March 2010

March 2010

Dear Friends,
We have gotten e-mails recently from some of you telling us what a hard time you have been going through in these tough economic times. And I want you to know our prayers are with you and we appreciate so much your faithfulness to Hidden Treasures. I hope in some way this letter will be an encouraging letter for you all.



This last week God really called us and the children to put Him first in all things! Now that is a lot easier said than done, especially when things get a little hard and unexpected problems come up. After several nights of not much sleep staying up with one of our teenagers—who was going through a hard time—I got up early to get the little ones ready for school. To my surprise, a pipe had broken in the kitchen and water was all over the living room floor. It took a while to get things cleaned up but we all rushed around to make it to school on time. The very same day Enrique’s car broke down and one of our children had an allergic reaction to a bug bite. (This is starting to sound like a country song!)



As the week went on it seemed each day brought a new surprise. I would like to say my trust was in the Lord but I raced around trying to make everything better and got more and more stressed in the process. Sometimes we can be focused on all the needs around us but if God is not our primary focus that is when we can get into trouble. God is still at work and He can show up at any minute and take all of our cares away! We always have a family devotional every week, but in light of all that was going on in our house, Enrique called a special meeting early and he started the meeting by reading Psalms 34. Everyone was touched.



Many of you know Nini, who has been living with us for two years, faces many challenges in his family. His mother is an alcoholic and his father lives on the streets. He has struggled, and Enrique and I have spent many nights up late praying for him. He has become part of the family and we all love him dearly, but it has been hard for him to let go of his past and feel truly part of our family. This week in our devotional God really touched his heart! Daniela, our oldest daughter, talked with the children about things she has been facing and began to tell Nini how much she loved him and felt like he was her brother. Enrique and all the children begin to express their love and Nini’s tough heart was broken. He too began to cry and said how much he wanted God to be first in his life. We all could not hold back the tears. Then Nini said, “I feel like I can no longer call you Enrique and Charlyn and I would love to call you Mommy and Poppi, if you wouldn’t mind.” Mabel Ann, our eight year old, was so happy she ran and hugged me and said, “Mommy, we have another son!” All the children laughed! We were all touched and broken before God.



The truth is we will always have needs and problems will always arise, but what is our priority--our needs or the Lord who supplies all our needs? Do we choose to live bogged down in our problems running around stressed day to day or do we focus on Him and rest in His grace? I choose Him!



I would like to share with you part of Psalm 34:1-9---may it touch you as it has touched us:



“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. I cried out to the Lord in my suffering and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him and he rescues them. Taste and see the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who trust in him! Let the Lord’s people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need.”



Sometimes when life gets hard it is hard to keep a good attitude and focus on the Lord but when we do…oh what peace He can bring! Enrique has said this is the year to remain strong and no matter what may come our way keep the Lord first in all things!



This is our prayer: that in the hard times, and in the easy times, we can put God first—relying on Him and only Him! He can bring joy and peace to the weary and heal the broken hearts.



We appreciate your love and support to Hidden Treasures!



Much love,



Enrique and Charlyn Mejia