My friend Corina wrote this in one of her update letters last week...
"The reason why Santiago, one of Marco’s boys, came to El Jordan was because he was involved in gangs in his neighbourhood. But he wanted out...and he wanted to study. He’s been “out” for at least a year and a half but his old gang is pressuring him to get involved again. They wait for him after school; they’ve roughed him up...and threatened worse. The school principal called Marco and wanted to arrange a meeting with the rival school where these other kids are from.
The situation is getting worse in spite of talks with some of the gang members. Santiago’s family has problems with alcohol and aren’t able to offer him support of any kind (we are helping him study – or else he probably wouldn’t even be in school). One option, and the family is in agreement, is to remove Santiago from the hot zone – to enrol him in another school. Maybe even look for another place he could live at least until the end of the school year. Please pray with us – that God would lead us in our decisions, and also protect Santiago."
I read that...and prayed. But it didn't occur to me that there was anything we could do. Santiago is only fifteen, so he's really too young to live here. Not to mention we're kind of full. =)
But then on Saturday morning, Marco called me and asked if it would be okay for Santiago to spend weekends with us. He'd come over Friday's after school and leave the following Monday morning. I explained that I was fine with this (what's one more at the table?!) but that we didn't really have space. If Santiago was okay with a mattress on the floor, then I was okay with him being here. I also explained that I wanted to talk to the guys about it first, before making any decision. This is their house too.
So we had a quick meeting Saturday just before lunch, and everyone was in agreement that it would be fine. Eduardo offered his floor and the extra mattress he has on his bed, and we scrounged up some blankets. I called Marco, and an hour later we had our newest member of the household.
Santiago is a great kid. Quiet (but we'll see if that lasts once he gets to know us a bit better) and very polite. I think he had a good time with us. He ate chicken twice over the weekend, so he probably thinks he's in heaven. He went to church with us and played soccer with the guys this afternoon. I think he'll be a good addition to the family. =) I'm going to buy him a better mattress and some new sheets and a pillow tomorrow. And a few other basics too. He had no towel or anything. It was cool this weekend and he had no jacket, so one of the guys lent him theirs. So we'll get him set up a bit.
Please pray for him when you have a moment. As Corina wrote, he has a pretty rough family background. His parents are alcoholics and this problem with the gangs is a tough thing for a fifteen year old to deal with. I'm glad we've been able to help him out, but there are obviously some issues that aren't going to go away easily.
Santiago has some good support people around him now though, so that's encouraging. I wonder sometimes, where my guys would be without the help they've received. Then you meet a kid like Santiago, who has so much potential and was in such danger of being lost, and it makes you wonder how many other kids are out there like him. It gets overwhelming sometimes. But then, I see God at work and I know I can trust that.
One other cool thing. There's a young guy who's been having lunch with us most days, here at the house. He's a friend of the guys from their high school days. He's one of the guys who wanted to move in with us, but we just don't have the space. He comes from a Catholic family, but has probably only darkened the door of his church three times in his life.
He came to church with us today and really enjoyed it. He kept going on and on about how different it felt. He seems really open to spiritual things, and I'm hoping to take him for lunch this week and talk to him more about it. I know he's been through some painful family issues lately, and it's been difficult for him. It's his birthday on Tuesday so we're going to have cake and a bit of a party for him. Any excuse for cake... His name is Aquiles, so please pray for him as well.
Thanks everyone! Have a great week!
"The reason why Santiago, one of Marco’s boys, came to El Jordan was because he was involved in gangs in his neighbourhood. But he wanted out...and he wanted to study. He’s been “out” for at least a year and a half but his old gang is pressuring him to get involved again. They wait for him after school; they’ve roughed him up...and threatened worse. The school principal called Marco and wanted to arrange a meeting with the rival school where these other kids are from.
The situation is getting worse in spite of talks with some of the gang members. Santiago’s family has problems with alcohol and aren’t able to offer him support of any kind (we are helping him study – or else he probably wouldn’t even be in school). One option, and the family is in agreement, is to remove Santiago from the hot zone – to enrol him in another school. Maybe even look for another place he could live at least until the end of the school year. Please pray with us – that God would lead us in our decisions, and also protect Santiago."
I read that...and prayed. But it didn't occur to me that there was anything we could do. Santiago is only fifteen, so he's really too young to live here. Not to mention we're kind of full. =)
But then on Saturday morning, Marco called me and asked if it would be okay for Santiago to spend weekends with us. He'd come over Friday's after school and leave the following Monday morning. I explained that I was fine with this (what's one more at the table?!) but that we didn't really have space. If Santiago was okay with a mattress on the floor, then I was okay with him being here. I also explained that I wanted to talk to the guys about it first, before making any decision. This is their house too.
So we had a quick meeting Saturday just before lunch, and everyone was in agreement that it would be fine. Eduardo offered his floor and the extra mattress he has on his bed, and we scrounged up some blankets. I called Marco, and an hour later we had our newest member of the household.
Santiago is a great kid. Quiet (but we'll see if that lasts once he gets to know us a bit better) and very polite. I think he had a good time with us. He ate chicken twice over the weekend, so he probably thinks he's in heaven. He went to church with us and played soccer with the guys this afternoon. I think he'll be a good addition to the family. =) I'm going to buy him a better mattress and some new sheets and a pillow tomorrow. And a few other basics too. He had no towel or anything. It was cool this weekend and he had no jacket, so one of the guys lent him theirs. So we'll get him set up a bit.
Please pray for him when you have a moment. As Corina wrote, he has a pretty rough family background. His parents are alcoholics and this problem with the gangs is a tough thing for a fifteen year old to deal with. I'm glad we've been able to help him out, but there are obviously some issues that aren't going to go away easily.
Santiago has some good support people around him now though, so that's encouraging. I wonder sometimes, where my guys would be without the help they've received. Then you meet a kid like Santiago, who has so much potential and was in such danger of being lost, and it makes you wonder how many other kids are out there like him. It gets overwhelming sometimes. But then, I see God at work and I know I can trust that.
One other cool thing. There's a young guy who's been having lunch with us most days, here at the house. He's a friend of the guys from their high school days. He's one of the guys who wanted to move in with us, but we just don't have the space. He comes from a Catholic family, but has probably only darkened the door of his church three times in his life.
He came to church with us today and really enjoyed it. He kept going on and on about how different it felt. He seems really open to spiritual things, and I'm hoping to take him for lunch this week and talk to him more about it. I know he's been through some painful family issues lately, and it's been difficult for him. It's his birthday on Tuesday so we're going to have cake and a bit of a party for him. Any excuse for cake... His name is Aquiles, so please pray for him as well.
Thanks everyone! Have a great week!
3 comments:
Fabulous! I'll be praying for him... and for all you guys.
P.S. If you ever wanna bring the guys up here for any reason, I have space for you all!
That's awesome Amy. We'll see what happens. I'm thinking about it actually, so who knows... =)
Always praying Ken. I know if you could find a house with 50 rooms you would have them filled. It does overwhelm me when I think of how many kids are out there without love and protection. Hurts the heart so badly. But then God hands you someone to help. SOmeone who you can make a difference with and it helps that hurt a little bit. You are doing good things!!!
Post a Comment