Siempre Update 4.30.09

Central Community Christian Fellowship

Memorial Day Weekend - You're Invited!

May 22-25... in just 3 weeks!

this week at siempre

Lord willing... it's how we plan for every Memorial Day Weekend build and this year- we've got more reason than ever to look to God for His guidance as we prepare. Siempre's kids are able to help Pastor Ken because school's in Mexico have been closed to stop the spread of the flu. The closest cases of flu to Tijuana are in the US. Just across the border in all of San Diego- where several people had swine flu last weekend -and recovered, all schools and offices remain open and commerce continues as usual. Even still, with no reported cases in the entire region... the people of Tijuana are being very cautious... I've read news articles that refer to it as panic... an overstatement... but it definitely looks a bit different across in TJ then in the US. Wednesday afternoon it was not uncommon to see people wearing masks and even medical gloves on many streets- even in our little community. Since Siempre has the only medical clinic in town- Debi and I brought down dozens of face masks, (which I'm told are ineffective against the flu), more hand sanitizer and a stack of flyers reminding people to wash their hands: "after school, after playing with your friends, if you want to stay healthy." My first task Wednesday afternoon was to meet with our leaders and go through the precautionary steps I'd discussed Tuesday evening with Dr. Ricks. Our leaders haven't fallen prey to the circulating fear and were receptive to every simple reminder. They even plastered the campus, inside and out, with a bunch of the flyers we'd brought down with us. If this flu turns into a major outbreak- we'll have to adjust our Memorial Day Weekend schedule -everyone's well being is our top priority. That said, this is the flu. When we travel to Kenya, we prepare for Malaria and numerous other equatorial diseases. In just the US, already this year, since January, seasonal flu- the plain old flu we've all had -has taken the lives of over 13,000 people... Lord only knows how many have died among the poor of Mexico who receive little or no medical care... but because it's happening every day, it no longer makes news. Our family at Siempre and the Mexican people have taken so many big hits this year- with the economic collapse, the rise in drug cartel violence and now a flu epidemic... pray for them... it seems we have every reason to put off our work in Mexico... but Siempre's kids have no where to run. We built them a home, a family and promised them shelter... if/when they get sick, we'll go to them... our hearts are there, Jesus is there... they don't have mom's and dad's to hold them through the night... our workers, our children are depending on us. I already have a full car for next week... but I can make room for you. We need to go to Siempre because Siempre's kids have nowhere to run to and they need us most when times are tough.

The pictures always surprise me- since they're taken by the kids as they pass around my camera. I'm guessing Ken didn't see the boys taking pictures of each other on his jeep while he was tiling 6 showers. My car doesn't attract a lot of attention... it's comfortable, durable and gets good gas mileage... when you're a teenager you don't care about any of those things... boys don't dream about SUV's, they dream of hitting the hills in a jeep! In 5 years of Wednesday afternoons don't remember anyone but me ever taking a picture of our car. Wednesday afternoon, anyone even close to driving age had a snapshot of themselves stretched out on Ken's jeep- it's a cool car. From the looks of the pictures, Siempre could use 6 or 7 of them in the next couple of years! So many simple lessons of life that we still need to learn to teach the kids of Siempre: how to get a job, how to save money, how to drive, how to be ready for life... they're obviously dreaming big dreams... one of our goals is to help every child at Siempre reach their full potential and experience the joy of living out all God has in store for them. Kids need to go for bike rides, spend a day fishing, dream about driving a jeep of their very own... these events open our imaginations to all that can be if we only give it our best. Some of Siempre's kids are ready for the exciting dreams that fill the hearts and spirits of teenagers. Keep our leaders in your prayers as they do their best to meet the immediate needs of so many little children while doing their best to continue to open new horizons as the older kids dream big dreams.

A HUGE THANKS TO ALL!

Over $18,000- in one day! Siempre's 3rd Annual Golf Tournament was a tremendous success! Thanks so much to Tom Buckingham and the entire golf tourney team who've worked so hard, met so often and told the story of Siempre so many times over the last 6 months. Thanks also to all of you who volunteered, golfed, sponsored a hole, spent money at the auction or donated items; vacation home time, work days, golf trips... whatever it was you gave, to make the auction such a tremendous success and all around fun time for everyone involved. The new building for Beginnings@Siempre will cost approximately $31,000- to make ready to house 36 infants. You're donation can still put us over the top before Memorial Day Weekend. If you can give, please do. If you know someone who can give, share Siempre's story with them and invite them to make a big gift today. If you're broke and unable to give another cent... pray with me that God will open the hearts of those who are able. The news continues to show images of well fed, well dressed, wealthy folks concerned about the flu... imagine how an epidemic will impact babies, already cast aside, unable to survive without the love and help of others... they'll catch it first and die first... whether it's from a cold, the flu, a sexual predator or those trafficking in humanity... babies are at greatest risk. The great news is that we have the opportunity to rescue them now. Because of the golf tournament we're ready to build $18,000- worth of building. Because of your prayers, the property adjoining Siempre is ready to be ours... we've come so far along this road towards redemption and healing... let's give our best now, when it's needed most. Golf team... thanks so much on behalf of those too young to say thanks.

Siempre Para Los Ninos