Feeling helpless is an awful feeling. Today we met two little boys in a coffee shop downtown Quito. Joanè and TJ were the first to interact with them and when I came in they filled me in on the back story.
Basically the oldest, Anthony (11), was asking for money so that he and his little brother, Juan (3), could take medicine back to their mother who was in the hospital with a stomach issue. Her medicine would cost $20. Then a lady sitting close enough to hear the situation pulled TJ aside and informed her that these boys are in the streets every day crying and begging for money because what actually happens is if they don’t bring money home, their mother beats them. The boys were dirty and the youngest had scars that looked like they could have been caused by cigarette burns.
With this info, TJ and Joanè prayed over the boys, told them a little about Jesus, and bought them a sandwich but informed them that they weren’t going to give them any cash. With that, most kids would just walk away, but Anthony and Juan continued to sit there. And as they did, the child like joy began to show through little Juan.
He played with and licked the to go lid of his sandwich. He tossed his two coins around on the floor. He pulled his shirt over his head and laughed about it. Then for a good 15 minutes he and I passed that same lid and those same coins back and forth on a glass table.
All the while, Anthony just sat in his chair and looked worn out, sad, and much older than 11. No 11 year old should have to be responsible for not only his 3 year old brother but also providing money for his family. That would take a toll on any kid.
After they left and we said goodbye I just couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that my little brother is 11 years old and has more joy in one pinky toe than I can usually muster up at all. He has the type of light hearted, fun living life that Anthony should be getting to experience, but I couldn’t do anything about it. And that feeling just ate at me. There has to be someone who can step in and intervene in these kids life.
I don’t believe in coincidences and I don’t serve a God who can’t show up. So right now all we have is prayer as the girls, me, and a few of the interns here at InkaLink look into ways to help these kids.
Prayer can be powerful and I don’t really ask for it enough. But today I’m asking that all of you who take the time to read this blog will take a little extra time and pray for these kids with us. Pray that we will find the right person or the right organization that will know what to do. Pray that God will open all the right doors. That we will be able to continue to find these boys and if nothing else just grow a relationship with them that shows them Christ’s love.
