For those of you who are new here, or for those of you who've been around but have never (yet) come down to get to know us...I thought I'd have a "Meet the Guys!" post to introduce you to who's living here at the house these days.
So...here they are.
This is Andres. He's twenty two years old and is a Business Major. He has an older brother who is working, as well as a younger brother and two sisters who are living in different children's homes. His youngest sister is living with his grandmother.
Andres is a very gifted leader and loves music. He plays guitar and has a great singing voice. Of course it goes without saying that he loves to play soccer as well.
Andres was around eight when he first left home to live on the streets. His father was drinking and becoming abusive, so Andres followed his older brother in leaving the home. He lived on the streets for a number of years before ending up at a home for street-kids. He later returned to his home to find that his father had left and his mother had died unexpectedly.
Andres is the most responsible of his siblings and ends up filling the "father" role for his younger brother and sisters. He does that well, but of course it's a challenge at times for someone so young.
This is
Roberto. He's twenty one years old and is in his third year of Law. He comes from a family who live up in the mountains about five hours from Santa Cruz. He has a number of siblings, but is closest to his younger brother Edson. Edson lives here in the city, as well, and is working as a mechanic. Edson has been spending more and more time here at the house with us, which has been great for both him and Roberto. It's been good to see that family tie strengthen over the past few months.
Roberto ended up on the streets because of the poverty of his family. They couldn't afford to support all of the children, so some left. Both Roberto and Edson eventually ended up at a children's home, after spending a number of years on the streets.
Roberto is another leader. He's also one of those guys who knows how to work hard. He pretty much single-handedly runs the lawn care company we operate out of the house, and is always ready to go.
This is David. He is twenty two and is in his first year of a degree in Psychology. He has three brothers, only two of whom he knows. The boys lost track of their oldest brother when they were younger.
David is another gifted leader. As well, he exceles at soccer and has a scholarship to study at the evangelical university here in Santa Cruz. He chose psychology because he felt he wanted to use some of the experiences of his past to help others who were going through similar situations. He's enjoying his studies and feels that he's been able to apply much of what he's been learning to his own life.
When David was seven, his mom left the family and shortly after, his father died. David and his brothers were sent to live with different family members. As is common here, the boys were virtually ignored by their relatives, and David soon left for the streets. He lived on the streets for nearly eight years, before a young Christian girl befriended him and two other street boys and encouraged them to leave the streets for a home.
David is the proud father of a three year old girl. He works hard to be a good dad to her and a support to his daughter's mother, with whom he is still friends. David was recently reunited with two of his brothers and is working at building strong relationships with them as well.
David once said that he expected that the streets would be his whole life. He imagined he would just die there. It's taken some time, but God has shown David that there are good things in store for him in the future. He's excited about using his education to help others who are suffering.
This is
Ruddy. He's twenty two and studying Communication. He plans to work in either radio (or more likely) television. He recently had the opportunity to be the assistant lighting guy to an actual professional movie being filmed here in Santa Cruz. He gets to go to the premere in a limo. As you can imagine, he's excited.
Ruddy comes from a very poor family. When he was five or six, he started going out onto the streets to shine shoes or wash car windows. He only returned to his house at night. Eventually he became friends with the kids living on the streets started sleeping on the streets as well. He began using drugs at a very young age, and struggled for many years with that addiction.
Ruddy is one of the most personable and likable people you will ever meet. He enjoys getting to know new people and is always the first to greet and welcome visitors to the house or to our church. It doesn't take him long to be in the middle of the fun.
His main desire in studying, is to be able to support his family. They still struggle in poverty, and that's a constant worry for Ruddy. He looks forward to the day when he will be able to help his aging mom and ease the burden on her.
This is
Ivan, and he's studying physiotherapy.
Ivan grew up in La Paz with his father and one of his brothers. His oldest brother had been abandoned by his mom in Santa Cruz and had spent a number of years on the streets. Eventually that brother ended up at a children's home outside Santa Cruz and went looking for his brothers in La Paz. He found one first (Ticua) and then Ticua later returned for Ivan.
Ivan is a gentle soul with a smile for everyone. It's difficult to believe that he was once a part of a gang with very satanic overtones. Since coming to Santa Cruz, God has brought much healing to this young man's heart.
Ivan is still considering continuing on into medicine. He is working part-time with the Red Cross and with a local doctor, and enjoys it. Ivan is a great example of how God can change the heart of a person, and bring freedom from the past.
This is Yimy (Jimmy) and he's twenty two years old. Yimy is studying to be an Industrial Electrician (to work with electricity for an entire city). Recently, however, God has begun to work on Yimy's heart and he's feeling more and more called into full-time ministry.
Yimy has never lived on the streets. He's from a poor family outside of Santa Cruz. His parents are separated. For a number of months he didn't know where his father was, but happily he has recently reconnected with his dad and is strengthening that relationship.
Yimy has become the right-hand guy here at the house. If something needs fixing, he's the guy to call. He loves to help people and has always shown a lot of compassion for those around him.
A few weeks ago, a missionary spoke at our church. Yimy felt a strong conviction that God was telling him that he could and would do that kind of work. Yimy has the sort of gifts and abilities that are well suited to ministry. His only fear is public speaking. Even that, he says, he could do with God's help. It'll be exciting to see where God leads this young man in the future.
This is Alan. He's twenty one years old and he's studying to be a Chartered Accountant. He has a younger brother and sister here in the city. His youngest brother still lives with his mom in a city in southern Bolivia.
