December 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

When we think about Christmas, we think about giving. Christmas is a time that we can reach out to people, like buying a gift for a needy child or bringing over a meal for a hungry family. But really, EVERY day is an opportunity to give.

A few years ago, our son Abraham started playing the violin. After playing for awhile, he said to me, "Mom, I don't just want to play the violin for me. I want to give everything I do to the Lord. I want the Lord to use this in some way." Recently, Abraham brought his violin to the company where he works. A coworker had asked him to bring it so he could play. He ended up making a new friend and being able to share his testimony. He left very happy that day from work but God had more plans!

On Abraham's way home, he was in San Jose waiting for the bus. While waiting in a long line, he saw a young man standing nearby. He looked very dirty and disoriented. Abraham noticed that he was blind and carried a long walking stick. He heard the Lord say, "Go and talk to that man." As the people started boarding the bus, Abraham knew he had to go instead and talk to this man and find out who he was. He asked the man, "Are you alright?" and the man said, "I was robbed last night and I have no way to get home. They took everything, and all my money." Abraham said, "I bet you are hungry too. . .how about we go and eat?"

They went to a nearby little typical restaurant. Abraham ordered two hamburgers and they ate together. As they talked, the young man began to tell Abraham about his love for music. So naturally Abraham began to tell the man about his love for the violin. "Wow!" the man said, "It has always been my dream to play a violin. Can you tell me how it feels?" Abraham began describing the violin to the blind man, but then Abraham said, "I can do better than that. I have my violin here with me. Would you like to play it?" He put the violin in the man's hands, and as the man put the bow up to the strings and heard the violin play, tears came streaming down his face.

Abraham could hardly hold back the tears himself! This had been this man's dream and now he was getting the chance to play! After finishing dinner, Abraham gave the man bus passes to get home and some extra money, and they parted ways. He found out he lives not too far from us in a one room apartment and I imagine this won't be the end of the story.

When Abraham arrived home, he couldn't wait to tell us about his day and all that had happened. I think we all shed some tears and I don't know who was more blessed, the blind man or Abraham! Both lives were changed. Abraham has always thought maybe the Lord would use his talents to play in church, and that is a good thing, but if we give all our talents and dreams over to the Lord, He usually does things we never expected or imagined. I do know this, the poor and needy are very closed to God's heart and our call is to go “out” to them in love, feeding them and sharing the Good News!

God had an appointment set up for this very special man and Abraham to meet, and it was the very same day Abraham took his violin to work! How amazing is that? God loves us! He sees us! He puts things all together in His perfect timing! Please pray for Abraham. He is working hard to save money for college and is finishing high school. We know that Lord has His hand on his life and we are very grateful.

This year we are helping to plan three different Christmas parties in our community for needy children. Around fifty children will be coming to each. We are also planning a Christmas party for the mothers in our community who have been bringing their children to the feeding center. I have been putting up information on the Hidden Treasures Costa Rica Facebook Page. If you would like to help us bless a child and a mother this year, please let us know.

We always help our good friend Teresa at Christmas too. She has so many needs. They need blankets and basic things to keep warm at night. It can get very chilly up here in the mountains. If we get enough donations above and beyond our regular monthly support, I would like to get blankets for them. We need about eight more blankets. I recently gave Teresa a new, warm, fuzzy blanket and she was thrilled! She has been very sick and really needed a warm blanket at night.

We have a lot of financial needs this year and we also have a car tax and house tax that we will have to pay by the end of the year. Please pray all these needs will be met. We are trusting the Lord and working hard in the areas He has set before us. When we have financial overflow, we are sharing it with others. Our desire is that each one of our children know that giving is where the blessing is!

We cannot thank you enough for your love and support! You have blessed us and so many! Please pray for Magda, the lady who runs the feeding center. She is a dear lady and works without a salary and has many needs. We want to be able to continue giving and blessing her. I will put up pictures on Facebook of the children and all that is to come during the holidays. We are so excited!!

Much love and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia

P.S. Please continue to remember our ministry in your giving this month and throughout 2015. For more information and photos, follow Hidden Treasures Costa Rica on Facebook or at HiddenTreasuresOutreach.com.

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 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

After dinner has been cooked, dishes have been cleaned and put away, homework is done, and children are bathed and clean, it's time to tuck the little ones in bed. Enrique and I usually take turns because the girls love and need time with their Papi too! And even though, by then, I am feeling pretty worn out, it is still one of my favorite times of the day! Snuggling up with our little girls and reading a bed time story and saying our prayers are precious moments that only last for a short while and then they grow up!

We don't know how long we will be able to do this with our foster daughter, Cristal. She probably won't be with us forever, although we would love that; she will be put up for adoption at some point. Hearing her sweet bedtime prayers is extra special and something we don't take for granted. When Cristal first came into our home, she didn't know anything about praying, bedtime stories, or snuggling with her mother; everything was new. Each night while I rocked her to sleep, I would pray over her and at the end of each prayer, I would tell her how much Jesus loved her, and that He was her Father.

