Of all of the substance-related problems that we deal with in the world today, alcohol is probably the most devastating. It is the one thing that is able to take a perfect situation and completely ruin it in an instant. For proof of this walk into any home where one parent is passed out on the couch and the other ran out in fear while the children stay huddled in the back room because they don't have anywhere else to go and all of this happened because the parent came home late after having one too many drinks with some friends. Go to any prison on any given day or visit any Alcoholics Anonymous meeting during any given week and you'll see how lives have been wrecked by the abuse of alcohol. As I've worked at places like Youth VIllages and in the local schools, both public and private, I've seen the effects that alcohol can have on a family. I've seen relationships ruined and finances blown for the sake of just one more drink. As I worked with the children in these situations there have been times where I became frustrated, and maybe even angry, with their loved ones for putting their family in this situation. This is why my team's visit this week to the Nandasmo Rehabilitation Center was so important. There I got to see the other side of the coin. I was able to meet with and hear from people who had realized the mistakes that they made. Not only had they realized these mistakes but a couple of them were able to clean their lives up and then turn around and pour themselves into others that where in the same situation. The center was actually started and is currently directed by a former alcoholic! Through his work, he is taking the lessons that he has learned in his battle with and recovery from alcohol and passing them on, giving his residents keys to unlock doors that they thought were closed and locked up tight, inaccessible for the rest of their lives. As my team and I listened to the stories of these men a couple of us found that we were able to do the same and what originally was supposed to be a 1 ½ hour visit turned in to 3 hours!
Team Mashach's World Race so far has been defined by divine appointments and as we sat with these men another one showed up. One resident shared the story of how, through his abuse of alcohol, he had disappointed his mother and how he desperately want to mend that relationship. As he shared his story, I could see the authenticity of his desires. He really wanted to make things right with those who he had wronged. We encouraged him to seek redemption and forgiveness from his mother and other family members who had been hurt by his actions. As we closed our time with them in prayer the same passion that had been evident in our conversation filled our prayers. I firmly believe that a new page was turned in the lives of these residents, a page that marks the beginning of a new chapter of freedom.
