December 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I believe that each child that has come to live in our home has been hand-picked by the Lord. Each one has a different personality and a different story. As we come to a close on 2014, I think about all the Lord has done this year, and I am amazed at His faithfulness and goodness. This year we received four new children and two of our older children moved out, so this has been a year of many challenges and changes. So many people take family for granted, but for someone who has never had a mother or father or sister or brother, family means everything!

When Marlon came to live with us, he was what some would consider old enough to go out on his own and "fend for himself". But what do you do when you have never had family, no love or guidance, or a place to call home. This was Marlon's dream... something he had longed for since he was little. After seventeen years of trying to find his way and being rejected over and over again, he finally found a place to call home. I will never forget one day, Marlon and I were driving home from church. We were alone and following behind the others. He said, "Charlyn, you know I have never had a real mother so I was wondering, what should I call you?" I said, "Well, Marlon, you can call me whatever you want." Then he looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, "What about Mother?"

I could hardly keep it together and the tears rolled down my cheeks. I had to pull over and he gave me a big hug. Knowing Marlon's story and all he had been through, I knew this was a moment we would never forget. Enrique soon became "Papi" and Marlon just loves to say, "My Papi told me this and my Papi taught me that!" When my Dad came to visit us, Marlon was so happy to have a Grandpa, and my brothers have become his Uncles. Marlon cherishes each member of the family.

Who would have ever thought when he came that the door would open for him to go to law school and speak at church and help young people. And now, he has a full-time job going into schools and teaching about Jesus! He has been praying with and listening to many children who, just like him, were abandoned and rejected, but Marlon gives them hope for a much better and brighter future. Only the Lord can do this! Only the Lord can bring hope where there is no hope and joy where there has only been sorrow.

Everyone needs a family! Christmas is a time to be with the family. I am so grateful that my grandparents and parents always put family first and taught me to do the same. It isn't easy sometimes to be with family…you hear it all the time...some people can't get along or really don't want to be together, but I believe God put us together for a reason. Love is a decision and family is a blessing. God made us to be in families and my hope is that every person, young or old, finds a family; a place to belong and place to grow and learn, and place to love and be loved!

It breaks our hearts when we see children who have no families. This year, our family will be reaching out to eighteen children in our community who have very little and need so much love. Our children will be going out and delivering gifts and spending time with these children during the holidays. These are children who are very special to us!

This will also be Cristal's first Christmas with us. She is almost three years old. The other kids are so excited to decorate the tree and see her little face on Christmas morning. She and our other little girls are so excited and just can't wait for the big day! All the kids are!

We want to thank you so much for all your love and support this year. With four new children, we have needed your prayers and love more than ever in order to face all the challenges this year has brought. We are truly in awe when we look back and see all the Lord has done! Merry Christmas! We pray this will be a wonderful and very blessed Christmas for each one of you.

Much Love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

TO BE A PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
If you or your church would like to participate in a mission trip to work with the Costa Rica Hidden Treasures Children's Home construction project, please contact Ronald Gray: 251.533.4150 (cell) or ronaldkgray@aol.com.

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

November 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

God's love and mercy are what lead us to repentance. Isn't it amazing that God's love and mercy come first. He say's "Follow Me" and there are no requirements; the invitation is for everyone, no matter who we are or what we have done. Isn't that wonderful! But now here comes the hard part: He asks us also to show love and mercy. Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (see John 13).

How will people see? How will they know, if we ourselves have no love and mercy towards each other or for them? Sometimes it is easier to love "sinners" or people we don’t really know, but what about family, friends, and other Christians? God knows us and He knows everything about us and yet He still loves us!

I believe we have to go where the people are, just like Jesus did; to get out and walk and talk, to go where people feel the most comfortable ... which isn't always in church at first. Jesus ate at Matthew's home, a very despised tax collector, and soon found many sinners and other tax collectors had come to join in the party. Jesus went to them.

We are getting ready for Christmas, and this year, we will be reaching out again to many people in the community around us. We want to be able to help our friend, Teresa, who lives with and helps to care for her fifteen grandchildren. Last year, with the generosity of our supporters, they were so blessed and excited to each get a gift and have food on the table.

