Along with losing a couple of minors in the last few weeks, we have also picked up a few more. It’s never a “joy” to see another boy come to the jail, but I do see the positive in having another life to transform. I know not all the boys will leave the cell with a new life and new commitment, but that doesn’t make any of them less valuable. So for today, I will write about these two together because they have added a new level to our group.
Both of these boys have been into some level of high school and know perfect english. While they will help us translate from time to time if one of the other boys don’t understand, rarely will they actually speak with us because they are ashamed and don’t feel like they are smart. It always a joy to hear Jodi celebrate with them and remind them how smart they are whenever they get the answers right.
So, minor #11 is our oldest member and quite possibly our most shy. I feel like there are times when he feels like he doesn’t deserve our affection or attention, but I do feel he is beginning to warm up to us. During our classes, he tends to be the one that is very advanced compared to the others. However, he keeps his answers to himself and often lets the other boys answer first. The other day, we were playing a game that involved opposites where the boys would race to a pile of words to match the opposites. When it came his time to race, he walked up as the other boy ran, and he pointed out the words while the other boys picked them up. He’s such a smart guy and he’s helping us encourage the rest.
Minor #12 is a little bit younger. However, he has just finished his first year of high school and is not shy at all to answer the questions. The first day he came in, he was not allowed to join us, so he just sat in the cell. When we went to interview him, I think he was a little shocked to see the smiling faces that cared to know about him. It was easy to see the shame and disappointment on his face, but it didn’t take him long at all to warm up to us. Now he is playing the games and getting involved with the rest of the boys like he’s been here the whole time.
While these boys are getting an education, it is also our goal to raise them into Godly men. No longer will they act and be led by their youth, but they will know what it means to be a man and they will walk in that. That is our prayer for these men as they step into this new stage of life. We praise God to have the chance to impact new lives…
