Carlos is 14 years old and has been on the streets for most of his life. On Monday while talking to the other street kids Larry, who has been talking to these kids for over four years, came up and told us Carlos would like to get a haircut, and check out the transition home. Larry has known Carlos for two in half years, and has been trying to get him off the streets. This is the first time he has ever agreed to come with them. I was so happy that the first day out, I get to see what the process of taking a kid off the streets looks like.
Joshua and Carlos getting a hqair cut.
So we went and got him a haircut, which he was in direr need of one. We then took him to the transition home that YWAM has, which is on the out skirts of the city. They wanted to have a place that is out of reach of the streets, so the temptation of going back to the streets isn’t within reach. The transition home is a home for kids that are just coming off the streets. They stay in this home for little over a week. In that week they are taking to the Dr., and are checked out for anything. Most of these kids coming off the streets have HIV/ AIDS, TB, and other health problems. So they are taking to the Dentist as well, to make sure they are healthy to go into the homes. Also they are told what to expect in the home, like chores, living with up to 30 boys, school, and other needs that need to be meet while in the home.
One of the beds at the in between home.
Playing a game with Joshua, Ruth, and Suzette
After Carlos took a shower, and changed out of his clothes that were torn, and dirty we ate lunch. After lunch I played Jenga with him. Even thou I didn’t speak his language, I felt like he was starting to warm up to me. Let me tell you he was a pretty good player, and I lost three times. After the game we all sit at the table and Larry starts telling Carlos about the place, and what to expect. Larry goes on to telling him that only special children, get to come to this place. Children that they know can fight to stay off the streets, and that are willing to try. During the talk I felt God pressing in me to tell him something. So I asked Larry if he could translate for me, he said go ahead.
This is what I felt God pressing me to say, “God knows you are a special young man and that you do believe in him, and that he has sent very special people to help you. People like Larry, Suzette, and Rebecca who care about you very much. Larry who has known you for over two years, and will never give up on you because, he loves you very much. These people have been sent by God because he knows you can do much more, and you have the fight in you to do greats things”. I go on and tell him, “ That even though I have known you for a few short hours, I can see great thing come out of you.”
Playing a game with Carlos
The sad thing is even after all of that, even after all the praying we did at the end. When it was time for him to choose if he would stay are not, he choose to go back on the streets. It felt like I got hit by a train when, I was told he would rather go back on the streets then try this place out for a bit. That he would rather go back to a place where he would live in filth, drugs, abuse, and violence. So we did what he wanted. We took him back to the streets, because we can’t force him to do anything. We dropped him off near the place we picked him up, and he got out and just waved at us.
Carlos waving goodbye, and going back on the streets.
At first I was angry, and mad at what happened. It took me a very long time to process what had happened, and to tell you the truth I’m still trying to wrap my finger around it. I know that the streets is all he basically knows, and that he has been in a children’s home, and who knows what could have happened to him in there. I still have HOPE FOR CARLOS, that one day he will decided living on the streets is no longer for him!
This video is of Carlos and I playing jenga. Even though we don't speak the same language. I feel that we had a silent connection. I do hope, that I planted a seed in him. So one day he will chose to get off the streets.