We really need your help to raise the funds to be able to put a smile on these precious children's faces. We also will have three more children staying with us at Christmas. Their mother recently lost her job at the factory where she works and they don't have much. Their mother grew up an orphan herself and has struggled and worked hard to take care of her children. Enrique and I have helped with their school and clothes and basic needs. We will have a house full in December so we would ask for your prayers as we get ready.

We recently had one of the youth pastors from North Coast Church in San Diego come to visit us and stay in our home. They will be bringing forty young people in March to come and work in the community where we live. They will also be helping in our home and forming friendships with our children. We are very excited to see what the Lord is going to do.

Enrique and the youth pastor went out into the community to meet some of the families who live nearby. One of the boys showed them around the "neighborhood" and was thrilled they had come for a visit. He even showed them where all the kids play "futbol" or soccer in their area. He lives in a small house with his many brothers and sisters and cousins. What a blessing to get to know and make new friends from North Coast Church!

We have a lot going on and I would ask for your prayers for strength and rest in the midst of these challenges and opportunities. Having many in our home and homeschooling four kids every day, some with special needs, has been very time-consuming and requires patience and love!! Enrique "pastors" and is a father to many, not only the ones in our home, but children that we have loved and supported for years. This means late-night calls, meeting with teachers and parents, talking, listening, and praying with them.

We would ask for your prayers for each child and family. Everyone has their own story and needs, but we know God is faithful and our trust is in Him.

We are also so grateful that we had the money donated to us to purchase the much-needed six dehumidifiers. This is going to help so much with the mold in our house. I can't tell you what a blessing this is to us! We are in the rainy season and we have had some leaks in our roof so please be praying we can get that fixed soon. You all have been such a blessing and support to us! Thank you for your love and prayers.

I do believe the best tool we have to win the lost and comfort the down and out is LOVE ... love and mercy first!

Love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

October 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Someday I would love to have a big garden on our land and be able to grow our own vegetables! Almost anything will grow here in Costa Rica because the land is so rich and fertile. Now, I don't know a lot about growing vegetables but one thing I do know is, if you plant tomatoes you are probably not going to get onions. Whatever seed you plant, well that's what you are going to get! The Bible says, " A man reaps what he sows." Everything we do has an effect on us and others.

Many of you have been praying for Yorleny. She was one of our foster children who came to us many years ago when she was only four years old. After several years with us, she was given back to her biological mother, and although she kept in touch with us, she lived with her mother for years.

Her mother is a very critical and demanding person and does not trust anyone. These are the things she has sown into Yorleny for years. So naturally, when Yorleny came back to live with us, these things begin to come out in her too. Enrique and I began to talk to her and pray with her about all of this. She would say to me " Mom, I don't want to be this way." We have known all along the Lord was working on her. We have seen such a big change in her! She herself chose to seek the Lord and ask for help. He has given her such a love for people, and all the hardness has disappeared. We have seen a real softening of her heart. I hear her talking to the kids now and it gives me such joy!

Nothing good grows overnight. It requires watering, patience, and in the end God is the One Who makes it grow! Yorleny made the decision to give everything to the Lord and left her old life behind. She even gave up studying at a good medical school here. It was a very hard decision, since that has always been her dream. But the Lord has been faithful and rewarded her greatly! She got a good job at a wonderful Christian school, and last week she got a scholarship at a very good college not far from our home. She will be studying preschool education. At the beginning of the year, we had no idea how the Lord would turn things around for her, but we just knew He would. We are so grateful for God's faithfulness.

Our pastor, Hugo Zelaya, said, " If you sow mercy and compassion, you will get in return mercy and compassion!" We need to check and see what it is we are planting. If you plant apples, you're going to get apples; don't expect anything different. I don't know about you, but I want mercy. I want joy! I want compassion and LOVE. These are things we need to be planting every day.

We are the light of the world. People can't see that in us when we are negative and down and out. Galatians 6:9 says, " And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we don't give up."

