after 5 years of work...

Siempre Para Los Ninos - September, 2004- the gray building was our first church, built in 2001, replaced with the new beautiful church in 2006. The little yellow house was Pastor Israel's old house, replaced in 2007, with his beautiful upstairs apartment. That's Siempre... the little flat roofed building in the back of the shot. This photo was taken from just about where the newest building, below, now sits.


Samaritan House @ Siempre Para Los Ninos - as we wrapped things up Sunday night of Memorial Day Weekend, 2008.

Building dreams with your life requires time, patience, hard work, faith and most of all God's Grace. Without The Grace of God to guide and undergird us in our work, where would we be?

Occasionally we'll take someone to Siempre on a Wednesday afternoon and they're overwhelmed by our 12 or 13,000 sq ft of work - at work for God in the little community we serve on the edge of Tijuana, Mexico. Looking at it all, getting to know the kids, our staff... shaking their heads, they'll say "How'd you do it?"

Smiling, I usually think of the five years of work before Siempre was ever built. I reflect back on names and faces of people who worked hard, gave sacrificially, drove trucks filled with food, tools, luggage across the border in the middle of the night when customs agents decided not to let it in. I remember the first families we built for, their children, the mom raising her kids under a tree... what it felt like to give away a home... the miracles... Pastor Israel and his family, Alejandro, Aracelys, Hernan, Alejandra, Bianka, Brenda... Mickey... so many miracles... most of them with names and faces.

Then I remember... we didn't do it at all- God did -we were just blessed to be used by Him. In those first 5 years we never imagined what these last 4 years have brought into our lives... so many wonderful children... the miracle of Siempre... it means always.

Sometimes, when people ask what we'll do next year, I get a little anxious and again I remind myself- this is God's Work -we'll do whatever He has in store. He hasn't failed us yet. Most people go a lifetime without ever genuinely experiencing the opportunity of sharing a work that's guided by The Hand of God... to know that they played a part in something that pleased Him in ways that we can't begin to imagine. To be touched by His Eternal Spirit in our work- and know it -know HIM- His presence in all we do.

At the end of each two day building trip we get a little cocky and say "We Built That!" and it feels great! But the longer we serve Him the easier it is to see that He's been using us to build all along... we've been tools in His Hands... He built that! and He invited us to share the miracle.

Miracles still happen. Some of us just take 5 years to see them coming. Now that Siempre's up and running you can come and share the miracle any Wednesday afternoon. Lord willing, we're going this week. You're invited!

siempre,

Eric

or check it out at siempre's web site