After a few months, she knew the routine and she would always say "I love you Jesus," and she would clap and smile. Now that she is older, she is praying on her own and her prayers have brought us to tears; and, sometimes we even have to bite our tongues to keep from laughing. Recently, Cristal has been starting each prayer by saying, "Father mine!" This really took me by surprise! Whenever she talks to God she refers to Him as "Father mine". Our youngest daughters, Mabel and Madi, were so excited, and Madi said, "Mommy did you hear Cristal? She said Jesus was her Father!" Some days are very hard for the family, especially for Mabel and Madi, to think Cristal will one day leave and have a new earthly father and mother. At the same time, how exciting to know that she knows her heavenly Father and has claimed Him as her very own!

Knowing our heavenly Father and having our identity in Him is extremely important! These are things we talk about in our home with all our children. Recently I heard a pastor say, "We must talk to our children about G.O.D. more than MVP or GPA." What we focus on grows. If we just focus on ourselves and our own accomplishments, then that is what becomes big in our children lives, but if we focus on Jesus, then He becomes big. It is easy to become distracted and focus on the wrong things, but we must point our children to the eternal and not just the temporary. No matter what personality our children may have, being loving and kind and having the heart of God must be the focus. After all, it ISN'T about me but it IS about HIM! And as a friend of mine says "Living out the Gospel is ALL that matters!"

These next few weeks will be really big months for us as we get ready for Christmas. Our children are already counting down the days. This year we want to make sure each child that comes to the feeding center will receive a gift. There are also children who desperately need new shoes. There are between 25-30 children coming for breakfast during the week. We would like to spend approximately $25 dollars for a gift or a new pair of shoes for each child.

There will also be a fun Christmas party and activities in December for the children. Please keep these precious children in mind; for most of them, this will be their only Christmas celebration. Also we are planning how we can give to several families in our neighborhood. They have many needs and we are praying to see how we can bless them. We continue to support and spend time with the siblings of our adopted children. They are very important to us and they will be part of our Christmas celebrations. We sure do appreciate you keeping these children in your hearts and prayers.

Please be in prayer for Teresa, a lady in our community that is very dear to our hearts. She has been very sick. Many of you have heard of her and some of you have come down with mission teams to work on her house. She lives with twenty of her very young grandchildren. They really need our love and prayers! Enrique has been very involved with the family but we need wisdom to know the best way to help.

It is such a blessing to me to see my children excited about our home church! Hugo and Carlos Zelaya, our pastors, have brought some very powerful and encouraging messages over the last few months and we have been very blessed. I was feeling down after having to miss several Sundays because of sick little ones, but having my family come home so excited to fill me in on everything over Sunday lunch would make any mother happy!

Marlon and Yorleny, two of our oldest, are studying at a seminary nearby on weekends, and are loving their classes. They are really excited about working with the youth and reaching out to new young people in the community.

We appreciate your continued prayers for each of our children. We are so grateful to God for His faithfulness in each one of their lives! Thank you for standing with us in your prayers and in your giving. Would you please continue, especially in these months? We are amazed at your love and how God has sustained us; He is faithful! God is a God of hope and life!

In one of Pastor Hugo's recent messages, he said, "It is not about what moves me, but it IS about what moves God. It doesn't matter if I like it or not!" I want to be moved by what moves God. I want HIM to come first in my life and in my family's life. This is my prayer! We love and appreciate each one of you. Thank you so 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.

October 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We have all been broken at times and life can get us down, but God is never far away; He is right there! He has a way of encouraging us or showing us things when we least expect it. I am amazed every day by His love for each one of us. Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Let me tell a quick story of how the famous Italian Chef Massimo Bottura made his famous dessert, which is called, "Oops I dropped the Lemon Tart". He had been making and serving a perfectly good lemon tart that looked pretty much like any other lemon tart, very well put together and quite lovely but one night, one of his chefs dropped the lemon tart on the counter, breaking it into pieces, right before it was to be served! Oh nooooooo…disaster right? But then to everyone's surprise, instead of panicking or getting angry, Massimo carefully picked up the broken pieces and put them on the plate. It dawned on him that there was beauty in the mess that had been made! He added some new ingredients and soon it became a work of art; a new dish had been born!

People come from all over the world to Massimo's restaurant and almost always order the "Oops, I dropped the Lemon Tart." Massimo looked into the camera, just as if he were talking to me, and said "Out of something broken comes something beautiful!" I could not hold back my tears as I thought of each one of my children, their stories and their brokenness. God carefully puts us back together the way He wants, and instead of being ordinary, we become extraordinary! God sees the beauty in brokenness because it is there that He can come and make us TRULY into what we were meant to be!