We want to thank you for sowing into us and our family! God is doing great things and it is because of your love and prayers. Our son Marlon, who has only been with us a short while, spoke at church a few Sundays ago. He has a great testimony. We are so excited to see all the Lord is doing in him!

Cristal, our two-year-old, continues to grow, and is getting over her fears. She is so much fun and such a sweet little girl! She has had a skin condition and is on a special diet and medicines. She is getting better. Thank you for your prayers for her.

We are still working to fix the mold problem in our home, which has been an ongoing battle, and a potentially dangerous situation. After consultation, we have realized that we need to get a dehumidifier in every room. We received some money for one last month and we greatly appreciate it. We have children with asthma, so we have to keep the mold out. Each machine costs $350, and we need five more. Would you prayerfully consider a gift over and above your regular support between now and the end of this year to assist us with this need?

And, please do keep us in your prayers and in your giving. While we do have special needs, we also have the day-to-day, week-to-week responsibilities of caring for the children and also reaching out into the neighborhood and schools. Thank you so much for being a part of this ministry!

God bless and much Love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

September 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Learning to ask for forgiveness or learning to forgive others starts at a very young age. It is never easy, and I watch our two year old struggle with this every day. Sometimes, in an attempt to not have to forgive or ask for forgiveness, she will even throw herself on the floor and say "No!" But she has learned that it only makes things worse, and sooner or later, she will have to say she is sorry. We have to teach our children the importance of forgiving others. If I am not willing to forgive others, I cannot teach or expect that my children will be quick to forgive others either.

Last year, we had a lady working in our home that stole some very precious things from me. The things she stole had great sentimental value to me. I was terribly hurt and our family was, too. Enrique and I had to let her go. We trusted this lady and had taken her into our family. The kids loved her and had spent time with her too. We were all so shocked and disappointed. I had been a friend to her and we had reached out to her family. d meal, visiting friends or family in need, or a good old heart-to-heart phone call!

One night when I could not fall asleep, the Lord spoke to me and He said, "I want you to forgive her." I heard it very clear and I knew what I had to do. I knew He was at work! Not only was He working on her but on me, too. I began to pray for her and the Lord put love in my heart and the anger disappeared. We had a family meeting with all the kids and I told them we had to love her and forgive her in spite of what she had done. It was a time to be able to show them the importance of forgiving and putting it into practice.

When you remember you have experienced grace and have been forgiven, you are a lot more forgiving and gracious toward others! This is something we remind our children of often. God has done great things in each of their lives! He has forgiven us even when we did not deserve it and that is why we have no choice but to do the same.

Each one of the children who have come to live with us have come because someone let them down; someone abandoned them, hurt them, and took away all their trust. But what other people do does not affect what God can do! When we trust Him, we are able to forgive, and then in turn we allow Him to be able to work in us! Trusting the Lord means giving up ALL control and laying down our own will.

Many years ago, Enrique was struggling with being able to forgive his father. A pastor told him, "Enrique, it isn't your father's fault now; it is yours, because you know the truth. You know the Lord! You must forgive your father." It really took Enrique by surprise, but they prayed, and Enrique was able to forgive him!

God healed all the hurt and their relationship changed, and later, Enrique's father met the Lord. Just look what God does when we forgive! It all begins with us! Please pray for our children. Some of them are in contact with their biological parents, and it isn't easy. But we are so proud of our kids and what the Lord is doing in their lives. They have been willing to lay it all down and give all their hurts and struggles to the Lord.

We are very happy because Yorleny has gotten a job as a teacher's assistant at a Christian school near our home. She loves her job and feels she is making a difference in the children's lives there. God is faithful! Thank you for praying for her. She hopes to start studying teaching in January.

We still need to get more dehumidifiers for our house; mold has been a significant problem for the children. The humidity is so bad here that we truly need a dehumidifier in every room. They are not cheap, costing $350 dollars each. Please pray we will have the resources to get them. Without them, things get very moldy and smelly. They also help keep the mold from damaging the ceilings.

Also, as more children are coming to stay with us on a regular basis, we find that we now need a couple of more twin beds and mattresses. Our home is being filled with children and with love. Would you please prayerfully consider a special gift or regular monthly financial support?

