I am coming to find that everyone has a story. I wish I didn’t know what I know now.
Mario was once again at the church. He was drunk when we got there but as he sobered up I wanted to talk to him. Stephanie agreed to talk to him with me/ translate for me. I wanted to know his story so I started with his tattoos. When people display something permanently on their body there is usually an explanation unless they had a case of bad judgment on a drunken night. I was curious about the tear drop on his face. When she asked him he started to choke on his words. While sobbing he said, “Homicide”.
Mario killed a three year old girl, three years ago. He lives with his brothers that are also a part of this gang. One has killed three and the other, one.
From his smile you would never know that he lives in a world of hurt. He probably drinks to temporarily numb his memory. He said he thinks of her often. We just weren’t made to carry those burdens. But we can accredit that to The Fall.
The calfs in the pasture adjacent the land we live on are in constant grieving. They wake us up every dawn with shrill cries. The first time I heard them I thought they were slaughtering cows right outside our windows. After hearing these consistent cries, from sun up to sun down, we finally questioned Eleazar (land owner, pastor, and founder of Shekinah Bible School). He said they bring the calves after separating them from their mothers. The babies will call out for their mothers until they “forget” why they are mourning. I wish that Mario could forget the things that he has seen but I know that he will not. Maybe we can’t forget what pains us deep down but we can ask for forgiveness. In truth, there is grace and in grace, there is forgiveness. What matter is that God does forget. When we stand before Him we will stand clean.
All this time I am thinking I can save him and the reality is that I can’t and never will.
Leviticus 16-30
“because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you.
Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.”