After telling my husband, Enrique, what I felt in the lemon tart story, he reminded me of another story where something had to be broken. Mark 14:3 it talks about a woman that came to Jesus with a jar of very expensive perfume. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. The woman had to break open the perfume in order for the beautiful fragrance to come out. Left unbroken, the perfume was trapped in the bottle; but broken, all the beauty was able to come out, blessing Jesus with a wonderful fragrance and glorifying God by her sacrifice unto Him. Our brokenness can and should lead us back to Him…and that is a beautiful thing!

The community where we live is filled with people who struggle each day. Their struggles are real and their needs are great. I recently got to know a young girl in our community and I invited her out to a nearby coffee shop. I knew her mother had left her and her younger sisters and wanted to see how we could help. I had no idea what she would tell me as we drank coffee that day! "When I was fourteen years old, I was abused by an older man who lived next door," she said. "He locked me up in his house and forced me to do terrible things and this went on day after day for over a year. My mother did not believe me when I pleaded for help. No one heard me crying out for help and no one seemed to care." As she went into more details of her life, my heart broke for her, and to make matters worse her mother soon fell in love with the same horrible neighbor and left and they live together in another town. Can you imagine?

I asked, "How are you dealing with all this? That is so terrible, and I am so sorry." Then she looked at me with the sweetest face and said, "Don't be sorry…that is how I met Jesus! You see, no one heard me, but He did and He saved me!" I have to say I was blown away with her answer. She continued, "He has healed me of all my hurts, so you see, if I had to go through all that in order to meet Him, then it is all worth it because He is the most wonderful thing in my life."

Again, God showed me that out of something broken came something beautiful. Before we left, she gave me a hug and said, "I could use a friend though. Could we meet together every month and talk?" Wow, I felt honored! "Of course," I said. We have had some great visits and it is a privilege to be her friend! She gave me permission to share her story with you in hopes to encourage you as she has encouraged me. She is only seventeen and is working hard to support her siblings and finish school. Please be in prayer for her.

The world measures our success by how much we know or how much money we have or even our good looks, but the Cross shows us a very different way of measuring success. It was through pain and suffering and, yes, brokenness that we can now come to HIM! And that is the most beautiful story of all. Jesus doesn't want us to live broken and He definitely does not panic when our lives are a mess. He wants to pick up all the pieces, if we will let Him, and He WILL do extraordinary things!

These last few months have been challenging. At times we have felt broken and have been tempted to give up. But in the midst of it all, God brings new hope and constantly challenges us to grow and trust in Him more each day. Today, Enrique met an older man from the United States. It wasn't something Enrique planned, but God did. The man has run a children's home for years. I cannot tell you how encouraged Enrique felt by listening to him share. He prayed with Enrique and just loved and encouraged him. That was what Enrique needed. They talked for hours! He came home a different man!

Some new doors are opening up for Enrique; he is working very hard. Please be in prayer for him and all he is doing. God never said it would be easy, but He did promise to always be there! Things have been very tight financially and we would ask you to be in prayer for us, and to consider a special financial gift to support this ministry during October.

Be in prayer for the feeding center and our little foster daughter Cristal. Also our son Abraham, has started working; his hours are long, and he leaves the house by 4:30AM to walk to the bus stop. But, he is excited and telling people of the great things God has done. We are very proud of him and thankful to you for walking with him all these years. We appreciate each of you and you are in our hearts and prayers!

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 2015 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.

August 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Being bi-lingual here in Costa Rica, I love to read Bible verses in both Spanish and English to compare what they say. Sometimes it can give you a whole new perspective or a little bigger picture of what the Lord wants to say. Enrique, my husband, loves to read the Bible to our family! He gets very excited to share with me and the kids what he sees in different verses. One of his favorite Scripture passages says:

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).

Verse 7 in Spanish says, "sino que se despojó a sí mismo tomando forma de siervo, haciéndose semejante a los hombres." Though Jesus is God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God. He made Himself as though He was nothing ... He came to us as a simple servant.

When Enrique reads these verses to us, I always imagine a great King dressed in beautiful robes and wearing a beautiful crown in all His riches and glory; then putting His robes down and taking off His crown to become just like me. A seemingly plain man in plain clothes and worn sandals hanging out with just plain old ordinary people. We really don't know just how much Jesus gave up. The essence of God did not disappear, but He let go of his place. I believe the only way we can be like Jesus is dying to ourselves every day.

Recently, we had a few days with just our littlest girls. It was so much fun to just be with them and do little girl things. We still don't know how long our three-year-old, Crystal, will be with us in foster care. Somedays I wish with all my heart she could stay on with us forever. She has so much joy and life. Of course after almost a year and half with us, it can be hard to think of letting her go. When my heart begins to hurt, thinking of the day when she might have to go, I am reminded again that my feelings really don't matter. What matters is my obedience to Jesus, doing what he says. I may have to suffer but I trust Him. I don't believe God is as concerned about our feelings as He is that His will be done.

