Often when we are
trying to get other people on board to support us or to support a project, we tell the
most heartbreaking stories we hear, the most powerful story, the story of the
most forgotten, the most redeemed. The stories that seem to have the most human
impact. I know I am guilty of this.
I wrote multiple blogs about Cristofer
while I was in Honduras, and I saw God working huge miracles in this boy’s
life. I saw him be completely transformed. Cristofer’s story is one of those
that people never forget–addicted to paint thinner for years, and then huge
changes in a short time! His story will be one that I carry with me for the
rest of my life.
But there is another boy who touched my heart even more than
Cristofer did.
His name is Ariel. He is fifteen
years old and lives in a one-room shack
with his mother and five brothers and sisters. There are two twin beds (old, moldy stacked mattresses), mud floors.
His father is a raging alcoholic who stabbed himself in the chest a few months
ago. His mother is a devout Christian who works multiple jobs to keep as many
mouths fed as she can. Ariel is only able to go to school because Tony scrapes up enough
money to pay for Ariel’s uniform and daily bus fares. Ariel sounds like the
story of any other kid living in an impoverished neighborhood.
But he is different.
He has never done drugs. He got himself out of the gang scene long before he was ever too involved. He works jobs when he can get them. He is trying to get himself out of the hell that surrounds his life.
He is different. He doesn’t have the crazy stories that most of the boys have.
And because of his “normal kid inspite of circumstance” story, he is overlooked.
The day that I met Ariel, he showed up with a half-dozen boys to the farm while Tony was not home. Most of the boys wreaked havoc to get each of our undivided attention. Ariel sat back, surveyed, and let everyone else have the spotlight.
At one point, he approached Kaity Grace to have her look over his homework. It was done perfectly. He knew it. But it was his way of getting someone to notice that he too was there.
Later I asked Tony what this boy’s story was, and Tony replied, “He’s a good kid. A really good kid. He’s not sponsored or anything like that. He has an incredible heart. Love on him. Most people don’t because he’s not as outgoing. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
And pretty much from that moment on, Ariel and I spent the better part of the month together. I made him multiple friendship bracelets. He taught himself to make them. We studied the Word together, and I spent countless hours trying to get some essence of his lfe story out of him.
He would always tell me his life was boring–that he was nothing special. I can’t begin to tell you how that is a lie of the enemy.
Ariel:
is always clean, and his pink polo is always spotless.
Pink is his favorite color.
He’s quiet but goofy as can be.
He loves music and constantly has it blaring over the farm.
He has an incredible sense of humor.
He’s a die-hard Olimpia (Honduran soccer team) fan. There are few things he would exchange in life for a chance to go to one of their games.
But more than that, he’s a hard worker.
He’s brilliant.
His dreams are modest because no one has ever told him that he was worthy of dreaming bigger.
Noone ever told him that he was worthy of being loved.
No one ever told him he was worthy at all.
He wants more for his life.
He doesn’t act out to get attention or to get love.
He has seen multiple of his friends do drugs and then be rescued by outside organizations. He has the temptation everyday to drive his life into the ground in hopes that someone will notice and pull him out of this.
But he won’t pull himself to rock bottom.
He continues with his quiet life. Unnoticed.
Forgotten by everyone except the Lord.
If you are wondering in any way how you can help Ariel know he’s not forgotten, if you are looking to help someone out who is really a sure thing. Email Tony at [email protected] or let me know because I would love to encourage you and tell you more about this precious child of God!
We’ve been in El
Salvador for over a week now, and it has been quite a change from last month.
We are back in the “five star� race to which I have often referenced. We are
serving with Team Quiet Storm, and we are all living in a house with a family
of six. Nineteen of us in the same house, so be praying that God’s voice would
quiet this home and we would all be able to hear and seek Him above all.
