I had lunch with Julio Cesar today. He’s the fellow I mentioned the other day and asked you to pray for our conversation today. He’s in a difficult situation and I wasn’t sure exactly how to help him. If I start paying for rooms and food and whatnot for people, I’ll have line from here to Brazil of people asking for help. The home will be empty and 70 boys will be camped out on my front lawn. It just wouldn’t work. So trust me, I was praying hard on the way into the city. Julio is living with his girlfriend’s family and it’s not a very good situation. He wants out, but really doesn’t have many options.

Julio came to Miguel’s (the boy’s home where I work) when he was eight. He was being abused by an aunt, so he left. Fortunately he was only on the streets one night before another fellow suggested that he go to Miguel’s. He was there for six years before he up and left one night. I remember arriving the next day and being so disappointed that he’d left. He was one of my favourite guys. (Sound kind of familiar?) =) He’s been gone from the home now for nearly two years.  That’s him on the left in the picture, back a couple of years.  He looks pretty much the same now. 

So today I found myself talking to him and in my head trying to figure out what to do. He seems so broken right now and I didn’t want to just buy him lunch, pat his shoulder and tell him it would all be okay. But like I said, I knew my actions could have ramifications. Then an idea came into my head. Sometimes I have a hard time disengaging my heart from my head and my ideas aren’t always the best. So I decided to seek some council….I called my friend Corina. She’s smarter than I am.

We met with her after lunch, and I explained my idea of finding someone in Canada or the States who could sponsor Julio. Help him with renting a room…paying for his classes…buying groceries. That way, when asked (and I will be asked) I can just say…it’s not me. It lets me off the hook.

We discussed the idea and as usual, Corina presented a couple of things I hadn’t considered, but mostly she thought it was a good idea. Worth a try, she said. This guy deserves the chance.

And so…that’s the plan.

Afterwards, as Julio and I sat in my truck, I explained what was going to happen. I’ve added some conditions to the money, but nothing he minded. He needs to go to church with myself and the guys from the new home. He’ll attend our Bible studies…meet with myself and one of the other leader guys at the home every week…that kind of thing. Stuff that’ll be good for him. He’s only 16…that’s pretty young for being on his own. I want to make sure that we’re being a good support for him. You might be wondering why we don’t just accept him into the new place…and trust me, I considered that. But he doesn’t fit with who we hope to work with…and that’s a door I just can’t open. Again, it would have a lot of consequences. How do I let him move in with us, but not the next kid who shows up at our door.

Julio seemed pretty content and happy with our decision. I know he was feeling a lot of stress about the future and what to do. As I said the other day, he’s pretty much been abandoned by his family. They haven’t tried to contact him in over a year. So I’m excited about being able to help him and reestablish our friendship. I told him that first night I talked to him, that he needed to understand that he wasn’t alone. That there were people who cared for him and who were going to help him. At any rate, we’re getting together next Monday to talk some more. But please pray for him. He’s got some difficult decisions ahead of him. Even with everything that’s happened to him, he’s still one of the most gentle and compassionate guys I’ve met down here. He really is a great kid.
 

This all made me think of what’s been happening lately with some of the guys leaving…specifically Jose Miguel.  It felt like God gently reminded me (as did many of you who wrote me) that His timing isn’t the same as our timing.  It’s not like I don’t know that…I do.  I’ve run into that more than once.  It’s just difficult sometimes in the moment.  I’ve said many times in many situations, that it’s not the end of the story.

Anyhow…that’s that. No new word on the house. I just keep praying. I also met another street kid who I’m going to sit down with tomorrow if he shows up. He’s a teenage guy who seems to be from Argentina but stuck here in Bolivia somehow. At first I was a bit skeptical about his story…he’s pretty clean and shaven for a street kid. But he showed me the big whole in his shorts and how cut up and sore his feet are. He seems to be on the up and up. I’m doing my best to stay soft-hearted about these things without getting taken for a ride. =) I bought him a bag of food and told him to meet me tomorrow in the same place. I talked to Corina and she knows a guy who’ll give him a chance and put him to work if he wants. We’ll see what happens. Pray for him though. His name is Ricardo.

Thanks for checking out the blog. I’ll keep trying to post here most days when I can. There always seems to be something to write about. Thanks again to everyone who wrote to encourage me. I appreciate it. I’m feelin’ the love people… =)