I have talked a few times about “The Boys” that we are focusing on. I’ve said that we get them out of their terrible community full of gangs, drugs, murder, sex, rape and everything else, and bring them up here to “The Farm.” Well what do they do here?
They eat everything they can get their hands on to try and fill their empty stomachs.
They hug everyone they see to fill that void of physical touch and their yearning to be loved.
And of course there will always be a fight or two, sometimes just picking on each other and calling each other names but more often involving wrestling and one busting out in tears.
But when they get to pick out a movie? The first one of course is always an action movie- they’re 11-15 year old boys from the most dangerous part of the country. It doesn’t matter if the movie is in Spanish, English or French- as long as there are a bunch of explosions and fights they’re happy. The most popular is The Transporter 2, in English. But without fail, they also always end up searching out and putting on another movie- Tinkerbell.
They’re not weak- anything from it. They’re not girly- they’re tougher than any kids I have ever met.
Three months ago Henry, the oldest, was using knives to rob people at traffic lights. Three weeks ago he became a Christian.
Cristofer skipped school three times this week to stay home and do drugs. But last night at church he worshipped more intently and more freely than any of the others and this morning Tony took him up on the mountain to talk and he prayed to receive Christ!!!
Here, in this safe place, they say they are free to be themselves.
Here they are free to be children, an opportunity most kids in their community never get.
These boys are still a mess, but I love them. They’re just like me.
Ronnie, Luis and Fernando watching Tinkerbell
Cristofer, the one who became a Christian this morning
Henry, the oldest, who became a Christian three weeks ago
Luis hanging off the "ceiling" of the building in Los Pinos where we do ministry
Carlos and Fernando watching another movie