We appreciate your friendship, prayers, and support very much. We believe God can transform and change anyone! Thank you for making a difference in so many lives here.

Love and forgiveness go together ... you can't have one without the other!

much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

June 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We are so excited to tell you that we have a new member in our family! Her name is Cristal and she is just two years old. She has been with us almost three weeks now. She is precious and is a very happy, energetic little girl. Cristal has been through so much and needs lots of special attention and love. She has been rejected by so many in her life and never has had a stable home with a mother and father.

These first few weeks she has gotten very scared at night and clings to me. She fights to stay awake and wakes up many times during the night. As long as she is with me and held she is fine. She checks to make sure that Enrique or I are by her side. She has been very scared of being taken away. She needs extra love and care while she gets adjusted and feels secure. After several weeks of almost no sleep, we were completely worn out and she was too! We want to thank you so much for all your prayers. The last few nights, she has slept through the night until 5:00 am, and we have been able to get some rest!!

Each night before she goes to sleep, I rock her and hold her tightly so she can feel safe. Every night we say a prayer for all the kids, saying their names one by one. She is always very quiet and listens carefully, but last night as I prayed, she wanted to say each child's name. She reminded me of all the names, making sure not to forget anyone! It was such a sweet prayer, and at the very end, she said "love you Jesus!" ... "amo Jesus!" ... and clapped her hands in delight! We know she may not remember us one day, but our prayer is that she will always remember Him, the One who loved her first! We really don't know how long she will be with us, but while she is here, we will love her with all our hearts and pray the seeds we plant will grow and grow!

Something the Lord has put on my heart in these last few months is to remember that in everything I do, my focus has to be on HIM! It cannot be about ME! When we lose our focus, then it becomes all about me and my hurts and feelings. Focusing on our hurts and pain keep us paralyzed and we cannot do what the Lord has called us to do. Jesus suffered and He was in pain, but He did it all for the Father and the love He had for each one of us!

We have challenged each one of our kids to put Jesus first in everything, even in cleaning or washing the dishes, we do it with a grateful heart and unto the Lord. Each one of our children have different personalities and are very different, but in order to get along and be a team, we have to learn to work together. That means praying together and talking together and being willing to work out our differences.

They have decided to meet together every week and pray and talk about how they can be better, even confronting each other on things that are not correct. Learning to get along with others has to start at home and in the family, as do mercy, love, and compassion. I am so proud of them and we have seen a big change in each one! They are facing challenges, and the Lord is moving in their lives. It isn't easy, but we are so excited to see what the Lord is doing!

Please be praying; we have a lot before us. Cristal came with nothing and we have gotten her the basic things she needs: clothes, diapers, baby cups and plates, and a high chair. But she has not been vaccinated, and her mouth is full of cavities. We are also going to have to take her to an orthopedic doctor because her little feet and knees go in when she walks, and one of her legs is not straight. The government health care will take care of some of the cost but not nearly all of it, so we are trusting the Lord with all her needs. In June, her sister, Sofia, who is four years old, will come and stay with us for a month-and- a-half. Sofia's foster family will be traveling and can’t take her with them. The two sisters will be meeting together and spending time together so they will not lose touch. We feel this is very important! We will need to have a bed and place for Sofia too.

A quick update: Marlon started college last week and we are so excited for him. He has worked so hard to overcome the challenges and difficulties in his life. He wants more than anything to have accountability and direction in his life. He looks to Enrique as his pastor and father. He has been a blessing to our family. We have gotten special tutors and help for Alexander, and he is working hard to finish eighth grade. Yorleny will be volunteering and working in a Christian school near our home. We are so grateful she will have this opportunity!

We have a full house and many needs and challenges before us but we are so blessed to have each one of our children, and are so grateful for your love and support! Please remember us in your giving this month and throughout the Summer. Thank you so much!

much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

May 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This past month, we have been studying about the life of Jesus with the kids and seeing how each one of us can be more like Him. Peter, who loved Jesus deeply, wanted to defend Him. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter cut off Malchus' ear. Even in one of the most difficult moments in Jesus' life, He wasn't as concerned about helping Himself as He was about Malchus' ear. Jesus chose love over hurt, healing over violence. Wow, I want to love more like that! The love we show to people has to be a reflection of Jesus; it cannot be about me! I believe when we show love to people who have hurt us the most, that is when real change begins to happen!

