A while back I remember explaining how the showers work here…that there’s an electric heater in the shower head that it’s wise not to touch. And how last year when I first got here the shower head would randomly shock the top of my head because I was too tall. Well, Miguel fixed that problem, but the tap in the shower still gives you a pretty good buzz when you touch it. So I’ve learned to kind of hit it quickly when I want to turn the water on or off. It makes it a challenge to adjust the water flow…but I figure it’s better than death. Yesterday I was bent over washing my feet, and I touched my forehead to the metal tap. It didn’t so much hurt as cause blinding, white, flashing lights in front of my eyes.

I figure that can’t be good…

I wanted to give you an update on how things went with the guys on Monday. Thanks to all of you who were praying! I was a bit surprised at how nervous I was. But I guess both of these guys’ futures were hanging a bit in the balance…so that added to the pressure. But both conversations went very well. I think I was able to build some good trust with David, which was a big step forward. We talked about self-worth and the value that we have as God’s children (among other things). I pulled back a bit from what I was going to say. Miguel had talked to him about some things in the morning…and I didn’t want to hit him over the head too much. But I brought up a couple of sensitive topics, so we’ll see what that means in terms of the decisions he needs to make.

The other fellow responded very well too. He’s also made some bad decisions in the past…haven’t we all, I guess. But his have had some consequences lately. I confronted him pretty strongly on some of the issues, and he owned up to everything. So that was good. I wasn’t sure if he would, and that would have made the situation worse. We were able to strengthen our friendship considerably. I think it was good for him to see that the sin in his life, while serious and a concern to me, doesn’t affect our friendship or my acceptance of him. These guys don’t understand grace very well. So it was cool to see him respond to that.

Yesterday I also had one of the guys come to me and start sharing about how he’s struggling right now. We went for a load of wood for the fire, and afterwards I stopped and bought us a Coke. While we were sitting there drinking them, he just started talking. He’s feeling a lot of temptation to leave and consume (do drugs). He was pretty open and honest, which was amazing. I said as much as I could, and we’re going to sit down with Edly today and talk some more. If you could pray for him, that would be great. His name is Diego…or Arana (Spider). Some of you know him.

I know I said thank you for praying, but I just want to say it again. It means a lot to me…and it makes a difference. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…nothing much happens here without prayer. It’s unbelievable sometimes, the battle I see going on. The other day I was walking in Santa Cruz, and I walked past a factory that makes those red, clay, roofing tiles they use here. They had taken all the small broken pieces and spread them across the parking area in front of the building. As I walked over them it sounded like glass breaking and I had this thought of how crazy it would be to try and put the pieces back together again and make new tiles (my brain goes to random places sometimes). Then it occurred to me that this is exactly what we’re trying to do with these young guys. We’re trying to take lives that have been completely shattered, and put them back together. Of course, in terms of our human ability, it’s an impossible task…all the little pieces that are scattered and broken. But in terms of God’s power and ability…nothing is impossible.

But it definitely keeps me humble. I read a while back in Daniel how God responded to Daniel and heard his prayers because, in God’s words, Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before his God. That’s been banging around in my head a lot…to seek understanding and to be humble. I want to be humble in my relationships and conduct here…to seek humility. Of course, as an author of a book I’m reading right now wrote, “Be careful when you ask God for humility. The best way to gain humility is to be humiliated.” =)

Thanks again for everything. It’s always great hearing from you all. Have a great day!

Hasta luego,

Ken

PS: Okay…I’m going to share this story. I almost didn’t…but it’s kind of funny. Speaking of humiliation…I made my first Spanish language mistake (well, big Spanish mistake) the other day. A couple of guys were teasing me about how much I like Coke. They asked me if I had it as a baby. I tried to say that my mom didn’t give me Coke….but it came out as “My mom’s breasts didn’t have Coke.” Actually, I first said “Breasts don’t have Coke”…but then I tried to correct myself, and that’s when I said “My mom’s breasts didn’t have Coke.” That’s always the question really…when you make a mistake, do you try and correct yourself or just walk away.

I should have just walked away….