Mike was driving out of the campus where they have the feeding program for street children. Just outside the property he saw a young boy, about 10 years old, sniffing glue. It is common for children who spend their time on the streets to get into the habit of sniffing glue. They start it because getting high makes them forget about their hunger pains. Mike could see that the boy was holding a bottle of glue under his shirt, and putting his face down inside his shirt to sniff the fumes. He stopped and called the boy over. He wasn’t sure if the boy knew him (he could from the feeding program, or maybe not) but he motioned to him to give up the bottle of glue. At first, Mike could tell, the boy was not sure what to do. Should he run? But after a moment’s hesitation he gave the glue up. Mike took him to the Home of Innocence. Once there he was able to talk to him as our house Uncle can translate for us. Mike offered to let the boy stay in the home, as long as he promised not to sniff glue while there. The boy said, “I can’t stay here forever, but I’ll stay here for a week, ” and he promised not to sniff glue. His name is Jeanmarie.
Jeanmarie did stay in the home for several days, but then Saturday morning he took off. Theogene, one of the older boys who stays in the Home of Innocence like a big brother, went out to track him down. Eventually he was able to find him, but he was sniffing glue again. Theogene brought Jeanmarie back to the home, and he stayed again Saturday night as well as going to church with all the house members on Sunday morning. We are praying for Jeanmarie, as well as all the boys in the home. We hope he stays, and that God will work in his family so eventually he can live at home.
I mentioned in a previous post that we were looking for a house to rent for the month of April. We are very thankful for God has provided a good house for us! It has enough room for us to have some of the children from the Faith Home come stay with us, as well as being not very far from our office, the property, and the church. Thank you God!
Thank you for your prayers for us and for the ministry here. God has great things in his heart for this country, and we are blessed to be a part of it.
God Bless You,
Lisa
You may not be able to tell, but this is me at the feeding program. One boy showed me an open wound he had, so I got out my little purse size first aid kit, and before I knew it I was surrounded by dozens of children with wounds. Some were old and scabbed over, some were new (these kids can get pretty banged up out there). Some of the scabs looked pretty gnarly, and I doubt that a little bit of ointment and a band-aid really did any good, but it is a way for me to show care and a loving touch to these kids.
