Debi and Christina - Christmas, 2007
Christina "Petunia." That's what Debi always called her when she lived at Siempre. Her young mother was in the crisis of her teen years when in tears and heartbreak she left her only daughter with us... signed away her birth certificate, entrusting her to our care.
We all fell in love. Christina's a very special kid: cute, charismatic, loved by everyone and always quick with just the right word to say... the kind of kid who could be president of Mexico some day. When her mom showed up pregnant again, now married, and wanting her back over a year later, heartbreak- and hope -moved throughout the household.
Debi and I spent our Christmas day driving across Tijuana at sunset with Alejandro and his family looking for Christina's new home, fearing the worse, hoping for the best. God answers prayer. Her mom, now 20, is fantastic and is married to a hard working young man. There's a new little brother- a cute guy -and the family recently received the gift of a home built especially for them, a cute litte 400 sq ft bungalow, by a local Christian ministry. Christina had all she wanted for Christmas... all any abandoned child wants for Christmas... to be home with her family- safe, secure and loved.
Her step dad's paying for school, she loves her new teacher, she's gaining weight, and before we left her grandmother and uncle stopped in with Christmas gifts. It was all Debi and I wanted for Christmas- to see that she's doing well, that she's safe, warm and loved. Sitting at the border for almost two hours waiting to get back into the states, we didn't complain- some things are worth the wait.
Siempre, it means always... when a child's given into our care, we plan for life... and when something wonderful happens... something we're not prepared for, like a mom getting her life in order and desperately needing her daughter back- we want to be ready -to continue to lend support and love as a family begins to build new hopes and dreams. We left with warm embraces against the cold night, well after sunset, Christina's family thanking us and inviting us to return whenever we could. It was just what we'd wanted for Christmas- just to see that all was well -with our own eyes, and God gave us the desires of our heart.
I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and received more than you ever imagined in the day. May these final days of 2007 be filled with miracles and wonders as we prepare for the year to come.
blessings,
Eric
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