Today is Mercy and Grace Frias' 15th birthday. They are twins, and Mercy has just been accepted into the same treatment program for lupus that her sister is in. It's an experimental program, so they don't even know if they're in the treatment or control group, but for them it is an answer to prayer that they are both in the program.

Their father is fortunate to have steady work at the Mitsubishi plant across from their subdi- vision, and their mother runs -- with the children's help -- a small sari-sari store out of the front of their house to supplement their income. Of course, just about every house on their street has a similar store out the front of it, so you can imagine how much they sell in a day.

But their trust in the Lord, straight- forward hardwork- ingness, and tenacious Hope (which is what they named their youngest daughter) is an inspiration.