Being afraid of getting hurt can prevent us from being obedient to God. It is so much easier to run and hide and hunker down somewhere than being vulnerable to getting hurt. But pain causes growth, and growth gets us to where we need to be. The Bible says, Jesus learned obedience through suffering -- imagine that! Jesus Himself learned! So how are we going to learn? Well, probably the same way!

We want to tell you about a few projects we are working on. On the Hidden Treasures Costa Rica Facebook page, I have been putting up pictures of children we are feeding each week. These are precious children. We really need your help in order to be able to continue feeding them and to be able to grow. These are very needy children who are in desperate need of good healthy meals during the week. Right now we feed 25-30 children twice per week, but we have many children on a waiting list anxious to come. Not only do they get fed but they get to do a craft and hear a wonderful Bible story. Two of our teenage boys, Alexander and Abraham, have been a big part of this program and go each week to help and serve. They come home excited to tell stories about each of the children. Many of the mothers come, too, and this has opened the door to reach out to them. Many of the mothers are very young and this program has meant so much to them.

This is just one of the many things we do each month through the Hidden Treasures ministry. When you stand with us in your prayers and in your giving this month, you help us feed and care for these children, and do even more. Every gift counts. What a lot of people spend for a few cups of coffee could help us feed a child for a month.

Although our financial support rose last month, and we are so grateful, we still need to raise our total level of regular monthly support. We have been asked if we can take in more children. We got a call about a seven-year-old last week in a desperate situation. Enrique and I would love to be able to have our family grow, but without help and the resources, we feel like our plate is full.

Please pray with us, and if you know anyone who would like to help sponsor our outreach, let us know! We also have three children that live in poverty with their mother right now, but we are supplying most of their needs as their mother battles depression. Please pray for them! God has opened many doors and we see Him working greatly in each one of the children’s lives.

We are planting a big organic garden on our property. We are getting the ground ready now! This is a very exciting thing for us to be able to teach the children, and to help us with our food supply and lowering costs. It will not only bless our family but the children in the community and the families we help.

As you can see, we have a lot going on here at Hidden Treasures! Please pray for wisdom and strength and continued obedience to God. Jesus didn't just say come to where I am, but He said, I will go to where you are! We have to go to where people are; not to where they should be, but to where they are!

We appreciate your love and support so much! You are in our prayers and hearts! I believe that together we are blessing and changing generations to come.

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 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This past month, Enrique and I were so blessed to be able to go to the CSM conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. My dad celebrated sixty years in the ministry, and it was such a good time to be with family and see friends that we had not seen in years. Enrique had not been to the United States in seven years because of problems with his visa, so it was very exciting to be able to go back there with him again.

We were also very challenged by the word given by missionary and author Nik Ripken. He described the reality of Christians living in persecuted nations. This challenged us even more to get out and go no matter what the cost. We all need to be reaching people by getting out — not waiting for them to come to us in our churches — but being out in our communities walking and talking with people. I believe this starts by an act of kindness and by showing a real interest in peo-ple. Without love for others, we cannot reach the world.

The other day as I was talking with my dad, he said, "We all have to be accountable for what we know. Once you reach someone, teach them to reach one more. " After all, we cannot reach everyone, but we can all reach one. I do believe we can "change the world one person at a time! " Isn't it the most exciting thing when we see someone come to know Christ and when their life really changes? It motivates us to keep going, to keep fighting for the cause.

Jesus was out walking and talking with people ... He was not just sitting in church meetings week after week. He loved people of all kinds and even people who had the worst of problems. Our goal is to be like Jesus. We are to have His values, His attitude, and His character. He should be our example in everything we do!

The feeding program for the children in our community is going well. It is growing, and more children are coming. Children from ages two to six are coming with their mothers and are not only getting a good healthy breakfast, which they normally would not get, but they are hearing about Jesus and receiving much needed love and care from others.

Please be praying the donations and funds will keep coming, as this opportunity continues to grow. There are a lot of needy families in the community around us, and many families are facing very difficult challenges. We appreciate your prayers and your financial support!

Also, please pray for Magda, a very dear lady in our church who is in charge of the program. She receives no salary and she does not have much herself. We want to support her more and be a blessing to her as she blesses so many!

It is very important to us that our children never forget where they came from. Their testimony and what God has done in each one of their lives is great, and because they have received, we want them to learn to give back and bless children who are facing the same challenges that they have faced.

Each one of our children here at the house have different needs. They are all very different and face different challenges. We are excited to see what the Lord is doing in each one. We still do not know how much longer Cristal, our three year old, will be here. I wish I could post pictures of her because she has a smile that lights up a room. Jesus has filled up her heart and given her a new found joy! She is our little sunshine! Please keep her in your prayers!