Recently, Enrique and I have been going through a program here with a group called "Casa Vida." They are a Christian group working with the government to place children in homes with other Christian families. We went for several weeks to meet with them and talk about how we could help. They recently came out to our home and met all our kids and saw where we lived. We appreciate all of you who have been praying and sent us encouraging messages. Our interview and meeting went very well and we could be receiving more children in our home very soon. We may be receiving newborns right out of the hospital, so we have been very busy getting a room set up for very little ones. Everyone in the family is very excited, and even our youngest, Madi, is very proud that soon she may be the "big sister"!

Right now, we have nine children in our home. Just a few months ago, Yorleny and her brother Alexander and their cousin Marlon moved in with us. Yorleny started medical school in February and Marlon will start college in May. Alexander is still in high school. As many of you know, Yorleny and Alexander lived with us many years ago, and then were given back to their biological mother. Marlon moved in with them after being abandoned by his father and mother.

Things have been very hard for them. We were always in touch with them and they have been a part of our family, but they have suffered greatly living with their mother and her live-in boyfriend. We have cried many tears with the children, hearing about what all they have been through over the years. We ask for your prayers because the Lord is doing a great work in their lives, and we see Him moving in each one.

Yorleny's mother has lied and manipulated all of them, and they recently had to cut all ties with their "family". It was a very hard decision that they all made. They were very brave, and they have trusted in the Lord. We found out Yorleny's mother was paying for her college in a way that was very displeasing to the Lord, and although Yorleny's dream is to be a pediatrician, she wants her life to honor and please the Lord. She told her mother she could no longer accept her help with school or anything else. Yorleny has been an excellent student and a very hard worker, but she is willing to give up medical school and see what the Lord would want.

Enrique and I cannot afford to pay for her college, but we will be helping her to continue on the next quarter in a few classes, and she will be looking for a job. We are also applying for a school loan. We are so proud of her being obedient to the Lord. It hasn't been easy but she has honored her mother through it all.

Alexander is very behind in school. We think he may have a learning disability and will need special help. Alexander was legally blind in one eye when he was born, and had surgery when he was 10 to correct his problem. His school work has suffered and he has never gotten the help he needs; we are now working together with him to resolve this. Enrique and I love him and love studying with him at home, but it is an ongoing challenge.

Marlon has been really touched by the Lord and his heart is to be a pastor. He has a gift with reaching out to young people and he loves all people. We have been up hours listening and talking and praying with Yorleny, Alexander, and Marlon, and we are excited for what the Lord is doing. They are learning to forgive and love despite everything that has happened. It will take time and we are praying for healing in each one of their lives.

We would appreciate your continued prayers and financial support this month. This will require an investment of time and money to get the help they need. If it is in your heart to help them with school and special help they may need, please let us know. We are trusting in the Lord and know He will provide all our needs.

We are also praying for Yorleny and Alexander's mother. Marlon has been in contact with his parents, too. God's love is great and although they have been hurt, we know the love of God is great and He can change people, even the ones who have hurt us the most!

We have a lot before us, and your love and support means so much to us! You can find us on Facebook at "Hidden Treasures Costa Rica" and online at HiddenTreasuresOutreach.com. We have lots of stories, updates, and pictures. We are taking on more children this year and may have more very soon to care for and love. Thank you so much for standing with us!

much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

April 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

No one really knows the private struggles and challenges that people face. It is sad to me that so many people feel like they don't have anyone in the world that they can talk to. Why is that? One of the best things that we can do is listen...really listen! An open heart and listening ears is a precious gift. Listening to someone puts the focus and attention all on them. What a great way to show love! So one thing I have learned is to listen, even if you have to bite your tongue, sometimes, because love heals!

