On Saturday, our host Masre took us to meet his mentor, Ermias. Ermias is a single man in his 40s whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate street boys. We met about a dozen young men who have gone through (or are currently going through) his 2-year program. During the first year, the boys receive mentorship and character-building training. In the second year, the boys receive job training so that they can make a living for themselves.
This is the second time that our team has encountered a program for street boys. It is so moving to hear the stories of these young people who once lived on the streets. The young men we met on Friday had lived on the streets for spans of time from 15 days to 5 years. One of them described how he had come to Addis to try to make a better life than he could have with his family in the impoverished countryside. Addis, however, was not as he thought it would be. He ended up dirty, alone, and struggling with addictions. One day he went to church where he met another young man who had gone through Ermias’ program. This man connected him to Ermias. He described how the first time he met Ermias, Ermias got out of the car, came over, and gave him a hug – which no one had ever done in his dirty, lonesome state. He met with Ermias on a regular weekly basis until he could kick his addictions and qualify to join the program officially. Now, he is training for a trade, loves God, and is happy and hopeful for the future!
When he described that first hug from Ermias, I suddenly understood why these stories of love and redemption are so heartrending. It’s a picture of how Jesus is with us! The Bible says, “When we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When we were dirty and alone, Jesus got out of the car and wrapped us in his arms. We didn’t deserve it – we didn’t do anything to deserve his love – but he gave it to us freely. He took us in and showed us a better way to live. He enabled us to love God, and to be happy and hopeful for the future!
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18