We have a young girl coming from California to stay with our family. She just graduated from high school and is coming to serve and study Spanish here. She will be staying in our home for nine weeks. She recently came in March to serve with the groups from Northcoast Church. She really touched our hearts! We are moving kids around and making room for one more. Our older girls are excited to have a new friend and looking forward to her arrival. Gracie, my niece, is here with us and also will study Spanish at a nearby school. She has been such a blessing to us, and we are excited to see what the Lord has in store.

Thank you for your love and prayers! It made us so happy to be able to see many of you recently in Gatlinburg! We wish we could spend personal time with each one of you. We consider you all part of our big family. Each one of you holds a special place in our hearts! Because of your love and support we can go on ... we can continue to serve and reach out. And our family can continue to grow! We appreciate your love and faithfulness!

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 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

When I think about the love God has for us I am truly amazed! His love is so great for each and every one of us and I am convinced more than ever that love is the key to change. In order to see change, we must love. First comes love, and then comes change ... and it must be in that order. God loved us first while we were still lost sinners. What made us change? His love!! While we were undeserving and selfish and downright ugly, he still loved us! Amazing!

God loves in very big ways and His timing is perfect. Our little Cristal had never had a birthday party. In fact, she did not have much of anything a little over a year ago. She was in a desperate situation and spent most of her days alone with her four-year-old sister. We were so excited about Cristal turning three and celebrating her life, and it just so happened that almost 30 kids from California were here on her birthday. She had the biggest party ever! They couldn't wait to celebrate with her too. We had a total of more than 50 kids in our home the night of her party. We cooked hamburgers and we got a big pink cake!! She sat in my lap and they all gathered around her to sing "Happy Birthday" as the cake was brought out. What had her birthday been like the year before? Where had she been? I felt God's love being poured out and she beamed with joy as everyone sang!

When I look at each one of my children and remember how they were when they first came to our home, I am amazed at the change in each one of them! How God transforms our lives and makes us to be like HIM! You see, we don't have to be like our biological parents, as good as they may be. He wants us to be like HIM! And believe it or not He can change us and make us into what He wants.

I am so thankful to think that I am like my Grandmother or my Mom or my Dad. But what happens when our grandparents or parents abandoned us or abused us or spent most of the day lost in alcohol? Do we have to be like them? Many people excuse themselves from change by saying "My mom had a bad temper and I am just like her." So they are "allowed" or feel justified to do and say whatever they want ... losing their temper becomes a normal part of life. As good as our parents may be, they are not perfect.

Although I try my best I will never be perfect. We only have one perfect Father above and He loves us and shows us how to be like HIM. That is our goal: to be Christ like in everything we do. When we show God's love and allow Him to live in us, we can help others to change and want to be more like HIM!

Please be praying for Cristal. We don't know how much longer she will be with us. We love her very much and although we would love her to stay, we have no control over her future. We are trusting in the Lord and we know He is in control.

Also we would ask for your prayers for Teresa and her very big family that live in our community. They have so many needs, and twenty children live in their home. Some of the family members attend our church and the little children are fed breakfast two times a week at the feeding program we are helping with.

Some people, even Christians, are afraid to reach out to people with "too many problems". Her family is not perfect by any means. They struggle with many things. Yesterday, Enrique went to her house and she cried and said she knew we were the ones God had sent. She had been praying for years someone would come. Our trust is in the Lord and He is more than able, but our task is to go and show His love! We are already seeing changes in her life; they may not come fast but we know God is at work! We appreciate your prayers.

The feeding program is growing, and children and their mothers are so blessed to get a good meal two times a week. We need your support to be able to continue helping these precious little kids.

We are very excited to see what all the Lord is doing in our family and in the community. We have been so blessed to have my niece Grace staying with us to serve the ministry. She has been a big help and has become a part of the family here. Not only is she their cousin but now a sister who has brought much joy in our home! We are looking forward to see what the Lord has for her and are excited she will be staying on for a while longer.

Thank you so much for your love and support! May I ask you to please continue to pray for us, and to consider a very special gift for the Hidden Treasures Costa Rica Children's Home this month? As you can see, the need here is very great, and opportunities for outreach are expanding. We appreciate your friendship so much!! We love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Recently I posted on Facebook what I felt about "love". I will share it with you:

Constant and intentional love brings change. Real love doesn't wait for change.It loves first. Love shines brightest when it is given to the "unlovely" and "underserving". It changes not only the one who recieved the love but the one who gave the love. God is love and Love=Change.

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 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

For many years growing up, my Mother had a magnet on the refrigerator that said, "We all smile in the same language!" The truth is that we don't have to be able to speak the same language to show love. Love is universal and can be shown in so many ways! Even when we do speak the same language, sometimes we forget that showing love is so much more than just the words we say. Love requires time; love is an action; love is a reflection of Christ Who lives in us!

