Written 10/30/10 This blog is a continuation of my last blog, Our God is Greater (please check it out), introducing you to the other four members of the family we have been working with in Los Pinos. Sorry it is a little long, I just want you to get to know the people that have become family to so many of us. 　 Lilian Josue (14 years old) Carlos (13 years old) Since Carlos doesn’t have any major issues he tends to be overlooked. However, he does have a special place in my heart and in Tony’s heart. Tony would have never met this family if it wasn’t for Carlos. All of this came about because Tony saw Carlos begging for money outside of a store and invited him to church for free meals. At first, Carlos was resistant, but after Tony randomly ran into Carlos five more times and continued to invite him, he finally came to the church. It was through the free meals at church that Tony’s relationship with this family began. I am going to miss Carlos SO much when we leave! Fernando (11 years old) Despite a few setbacks God is still moving incredibly fast in both Christo’s family and Los Pinos. In three weeks we have seen Christo raise his hands in worship for the first time, stand next to his mom in church for the first time (he usually would only stand by Tony), Josue hug and kiss his mom goodbye for the first time since Tony has known them, Josue admit that he has a problem with paint thinner, Josue pray aloud for the first time in a group, Carlos asking if he can also pray in the group, Christo showing conviction over using paint thinner (which he never has before), the whole family going to church for the first time in over 8 years, the once tough street kids now showering us with affection every time they see us, the boys (who used to roll up the windows whenever they got a ride with Tony because they were embarrassed to be seen with a gringo) walk with their arms around us through the streets of Los Pinos even though they get made fun of for it.
Lilian Dancing with her mom
Lilian is the mother of four boys. She left her boys about 8 years ago to live with four men on the streets. Just yesterday she opened up to us about how she used to be a prostitute and deal drugs in order to provide for her sons. There were multiple times where her sons could have been taken away from her but she fought to keep them. In just 8 weeks Lilian has gone from not really being involved with her boys, to yesterday taking on the responsibility of feeding her children. At the end of the day when Tony was dropping Lilian back off at her shack, she pulled him aside and said she has made the commitment to move back in with her boys once the new house in built. This is such a HUGE step in such a short amount of time, that can only be the Lord. She also decided to donate the materials from her current house, that is about to be demolished to make room for a new house, to another family in need in Los Pinos (This is a big deal because she could sell the materials to get some extra money. The only form of income she has is picking through trash to collect plastic bottles and other things she can sell.) When asked how she was doing the other day she said, “I am living victoriously!� During our few short weeks here we have seen her go from sad and worn out to smiling and full of life! She has been attending church every Sunday for the past four weeks with her boys, and the difference in her has been incredible! I know the Lord is going to continue to work in her life in big ways and I can’t wait to hear all of the incredible stories!
Josue is a very loud, passionate, and enthusiastic boy. He is very sarcastic at times, loves to play jokes on people, and loves to make fun of the things “gringos� say. I would also say he is the most street wise of the bunch. He has the biggest struggle with paint thinner out of all of the boys. Up until two weeks ago he would deny that he had a problem with thinner even though you could smell the paint thinner on him every time you hugged him. We have never seen him use, however we know when he is using because the passionate jokester turns into a very slow and apathetic person. Two weeks ago Tony confronted Josue about the thinner and Josue actually admitted to having a problem. Tony offered to allow Josue to come live up in the mountains with us for two weeks, to have the opportunity to be out of the negative environment of Los Pinos. Josue decided to take Tony up on his offer and has really enjoyed being out here with us. I pray that these two weeks away from Los Pinos will have a lasting impact on him. Even though our human nature says there is no way he will stay clean once he goes back, we know that our God is greater than any addiction and nothing is impossible for our God!
This boy holds such a special place in my heart! (see my previous blog entitled “Ouch�) I would best describe Carlos as the moral compass of the family. He is the only one out of the four boys that has never done thinner and swears he will never do it in the future. He tattles on his brothers all of the time, which means he gets picked on and beat up by his brothers a lot. He cries the most out of the bunch, but he is also the most affectionate of his brothers. He will just walk up to you and wrap his arms around your waist and say “te quiero mucho!� (I love you a lot), and he loves to give you kisses on your cheek. One of my favorite parts of the day is getting my hugs and kisses from Carlos.
Oh man I don’t even know how to describe this crazy boy. He is like a never ending crazy ball of energy. We have affectionately named him Mogely (from the Jungle Book) because he is so wild and runs around with no shoes or shirt like a little jungle boy. His hair is something else! It sticks up and out without the help of gel. Even though his hair is wild, it is the only type of hair that fits him, and he would not be Fernando with any other type of hairstyle. Since Fernando was Lilian’s last child she babies him, which means he is quite immature for his age. Like Josue and Christo, Fernando also has used paint thinner. However, he is still not quite ready to start making changes like the other two boys because he is so young and immature. In time he will be ready to make changes, but now is not quite the time. Tony has incredible discernment and will wait for the Lord’s timing.
Los Pinos at sunset
God is doing incredible things in Los Pinos and is going to continue to do what the world says is impossible! So many people have given up on the tough street kids. However we have seen those tough street kids turn into affectionate people with respect for us and Tony. As Tony would say, “Todos es possible con Dios!�
