There are over 50,000 street kids in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This is the story of how God rescued one of them.
Six months ago, our contact Tony was walking the streets of Los Pinos, a rough neighborhood he frequently visits here in Tegucigalpa. On this particular day, one of the gangsters told Tony that they were trying to “take out” Herman, one of the boys Tony had been trying to help for almost four years. Herman was such a trouble-maker in the community that they were planning to kill him.
Six months ago, Herman was living on the streets, inhaling paint thinner constantly. He’d rob people with a knife, willing to go so far as to kill someone, to support his drug habit. Once he tried to sneak into the United States illegally by riding underneath a diesel truck, but was caught and spent several months in a Mexican jail.
Today Herman, who thought he was 16 before Tony got his birth certificate and realized he’s almost 18, is now living here at Zion’s Gate, surrounded by Christian community. He attends school, and is at a 6th grade level. He is learning English, and he loves computer programming. Herman attends discipleship classes, and is usually the one asking the most questions. When he shared his testimony with us, he said the day he gave his life to Christ four months ago was the best day of his life.
Tony describes the last six months with Herman as a “bumpy road.” Herman came to live at Zion’s Gate on his own free will, but would often still sneak back to Los Pinos on Friday nights to party. He’d lie, steal from Tony, and treat others with little respect. So one day Tony sat him down and gave him an ultimatum. In order to be a part of this community, he had to agree to not leave the property for a month, to work on the property for four hours a day, and to read Scripture. Herman made the decision to stay. He even wrote out a list, “New Changes in My Life.”
Today it is hard to believe that only six months ago this lovable, funny kid was the roughest of rough street kids. He has been drug-free for almost three months. He earns $6 for eight hours of work here on the property, and usually gives it to his mom for food or to his cousin to help her buy school supplies. He is a computer whiz, and loves to Skype and Facebook his friends, mostly Americans that now sponsor him. Herman told us that never before had anyone asked him “What’s your dream?” Two of his dreams now are to learn to surf and go on the World Race.
Perhaps the biggest change in Herman’s life is that the same members of his colony that wanted to kill him a few short months ago now respect him. This month Herman proudly led our squad into HIS community. We’ve been working in Los Pinos to repair and paint his mom and sister’s house.
If Herman’s testimony doesn’t prove that anything is possible with Christ, then I don’t know what does. God is moving in big ways here in Honduras. There is a lot of darkness, a lot of brokenness, and an entire generation crying out for help. And it’s easy to get discouraged and think there is nothing that we can do to help. But Tony and his wife Nydia’s ministry, “Don’t Miss the Opportunity,” is bringing change, one street kid at a time.