This last month has been a time for listening. Having so many teenagers and young people in our house requires a lot of listening. I am shocked by all the challenges young people face today. They need so much prayer and support and many days we are up late talking, listening, and praying. We have a variety of kids in our home: adopted, biological, and foster. We love them all the same and each one of them belongs to us. They are part of our family. But each one faces different challenges and some have seen and faced things we could never imagine.

This last week, I was called several times by young girls to see if they could come to the house and talk. Even though I was busy with cooking, cleaning, school projects, and listening to my own kids, I knew I had to make time for them too. What a precious time we had. One of the girls talked three hours without stopping...wow!! But she needed to talk, and my job was to listen and listen some more! My oldest daughter, Daniela, has joined me to listen and pray with these sweet girls, and she knows to bring the Kleenex because our hearts break when we hear the things they face. Daniela has such a powerful testimony of how God brought her out of a life of abuse and pain, and this is such an encouragement to these girls.

One thing my pastor shared with me recently was that when I am afraid and face fears, I must let the Lord know how much I love Him; to begin to proclaim my love for Him, and then my fears would go away. This was something I had never thought about, at least not in this way. Then, at our home group meeting, they talked about the story of the lady who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. She had lived a life of great sin, but all her sins were taken away -- gone completely! And all she did was show Jesus her love for Him. I am sure she left a free and new woman. Can you imagine? How exciting is that? What Jesus wants more than anything else is our love, our complete devotion, to Him!

Love does take away our fear and heals our sins. I have shared this with my kids and the kids who have come to see me, and we have begun to tell the Lord how much we love Him. Our fears begin to go away and God begins to move. He knows our fears and He knows the unseen battles we are facing! I've heard it said that, "There is more mercy in Christ than all the problems and sin in us!"

Please join with me to pray for the kids we are working with and the kids in our home. We have nine at all times now, and others who come in and out regularly. There are so many needs. Also, Enrique has started working with the youth in our church. Pray for the church and the young people. God is at work and we are excited about what He is doing.

We have also started meeting with the young married couples. Last Sunday after church we had ten couples at our house and our kids played with and watched their kids; it was a very full house. We had a wonderful meeting and time of fellowship ... and cafe con leche, of course! Enrique and I spoke on focusing on seeing the good in your spouse and shutting your eyes to the bad! Well you can imagine we had some very good discussions. God is working and healing marriages, too. We are very excited about friendships we are making with these precious couples.

Thank you so much for your prayers!! We have a lot before us. Please pray for good health and strength, and please continue to remember us in your budget and special giving. We are all fighting unseen battles! Every day we need more grace and more love!

much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

March 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

February was a big month for us! We are so happy that we were able to help thirty children in our community buy school uniforms and some school supplies! We also helped other children in other communities, as we do every year. I wish you could have seen their happy faces ... and not just the children's but their parents faces as well. They are so excited to get the opportunity to go to school!

Enrique was out talking to people and raising money. We met precious people who wanted to help, and this is very encouraging to us. We even got a big discount from the company who distributes the school uniforms! When we started out, we had nothing but a long list of children's names that needed help. We were not sure how we would raise the money, but God did the rest! We even had extra uniforms and supplies for children that were not even on the list.

Enrique was able to share with our church about the goodness and faithfulness of God. Enrique really felt that God spoke to him and told him not to focus on what he doesn't have but focus on what he does have, and what we have is the Lord! It reminded me of the story in the Bible just before Jesus fed the 5,000 the fish and loaves of bread. He asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" Philip answered, "Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Philip was thinking about the money and the crowd, and he didn't even see WHO was standing right in front of him!

We were also very touched when we gave uniforms to a family with three young children whose father has a very bad reputation in the community where we live. He has done some very bad things, including stealing from many who live around us and has been in and out of jail. Enrique was very surprised to get a call the next day from this man thanking us for giving his children the chance to go to school. He was very touched that we would choose his family. Sometimes we think we may be giving a uniform but we are giving so much more and this becomes a door to share the love of Jesus.

Please pray for the people who live in our community. It is a very tough place, so many people are in desperate need of the Lord. As we get to know more families and reach out to more children we are seeing and hearing more of the terrible problems and challenges they face. It is hard to trust people and we have to be very wise and really hear what the Lord is saying.

