozens of infants and toddlers have already been adopted into "forever" families where they've found a home, a name, a future and a hope.

We dreamed and workers stood up to build.  We dreamed and many of you began to support the work financially.  We dreamed... and soon the dream was so much greater than anything we ever imagined... it had become the dream of so many others... and we dreamed of what God might do next.

A brief moment of grace- it's really all we have -whether we live to be 103 or not nearly so full an age- it's brief -and we have today to make the most of it.  This photo's from a book our son John made us back in 2005.  In it he poses the question: "Dad, is this what you imagined when you first had a dream?"

All of that... and so much more!  These kids, all the kids in the cold, heartbroken and without today, they all need the dream of Siempre Para Los Ninos - always for the children, a place where they can find family, a place to dream and discover the life God wants for them.  To find a future and a hope.

How long does a dream last?  We know we've been given His Grace for this "brief moment."  The dream we're living out through Siempre is big enough to share.  The need is beyond our imagining.  There's more than enough room for you.  Children grow up so quickly.  Arturo's nearly 8 and the life of Siempre.  Noemi turns 16 this year... a beautiful young woman.  Aida, now 18, Siempre's first girl, moved out last week.  Our prayers and love go with her... she's family... she's a reminder: we have today... and it's brief.

Happy New Year!  Make the most of each moment.  Live out your dream... and if your dream seems a little like the dream of Siempre... You're Invited.  You're Needed.  Now, more than ever.

Siempre,

Eric M. Denton, pastor

Central Community

Remembering... Growth = Change

We celebrate growth at Siempre Para Los Ninos. It's more money to care for more children- but always for the children is our mission and name, so when a child is rescued into the safety of Siempre - we celebrate. That said, it's easy to forget that all growth equals change and change, even exciting, positive change, is not nearly as easy to celebrate as growth.

That's the group photo from Wednesday afternoon, October 26, 2011. It represents change on so many levels. Check out the cool, new work in the courtyard. Getting ready for a wet winter, we've been blessed with donations to put in drainage, build levels, put in an automatic sprinkler system and next Wednesday... new, beautiful sod will be set. The first lawn in the community. Pastor Ken's done an incredible job heading up the project, working with church teams and the Siempre community. This week Ken turned on the sprinklers, to the joy and amazement of everyone... little things we ignore are miracles in the making at Siempre.

Thank God for Washington! The state that is :-) Mackenzi Kingdon, all the way from Seattle, has finished her time at Siempre- teaching, sharing, loving siempre's kids... and we'll miss her. Until she returns. We all do. Alisha Schafer, who's served with Youth With A Mission for the last year in Mexico, has now moved in to the Mission's House @ Siempre and is teaching the children and serving alongside our workers. Alisha's from Bellingham, Washington, has her degree in Psychology and we look forward to getting to know her in the months to come. Please keep her in your prayers as she begins and continue to pray for Mackenzi as she transitions back into life in the states. God has blessed us with these young women with HUGE hearts for God. If you'd like to serve at Siempre... You're Invited!

Change is not always easy... one simple group photo; a new courtyard, incoming and outgoing missionaries to Siempre and on the right side of the picture- the unhappy looking teen, Antonio - after six years - left Siempre this week... tears and heartbreak... the conflict that so many teens face... but Antonio has a living mother- one not ready to take him back -but in his mind, his heart, mom. Pray for Tony, our Siempre family, for safety and healing through these difficult changes. I'm set to meet with him again in two weeks. Pray that he shows.

Growth = Change and change is not always easy. Family's not easy... but it's worth it. Miracles happen everyday at Siempre... some of the miracles are inspirational - as people give selflessly to help rescue abandoned children. Some of the miracles remind us of the power of family- a teenage boy, away from a mother who abandoned him as a child -still clinging, running away to, the hope of what might remain. Into this, God invites you and me to be light and salt, hope for the broken hearted. He's too good. Please keep Siempre in your prayers.