These last two weeks, we have had two big groups of teenagers visiting us from North Coast Church in Vista, California. I really cannot put into words just how much they blessed us. In just a short time, God connected all our hearts together! They poured out love on our family and the kids in the community. Enrique and David Garcia, the youth pastor of North Coast and a dear friend of ours, prayed and planned for months for this trip. We knew God was going to do great things,and He did!

Among many projects and events during their time here, the North Coast team assisted our church, Iglesia de Pacto Nueva Esperanza (Moravia, Costa Rica; Pastor Hugo Zelaya), with Vacation Bible School. Not only were the children blessed in VBS, but the mothers that came were blessed too! Lives were changed! People we have reached out to for such a long time came, and as they saw all the love the North Coast team gave, their hearts were changed! The North Coast kids ran round the church building giving children piggy-back rides, playing ball, and having water fights—they loved and hugged each child. The mothers were "loved on" too and made to feel special. One mother who had always been serious and quiet with me finally opened up and shared her past with me. God broke the hardness and fear in her, and I finally saw a smile light up her face!

The North Coast team worked on painting and building for several families in our community. Teresa, another dear friend of mine, who lives in extreme poverty, was especially blessed by the team cleaning and working at her house. There are twenty children that live there and over thirty-five people all together in the same property. Working there really touched the kids from North Coast as many had not seen such poverty. God change lives in the community, He changed the kids from North Coast, and all my family were changed too! Iglesia de Pacto Nueva Esperanza was very blessed, and we had a powerful church service on Sunday.

We all worked hard! We were tired and had very little sleep, but what God gave us in return was priceless. One thing I think is that we need to be intentional with our love. Our words and actions should be done with purpose. Don't forget to talk to that lonely person at church. Don't forget that your actions really do matter. One of the boys who came to VBS on Saturday decided to come to church for the first time on Sunday and brought two friends! Wow! Love continues growing and the ball just keeps on rolling.

Teresa's older sons in their twenties, who have never wanted to come to church, came too. One even came and gave Enrique a big hug! All because of the love they felt!

Each night we worshiped with North Coast! These kids gave everything they had in worship and in prayer. We didn't want to miss a thing as God showed up in each of our times together. I feel I have some new kids from North Coast. I have been receiving sweet messages since they left. Several of the girls that came shared their testimonies with me as we cooked and cleaned together. In spite of very hard things some of them have faced in life, such as broken homes and extremely hard challenges, they love the Lord with all their hearts and came to give all the love they had to us and our community. They didn't hold anything back! We all cried as we had to say good-bye, but I know this is not the end. It is just the beginning!

My dad and others have said, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Love must come first! Love came first at North Coast, and we are forever grateful and excited to see what is next!

Please pray for us as we continue working in the community. We have a breakfast and fun time for the needy children two times each week at our church. Our kids have been going to help, along with our niece Gracie who is visiting us from the States. It has been such a blessing to them and the children who come.

Also, we would like to raise a salary for Magda, a very good friend of our family, who has been in charge of this program and has given up everything to serve in the community, and serve and help us in any way. She is a big blessing to us and the church. She lives in a one room house and has very little, but the love and joy she has in serving others is amazing. We just want to bless her-we could not do what we do without her! Please be in prayer for Magda and that all her needs would be met.

Thank you all for your love and support. You mean so much to us! Please keep us in your prayers and in your giving this month. If you know of individuals, churches, or foundations who might be interested in supporting this ministry, please let them know about us. You can visit our website at hiddentreasuresoutreach.com or on Facebook at Hidden Treasures Costa Rica. We are so excited to see all God is doing in the community and in our home!

We are forever grateful for your love and friendship to 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.

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March 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

How can we expect people to know something they have never been taught or to be the way we think they should be if they have never been guided or loved of cared for? Sometimes I am still surprised at the things I have to teach my older kids, who lived so long without a family.

But so many people in the world today are just like them. They have grown up with no one. On the outside, they may seem to have it all together, but on the inside, they are longing for the love and guidance that they needed so long ago. How would their lives have been different if someone, just one, had taken an interest in them? Can one person make a difference in someone's life and do we believe that to be true? And one other question: who really deserves our help?

One of the things that I really admire about my dad is when he hears about someone with a need, he is quick to help. So many times, I have heard him on the phone talking with others, saying, "So how can we help?" or "Is there anything I can do for you?" Dad has always been a man of action, not just words. Even when the situation seems impossible, he will go out of his way to help someone in need.

The Bible says "If I've seen anybody in need of clothing and did nothing about it, that was sinful." Pretty powerful words! Job in the Bible said, "If I haven't used this arm of mine to bless the needy, to help the widows, to feed the hungry, then it has no right to be on my body." Can you imagine saying that? Too many times we only want to help people who we think are deserving, who seem to have it all together. Well the truth is, God loved us before we had it all together, and while we were still sinners, He reached out and gave us His love. We deserved nothing!

