Over the course of this trip, I have been continually surprised by the incredible assortment of movies and music I encounter. Whether it is a teenager eager to introduce me to a song that was released in the U.S. In 2005, a cab driver playing a radio station with 70’s funk hits, or the DVD collection of a low-income family in the barrios, I am always amused to discover what people are listening to and watching. Last week when we were in a house in the barrio for game time with some youth, I saw the film Finding Forrester on the DVD shelf. For some reason this surprised me. The film is one of my favorites and is about an old writer, played by Sean Connery, who mentors a young man growing up in a difficult urban setting and helps him work his way into a private school. The movie is about second chances, hard work, and a genuine change of heart, by both the mentor and the pupil. I enjoy the movie because it features an against-all-odds storyline that is plausible enough to be inspirational. Seeing it on the DVD shelf got me thinking about the work we are doing this month and how we are working in a place that has provided second chances, encourages hard work, and places expectations on it’s young people.
While others reject, La Quinta accepts. The backgrounds of the teenagers we are working with at the peaceful, ranch-like property outside of Jinotepe, Nicaragua, are diverse to say the least. Abuse of all sorts is a common theme. Whether sexual, physical, or substance, abuse has been a factor in most of the kid’s lives. The other theme is rejection. Most of the young adults we are working with are at the property because their parents either didn’t want to take on the responsibilities of caring for them, our outright didn’t want them. It is sad to see such wonderful people and think that there are people out there who have viewed them as burdens rather than gifts. The loving people who run La Quinta have worked tirelessly to provide a place that reminds the kids they are blessings and that God will never turn their backs on them. Whether it’s thrice weekly services at the on-campus church, or nightly devotionals, the teens are getting the spiritual education they need. Likewise, it is with patient conversations, lovingly prepared meals, and the genuine responsibility that these young-adults are receiving the positive affirmation that they need. What is most promising however is that these kids don’t just say that they are accepted by God, they live it.
Last Sunday morning we were informed that we would be accompanying the teenagers to the barrio (very poor neighborhood that is essentially hidden from street-view) to put on the weekly children’s church service. I was excited to see how this worked and anticipated the teens helping with games and the pastor running the rest. I quickly discovered that I was wrong in this assumption. By the time we arrived in the barrio, the teens had been there for over a half-hour, going door to door collecting the kids from their homes. Not only were they inviting the kids, wearing their matching white tee shirts they were chatting with parents, checking in on the progress of families, chasing off stray dogs, and just being an all around positive presence in the community. Once it was time for church, they began with some games. The games were a hit with the kids and the young-adults from La Quinta did an excellent job of allowing the kids the freedom to be excited without losing the control and structure that are required in such situations. They demonstrated a patient love, a genuine respect for the kids and the kids gave them respect in return. After the games it was time for the lesson. One of the young women got up and presented a thorough but accessible message to the kids and the kids listened intently. The most surprising moment of the morning, in my opinion, was when two of the seventeen year old guys from La Quinta showed up with buckets of rice and beans, bowls, and spoons. Not only were these teens providing spiritually, they were meeting physical needs too! I was thoroughly impressed by the whole morning, proud of the young adults, and amazed by how natural the whole morning felt. It didn’t feel like a production. It didn’t appear to be providing anyone stress, it was just, real.
If you were to compliment any of the teens from La Quinta for the work they do, they would just shrug and humbly say thanks. They often have a hard time understanding that what they are doing is amazing. They often have trouble seeing that their stories, their turnarounds are also truly amazing. This is where we come in. We have been working to encourage, to support, and to push these teenagers for the past two weeks. Given their backgrounds, many of them are quite reserved but they are finally beginning to open up more. It is cool to see the chain of mentorship as we mentor them and as they immediately go forth and mentor the children of the barrios.
This week, we are helping the teens run a vacation bible school for the children from the community. As expected, it started off very smoothly. Each detail looked after and a fun time had by all in attendance. It will be tough to leave this place as there is so much going on here. So many changes happening so quickly. So many painful experiences being healed and so much happiness being spread. Second chances don’t always work out well, but on this breezy property in southern Nicaragua, positive experiences seem to be the norm. The formulaic approach La Quinta takes by addressing past problems, providing quality education (both spiritual and academic), providing safety and removal from dangerous situations, giving genuine responsibility, operating out of love, and providing freedom makes the process seem almost effortless. The teens appreciate the opportunity they are being given and respect those who are helping them and the support staff genuinely loves and cares for the kids, viewing each one as a new opportunity. They have a powerful system here and I pray it continues to be fruitful.
