Although the issues in Manukau had simply been head knowledge to me since I’ve been here, today, I can honestly say that my heart breaks for these kids. Today one of the kids acted out towards my teammate. We were driving him home for misbehaving and he ended up trying to hit my teammate with a car jack and threaten my teammate’s life. This kid’s dad was currently in jail. He was only 12. The only way that he knew out to react to anything was through anger because that was all he had ever known from his family. Although he didn’t mention it, chances were that he had been emotionally and physically abused from his family. Most of the parents in the community were drug addicts and alcoholics.
We had a dance party for the boys today (another one for the girls yet to come) because many of them were gifted dancers and we wanted to draw out their talents. My heart was filled with joy as we created an environment to encourage them to unleash their passions. It was such an incredibly fun time. Afterwards, the men on our team spoke to them about what it means to grow up to become a man, that it is not a product of physical strength, but of having the character and heart of Christ.
Honestly, I wish I could stay in New Zealand longer. I wish I could be there for the children to simply love, love, love them because they are so worth it. It makes me cry to think that they need to grow up in such a broken environment.
May they be the transitional generation
Oh please.
NZ from Christine Louie on Vimeo.