Alan also comes from a very poor family. When he was nine years old he left his home and caught a ride to Santa Cruz. He spent one night on the streets, decided that wasn't for him and went to a children's home.
Alan is a very intelligent young
guy. Throughout elementary school and most of high school, he consistently had the highest marks in his class. He has a head for numbers and enjoys the challenges of accounting.
Alan is another fellow who loves to make friends and get to know people. One of his dreams is to travel to Canada to see all the people who have come down to visit over the years. His desire is to graduate from university and be able to support his mom and see his youngest brother study as well.
This is Sandro. He's twenty three and is studying Computer Programing. He has a number of siblings, but is closest to his younger brother and sister.
Sandro was born onto the streets by parents who lived on the streets. His mom died when he was young and his dad left, so Sandro had to fend for himself at a very young age. He took care of his younger brother Feliciano, and making sure he was okay was his priority for a long time.
Recently Sandro has begun to discover that God has a plan for his life as well, other than just providing for his younger siblings. Sandro is studying and doing well. His first semester he was ready to quit when he discovered he was failing most of his classes. But with the help of a tutor and some friends, he came back in his second semester and is now nearly always at the top of his class. He has discovered that he able to do much more than he expected.
Sandro is a worker. He can always be counted on to do what needs to
be done without being asked. In the past he has struggled with discouragement, but that has been changing dramatically over the past few months.
He has recently reconnected with his youngest sister, who's eight. He has been going to visit her every weekend to help her with her homework. God is bringing much healing to this young man's life, and it's exciting to see how he's changing every day.
This is Eduardo and he's twenty six years old. He's our newest addition to the family. He's studying at the Baptist Seminary to be a missionary/pastor.
Eduardo's mom died when he was young and his father is in prison. He has spent many years on the streets. Early on, however, God placed in his heart the desire to serve. That desire did battle with his life on the streets for a long time, until finally he was able to leave the streets for the last time in his early twenties. Since then God has continued to teach and lead Eduardo, setting him free from his past addictions.
Eduardo has an evangelist's heart. He loves to talk to people about God. Sometimes he struggles with studying because he wants to be out there doing something. But he's learning the importance of a good foundation.
He plans to begin working soon with a few of the street kids in the market area near our house. He has also worked a lot with the AWANA program in the past, and hopes to eventually start that program here in our neighbourhood.
Those are the guys who are currently living in the house with us. As I've said before, there are a few more guys who hang out with us, and whom we help on occasion when we can. I wanted to introduce them to you as well.
This is Americo on the left and Jose Manuel (Cocoliso) on the right. Cocoliso is the younger brother of Andres. These guys were both two of my favourites when I worked at the home where they currently live. Americo has one of the softest, kindest hearts of anyone I've ever met. His mom died a number of years ago, and his father is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Coco is a great kid who always enjoys a good laugh. He spent a number of years with Andres on the streets when he was very young. Both are in Grade 12 and will graduate in December. Americo then wants to study International Relations and Cocoliso wants to be an Aviation Mechanic.
This is Larry, and he's sixteen. He's studying in high school during the day and working at night.
He's currently living with his mom, but that's been difficult. For a number of years, she was in prison and he was living at a children's home. Now suddenly they've been put back together, but sadly they don't know each other very well. He hangs out with us at the house whenever he can, and he's hoping to start coming to church with us.
This is
Aquiles. He went to high school with a number of the guys. He's a great guy with a great heart. His mom is living and working in Spain (like many Bolivians) and finances have been difficult for Aquiles. He had hoped to move in with us, but we just didn't have the room. But he eats with us as often as he can.
Aquiles is from a Catholic background, and has come to church with us a couple of times. He's very open to spritual things, and the Holy Spirit is definitely working on his heart.
This is Yimy with a young guy named Aron (Aaron). Aron is seventeen. He works during the day and is studying at night to finish high school. I don't know all of Aron's story, but I do know that he was at the boy's home for a number of years (where all the guys used to live) and his family is not in the picture today. He's supporting himself.
Aron's another great kid. He recently invited me to a citywide high school drama competition he was in. I wasn't expecting much...he told me he was "The Youth" in the play. As it turned out, he was the star of the production and he was amazing. It was a comedy and he had the theatre rolling on the floor. His team came in second out of all the high schools competing. He's a very gifted kid.
Aron spends weekends and holidays with us. Then every Sunday he comes to church with us as well. He's one of those kids who has a soft heart and a great attitude no matter what's happening in his life.
This is Ever or Ticua as he's called. He's twenty five and studying to be an architect. He's also Ivan's older brother.
Ticua has a heart after God. He's come from a very difficult past, and yet he always seems to be filled with joy. If you'd like to hear more of his testimony, you can see it
here. Ticua hangs out at the house whenever he can and comes to church with us every Sunday. He's currently on a missions trip to Haiti with a youth group from Santa Cruz.
There are a number of other guys who spend time here with us...Romel, Santiago, Jesus, Edson, Juan...all guys who have become a part of our family here at the house. They all have different stories and are all in different places in their lives, but we can see God's Spirit at work in them. And that's encouraging. It's great to be a place where they can come and hang out and be a part of a family. Especially when they don't have any other.
Thanks for your support and prayers. These are the guys you're helping. I've said it before, and I'll likely say it again...this place exists because of your prayers and generosity.
So thank you!