Over this past year, three teenagers have come to live with us. When you have gone so many years without a family, without limits or any authority in your life, it can be a big adjustment moving into a home. There are so many things you should know by the teenage years, but how can you if you have never been taught? Many things get hidden away, and fears and insecurities come out over time. It has not been easy and we have been up many late nights talking with and listening to each one. We are excited to see what the Lord is doing and are patiently walking with them.

We had our first youth meeting here and Abraham and our kids planned a fun night with kids from our church and the community. Abraham brought a good word on "true friendship" Our kids practiced singing together and led in the worship. They are such a sweet group of kids and all who came have been asking when we will have the next get together. Abraham is working on the meeting for March.

We also are helping in the feeding program that has started in our church. We are helping our dear friend Magda and a team of ladies that have started serving breakfast to children ages two to six years old, three days a week. These are very needy children, and they do not get good healthy meals during the week. We will be providing the fruit for each breakfast and are purchasing the plates and cups and silverware that will be needed as more children come.

Yesterday the children were so excited to eat watermelon that they had to be told not to eat the rind as they quickly gobbled it all up! Thank you to all who have given to Hidden Treasures to make this and so many other efforts possible. And please let me know if you would like to continue help in the future. Thank God and thank our supporters, Enrique also was able to purchase school uniforms for eighteen children in the community. I will be putting up pictures on Facebook soon so you can see their happy faces in their new uniforms! Visit and "like" Hidden Treasures Costa Rica!

In just two weeks we will have two big groups of young people come from North Coast Church in California. They will be working and serving the people in the community around us. They will also be spending time here with us and all our kids. They have been such an encouragement to us! Please pray the Lord will meet us while they are here and we can bless needy families here in our community.

As you can see, we have a lot going on here and we really would appreciate your prayers for strength, energy, and wisdom in all the decisions we are making, especially Enrique as he gives himself to the people around us. He has a true heart of a pastor and he carries a burden for many of the young men he is giving guidance and direction to. He also continues to study in seminary and is giving himself to learning the Word.

We also would ask for your prayers for our sweet three-year-old Cristal. She is up for adoption and we are praying the Lord will send just the right family. We would keep her, but since she is in the foster program, the government won't allow us to. So we continue to plant loving seeds in her life and know God is at work in all we do and give to her. Pray the Lord will have His way in blessing here, and also to continue to strengthen us in this process.

Derek Prince said, "Nobody has ever invented anything that will take the place of a family." It is a privilege to be part of a family!

Sometimes we may not know just how to help someone or what to do, but we can take a risk and ask, "What can I do for you?" You never know, you may be the person to change someone's life! Just one of the things I learned from Dad!

Thank you for standing with us and so many others! Please continue to remember us in your budget this month. We pray the Lord will continue to bless you and your family!

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.

February 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

God has been doing so many things these last few months in our lives and in the lives of our children. In the beginning of this year, God gave Enrique a word and we have been sharing this with the kids and others: be willing. The Lord is saying for us to be ready, eager, and prepared to do something. We know the Lord is at work, but we cannot be obedient if we are not willing. Obedience requires dying to ourselves. Many times we may hear the Lord say something, but if we are not willing, we are not going to do whatever the Lord has said. We have found it usually requires a willingness to go and do. God is calling us out.

Many Christians think they just don't have time or they are not willing to fit one more thing in their busy schedules. But there are many lives at stake and many people who need our love and friendship.

Our son Abraham, who came to us when he was just two years old, has been such a blessing to us, but at the same time one of our biggest challenges. He has made us grow and mature and on many occasions cry out to the Lord!! We have fought for his life. It has not been easy, but to see the faithfulness of God in his life has been amazing.

A few years ago we put Abraham in violin classes. He loves the violin, and playing the violin has helped him to be able to focus and has given him a real passion for music. Because Abraham is so friendly and loves people he soon found out that in his violin class there are several students that are atheists. Abraham has a deep love for people and what he says to me is, "Mom I want them to have what I have. They just don't know what they are missing. I want them to know Jesus!" Although they have gotten into some interesting discussions, they are more curious than ever to know and are now asking questions.

Recently, the Lord touched Abraham during our church service. Since then, Abraham is getting up early to read the Bible, clean the house, study, and finish all his chores. His attitude has changed. He is loving toward his brothers and sisters. He couldn't wait to share with us after church. God told him to be courageous and reach out to young people and to be bold and He would strengthen him.

Abraham and our son Marlon will be having a youth meeting here at the house on February 14. They are inviting young people from the church and others from the community where we live. We are very excited to see what the Lord will do. They will be speaking and a friend of theirs will be leading the worship. Please be praying with us about this! Abraham is willing! He told me, "Mom, I never thought of myself as a youth leader, but God is asking me to reach out. I want to be willing and obedient."

