January 2009

January 2009

Dear Friends,

Sometimes I am amazed when I look at all our children and think about where they came from and where they are now. God has completely changed their lives! I thought it would be nice if our oldest children could share a little with you. They are so grateful for your love and support to them over the years.

Just about nine years ago Eduardo ran away from home; he was only seven, wandering the streets all by himself. He decided to go to the police station and they gave him a hot meal and let him stay the night. He was so excited to ride around in a police car and even got to see a real gun – it was all one big adventure! Soon, he was brought to our house, and little did we know his four brothers and sisters would arrive soon. This is what Eduardo wrote (he is doing well in his English as you will see):

My name is Eduardo and I am sixteen years old. I wanted to thank you for your support and prayers, which have been very helpful in difficult times in my life. I also want to thank God for putting me in this wonderful family, it has been a blessing for me. I believe God put me in this family to use me, as He is using my parents, to help others. Thank you so much for being such wonderful people.

Nelson is our oldest son. He came to us beaten and angry at the world. He was only eight. Here is what Nelson wrote:

Hello everyone, my name is Nelson Mejia Simpson. I wanted to thank you for your support all these years. I also want to thank my parents. If it had not been for them, I wouldn’t be here, and I mean, I wouldn’t be here! Who knows where I would be right now! We were put in an orphanage and it was a really awful place to be. When the kids turned eighteen they were “thrown” into the streets, or asked to leave the institution and go who knows where. They had no family. I am thankful to God, my parents and all of you, who have supported us all these years. Thank you for taking us out of that place. I also am graduating this year and I thank you for that too!

Daniela is our oldest daughter. She came to us when she was nine. She was tired of having to “be a grown-up” and the great pressure of having to take care of her brothers and baby sister. She worked during the day and cleaned and kept the kids at night. Here is what she wrote:

I am nineteen years old. I want to say thank you for everything! Your prayers have been such a great blessing to me and my family. This year has been such a blessing to me because I am working with children in our Bible study group. It has been so wonderful to help children with so many needs. It blesses me. I know that God is going to change their lives too! I am so grateful to have this opportunity. Next year I will graduate from high school. I know I would have never gone to school if it had not been for your love and support. Thank you and God bless you.

One of the boys Enrique met in the neighborhood where we work wanted to express his appreciation too. His name is Javier. He is sixteen years old. He is Nini’s brother (Nini is living with us now):

I want to tell you a little about my life. My life has been very hard since the very beginning. When I was born, I had no father and when I was six, my mother left me, so I have been with my Grandmother ever since. I was living a very bad life, but when I turned twelve, God sent me a great friend who became like my father; his name is Enrique. Thank God I had the love and support of his family and my life begin to change. He begin to give me guidance and take me to church and teach me the Bible. I have two siblings and I wanted to be a good example to them so I knew I had to change my life. I love them very much. Without a mother and father I knew they needed me. I know now me and my brother and sister can be good people and I hope one day I can help my mother and she will change too. Thank you for helping to change our lives.

I wish you could all see the changes in these children! Without you, all this could not be possible and we know God has many more lives just waiting to be touched! We pray you will have a wonderful New Year and we thank you for being a part of our family.

Enrique and Charlyn