I have been challenged everyday by something my dad told me when he was here. Our neighbors had just poisoned two of our dogs and we were all feeling very sad and angry. Dad challenged us to love them anyways in spite of what they had done. He even suggested we invite them over for dinner. Can you imagine? He told us to remember, it is not about what they did but it is about who we are. We love people not because of what they have done but because of what God did for us on the Cross.

God has been challenging us to lay it all down and love like He does. When Jesus says love your neighbor, He is talking about even the unlovable ones, the ones that may get on our nerves or hurt us and even the ones that steal and lie. Jesus is clearly asking us to step outside our comfort zone and He is not only working on them but He is working on ME!

Something that brings tears to my eyes is to think when Jesus asked Philip "Where shall we buy the bread?" He uses the word WE! He didn't say where shall you buy the bread. We just have to remember we are not alone; He is right there to help us feed the hungry and clothe the poor, and He changes our hearts so that we CAN love the unlovable and people we could never imagine we were capable of loving. It is all about HIM!

Thank you for your prayers! These last few months have been challenging, but we are so blessed by God's love and faithfulness. It is hard to express just how much your love and support means to us but we love and appreciate you very much!

much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

P.S. Please continue to keep praying for this ministry and for all of those that we are reaching. Also, please keep us in your budget this month as we face increased needs ministering to more children. Thanks again!

No goods or services were received in exchange for this contribution. Hidden Treasures is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

February 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Last night Enrique spoke at one of the home groups we have in our church. He asked the questions, "What is God asking of us? What does God want me to do personally?" Since the beginning of the year, it seems we and many of our friends and family have been in a real battle, facing many problems and difficulties. This year we decided as a family to lay everything down and give it all to the Lord. We met together with the kids and together, we made the decision to seek the Lord with all our hearts and made commitments to pray and read the Bible every day.

The very next day, it seemed that all hell broke loose on us! Was that a coincidence? I think not! Our cars broke down and my washing machine quit working and other difficulties arose, at the very same time our sweet, determined girl Yorleny started medical school! Who would of thought almost fourteen years ago when she came into our home and then moved out and was given back to her birth mother, with all the challenges and difficulties she faced, that she would be able to go to college! And today, her greatest desire is to serve others and help children. Nothing or noone was going to take away from the joy of her first day of school! God is at work, even when we are blinded by our own troubles and circumstances; He is faithful!

Enrique has been asked by several young men if he will be their pastor. He is very excited about this, and has been in prayer with them. Enrique has been helping Marlon, Yorleny's cousin, to get into a college. They have been looking for scholarships and different options so he can study. Marlon is a wonderful young man and loves the Lord, but he has faced all kinds of challenges being rejected by just about everyone in his family. He has become a big part of our family and has been staying with us until he gets on his feet.

Many nights, Enrique receives calls to mentor and counsel with young men. There are so many young men now who are looking for a father and someone they can trust. Please be in prayer for these young men. We know God has big things ahead for them too! Many times, the devil tries to distract us with all our problems and difficulties but nothing can take away the overwhelming goodness of God!

I am very happy to report that Enrique has had some good talks with the government office about receiving more children into our home soon. We are getting more beds and blankets and are almost finished with all the bathrooms, so before too long, a social worker will be coming to look at our home. We are prepared to use Enrique's office and set it up for babies if we are given very little ones. Please be in prayer with us. We have a lot before us.

February starts a new school year here. Public schools are free, but children are required to wear uniforms and buy their books and school supplies. For many families here, that is a big burden financially. We are raising money and talking to people who would like to sponsor a child by buying a uniform or notebooks. We have over twenty families we will be helping in our community. We still need more help with this, and if the resources are there, there are still many more children that need help. Please be in prayer about this. We believe every child should have the opportunity to study and go to school. February will be a very big month for us, getting our own children back in school as well. I will be homeschooling some, and others will be starting classes at a school nearby. We also will have three kids in college, and many other ministry responsibilities, so we would very much appreciate your prayers and financial support during this month!