Enrique is reaching out in the community. He is getting ready for two big groups to come in March. Our dear friend from Costa Rica, David Garcia, is bringing 61 kids, from North Coast Church in California where he is the youth pastor. David is young himself and God is doing wonderful things through him and the young people there. They will work here with us and in the community and in our church.

Please, we would ask for your prayers. We feel the Lord has something big planned for our time with these young people. We will be reaching out to many needy children in our community. We need God's guidance in all our planning. We will be building and helping needy families fix and repair their homes. It has been quite a job getting all this together and we have much more to do!

Enrique is talking with many neighbors, meeting for coffee with young people, and God is at work here! Pray for these important meetings with neighbors that God will open hearts! Enrique is in seminary and is studying the books of Acts and Timothy. He is loving his classes and has a passion and great love for the Bible. His passion and enthusiasm is very contagious at our house! He is eager and ready to go!!

Also, please pray for the three siblings of the five children we adopted. They have been staying with us, and they need lots of love and care. Their biological mother deals with severe depression. Pray for them and pray the Lord will give us wisdom and guidance in all their needs.

Your prayers mean so much! Each one of our children need your prayers. Also, please continue to remember us in your giving this month. We have taken on added responsibilities, which have required additional resources. We are fighting for lives, but we know God is faithful our trust and hope are in HIM!

Thank you for all your love and support! Please visit us on Facebook at Hidden Treasures Costa Rica or online at hiddentreasuresoutreach.com. You are in our thoughts and prayers!

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.

January 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that this will be a very Happy New Year for each and every one of you! I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to watch the children opening up Christmas gifts on Christmas morning, and I cannot help but remember each of their stories and how the Lord brought them into our family. I am amazed and overjoyed at God's goodness!

This was Cristal's very first Christmas and we were all so excited for her. She is almost three years old, and came to live with us earlier in 2014. The kids couldn’t wait for her to open her very first gift. Each year we choose a child to put the star on our Christmas tree, and of course this year she was chosen! Her big smile lit up the room and we all clapped as Enrique held her up to the top of the tree so she could put the star on! What must her Christmas have been like just a year ago...where was she? Well, we know it wasn't good, and have heard at times that she and her sister slept out on the street. As her five year old sister says, "We sometimes would find a rock and use it for our pillow so we could go to sleep."

Each child that has come into our home has a story. At times it is hard to hear, but my question has been, "Can we see the face of Jesus in every situation?" I believe God uses every situation to bring us to where He wants us to be, no matter how hard or difficult, and many times this requires suffering. But the good news is, HE is right there with us, every step of the way. In our suffering HE is there!

In Genesis 39, Joseph is thrown into prison. And it says in verse 21 "And the Lord was with Joseph there too." Joseph faced many challenges and difficulties, even being sold into slavery by his own brothers. Can you imagine? But God was with him and all of this was to bring him to the place God wanted him to be! God had a much bigger plan!

Enrique has been studying the story of Jacob and Esau. When Jacob finally meets up with his brother Esau, he said, "I have seen the face of God!" He was able to see the face of God in his own brother who had wanted to kill him! God's face is in every situation, every problem, and every difficulty; though we may not see Him, He is there!

I see the Lord when I hear each one of my children's stories. I see He was there through the hurt and through the pain. You see, I know He was there with little Cristal and her sister protecting them, even when they slept outside alone and scared.

There are many people suffering, Christians and non Christians. We may not understand, but we trust in God's plan. St. Francis of Assisi wrote, "This is perfect joy: to share in the sufferings of the world as Christ did." This is what we are called to do: to walk with those who are hurting, love the unlovely, forgive people who have done us wrong, just as Jesus forgave us! And that in turn will bring us JOY!

Here are some things we are praying about and would ask for your prayers too. The five children we have adopted have three more biological siblings. We have helped them over the years and have stood with their biological mother through some very tough times. Her oldest boy, Jose, who is thirteen, has been very hard for her to handle. He faces all kinds of challenges and has needed our help. Enrique has been a father figure to him, but we are not sure if in the future he should come live in our home. His mother is struggling and has asked for our help. Please be in prayer with us about this. And please pray for Jose; he is very loved by our family.

Also Cristal's mother has lost all rights to her children and Cristal and her sister will not be going back to their mother. They will be placed in adoption. Please pray that if Cristal cannot be with us that a good Christian family will be chosen for her and her sister. We have no control over what will happen but our trust is in the Lord!

Also please pray for Enrique's Aunt and Grandfather. They both have very advanced cancer. Pray for Enrique's Grandmother, as she is taking care of them. She is in her late eighties and needs help. Pray for Enrique as he encourages and walks with them in this.

Our prayer this year is to see the face of Jesus in every situation, to keep our eyes focused on Him! Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, " I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Thank you all for your love and support! Thank you for bringing smiles and hope to many children this Christmas season! We love and appreciate you!

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.