Julio has resurfaced after over a month of no one knowing where he was. I was pretty happy to hear his voice on my cell phone the other day. He explained that he had a job opportunity and in the spur of the moment (thinking that he needed to pay some debts) he took it. He thought he’d only be gone for a week…but then wasn’t able to leave the job site for over a month. The job is in a little town a few hours away and isn’t very accessible.

It’s tough for me to know what to think or say. Without really thinking much about it, Julio blew off the school that I worked hard to get him into (and was paying for). When we sat down to talk yesterday, he had a hard time communicating what he was thinking about or wanted to do. I’m not sure how to completely explain the situation. All I can ask is that you continue to pray for him. My heart really goes out to this kid. He really doesn’t have anyone. He’s sixteen and been alone and on his own for most of his life. After being fairly stoic at first when we started talking (he knew what he’d done was wrong, and was probably preparing himself for a lecture) he started crying when he acknowledged that he’s not happy with his life and the decisions he’s making…but he’s not sure what to do.

There’s more to the story, but it’s probably just best to ask you to pray. He’s agreed that when he comes home this weekend, he’d like to move in with us. For the next month he’ll work during the week and then live with us on the weekends. I know that I’m going out on a bit of a limb with Julio…our place isn’t set up for sixteen year old guys in high school. But…at the same time, I don’t feel any peace with just walking away. So…I guess we’ll see. =)

Kind of the story of my life…the lost puppy syndrome. Oh…except when someone actually gave me a puppy earlier this month I gave it back after four days. It was kind of a pain. So maybe the analogy doesn’t completely hold. But you get the idea. It’s tough when you see someone hurting and alone, to just be another person in their lives who leaves them to fend for themselves when they mess up. But the challenge is how to help someone in a constructive way without just handing them everything on a platter. The whole being compassionate but firm thing. Takes a lot of prayer some days. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I feel strongly that God’s called me to be an example of unconditional love and unconditional grace to these guys. So I guess I’d rather err on the side of love and grace. Don’t think that means there are never consequences for the guys with me…there are. I had to tell a kid that he wouldn’t be able to live with us in the new place, because of the choices he’d been making. That was tough. But we’re still friends and I’m still doing what I can to help him. So there’s that balance.

At any rate…please continue to pray for Julio and for me. I don’t always feel compassionate and loving. No really. =) And now that I’m living with seven guys…soon to be nine (we’re probably picking up another fellow other than Julio…but I’ll explain that another day) it gets tough some days. But God is good and He’s been faithful. But yea…feel free to pray.