In Deuteronomy 10:12 It says, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?" That is the question...what is He requiring of each one of us? The Bible says, "He requires you to fear Him, to live according to His will, to love and worship Him with all your heart and soul." I believe in order to do this, we have to lay everything down before Him and give everything we have to Him. This means a willingness to give things up, too, which can be very hard. But I believe God is calling us to a higher place and a deeper walk with Him. After our meeting last night, Marlon told Enrique, "I don't think I have ever really asked that question, "What does God really want from me?" He is very excited to see and is seeking the Lord for the answer!

God is at work and we must stand firm through all the difficulties and challenges we face. He is faithful to bring us through. We pray the Lord will bless you and we appreciate so much your love and support!

Much love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

January 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and we pray that this will be a very blessed New Year for you all!

Christmas is such a big time for us, and this year was busier than ever and full of surprises. We want to thank you for helping us to be able to give to so many children this year! A few days before Christmas, we delivered gifts and food to some very needy families. We have gotten to be friends with a dear lady in our community who, would you believe, has 20 grandchildren, and she is only 49 years old! They all live in the same area and pretty much under one roof.

When we arrived at their home, they were all sitting in a very dark room on a dirt floor and no electricity. They giggled and whispered as we entered the room. Then one by one, they came out and formed a line to receive their presents. I wish you could have seen all their happy faces. Their mothers were all waiting and watching too. Enrique was able to get a great deal at a shoe store near us, and the boys got new shoes for soccer and a toy. So many of the boys play soccer in their bare feet, and I can´t tell you how happy they were to be able to put on a brand new pair of shoes! "Now we are like real football players," they shouted!

The little girls laughed and jumped up and down with their new baby dolls! They told me they had never gotten a new doll before. They quickly were on the ground in a circle all playing happily! One of the lady's daughters took us to a back room in the house; it was so dark and it seemed like you could get lost on the way. But there, in a very small room was a sweet baby sound asleep. We all squeezed in the room and "oohhed and ahhed" over the baby. There are three babies living in the house and they are in desperate need of clothes and diapers and basic things for the babies. I will be going with my girls to check up on them and bring some basic things that they need. Please be praying for Teresa and her family. They have many health issues and other needs.

We also were so excited and blessed that our five adopted children were able to meet their other three siblings! They are Jose (age twelve), Esther (age ten), and Juan (age four). Enrique and I have been praying and waiting for just the right moment for them all to meet and this was the best Christmas gift ever! It was a very emotional and happy time for all the kids, lots of hugs and tears. Enrique and I have been supporting and spending time with their three other siblings for years. We are so grateful for God's love and faithfulness!

Besides my adopted children, our biological children were so touched, and Esther said to them, "If you are my siblings' sisters, than that makes you my sisters too!" And Alexander, who is not blood-related to any of the kids, but very much part of our family, said he couldn't wait to meet his new siblings too! It isn't blood that makes us a family, but it is the same heart and love that we all share that brings us together and makes us one. Only God can do that!

I wanted to let you all know that we have been spending a lot of time with Yorleny and Alexander, and their cousin Marlon. They still stay with us often. Many of you will remember that Yorleny and Alexander lived with us when they were just three and four years old for several years. They were put back with their biological mother but have remained very much a part of us. Yorleny will be coming to live with us again. She will be starting college and going to medical school. She is a very good student with very high grades and her dream is to be a pediatrician and help needy children. We are so proud of her! Despite all she has been through she has excelled and done very well.

Marlon will be starting school, too, and he needs lots of guidance and support. He is an excellent young man, who loves the Lord, only 17, and he looks to Enrique as his pastor and mentor. He never has had a father or a family. We are praying about the possibility of him coming to live with us while he begins college and gets his feet on the ground. Please be praying about this with us; we have some big decisions to make and we are very excited to see what all the Lord is doing in Yorleny and Marlon's lives.

We also are continuing the work on our home, finishing bathrooms and putting in a driveway and gate, and much more. We are so happy to be able to continue this necessary work. It is such a blessing to all the kids and our family to be able to see more progress being made on the home. We so appreciate all your love and support! Thank you for blessing so many families this year with gifts and food and truly blessing our family beyond words. We love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers!

love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia