Yesterday I went out to the boy’s home where I volunteer. I haven’t been out to the home in a couple of months. Call it a combination of being busy with my guys and a bit of tension with the director of the home (it happens sometimes… But it’s getting better, so that’s good). Other than the terrible state of the highway (and I thought it was bad before), everything was pretty much the same.

It was good to see the guys. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy being out there. Besides being a nice break from the heat of the city, it’s just fun to laugh and hang out with everyone. Obviously we had some catching up to do…

It’s nice to be missed.

As a side note, the whole “When are we going to eat cake?” thing makes me laugh. I heard that question about a thousand times the first year I was dating Isabel. I could never figure it out. I was always like, “Well…I don’t really know. I guess I could buy some cake or something…” One of the guys finally explained to me that people were asking when I was going to get married. Well why didn’t someone say so! That makes a lot more sense!

Of course my answer still stands…

Anyhow, I do have a prayer request. I’m pretty close to one guy in particular at the home. I’ve talked about him before. Considering what he’s come through in his life already, it’s always amazing to me how compassionate, quiet-spirited and solid he is. He’s just a really great kid.

We didn’t talk for very long, before he started talking about his desire to leave the home. He misses (and is very worried about) his dad, who he hasn’t seen in over a year. He wants to be with his brothers and other family members as well. I listened to him talk, and for sure my heart went out to him. What he’s feeling is a normal part of human existence. The need to be with family and the desire to feel loved is a part of who we are.

Unfortunately reality is often kind of harsh here. The truth is, both his brothers (who are older than him) have drinking problems. I don’t know much about his father, except that he left for Cochabamba over a year ago and (as far as we know) hasn’t contacted anyone from the family. It wouldn’t be the first time one of the guys has left to go live with a parent, only to find out that the parent has no desire to know them, or have them be a part of their life.

As well (and I think this is the case here), these moments always provide Satan with an opportunity to attack, and twist normal desires and concerns into something unhealthy. Concern for his dad is becoming an out of control fear in this young guy’s mind. He has no idea what he would do if he left, where he would live or how he would actually help his dad, but it’s all he can think about.

So we talked and prayed together. He’s only sixteen, and that’s a tough age at the best of times. I explained to him I feel strongly that God has him at the home for a reason, and that (again) God does have a plan and a purpose for his life. I told him that he wasn’t alone, and that I would be there for him, no matter what happened.

Please pray for this young guy. He’s one of the boys who really stands out in my mind. He has the gifts and abilities to be used by God in powerful ways in the future. But certainly there’s a battle raging in his heart.

God also used last night to reprimand me a little I think. I’ve been letting my own sense of busyness (and tension with a Christian brother), deter me from the ministry that God has called me to. It became obvious very quickly last night, that God desired to continue using me out at the home. I realized that I’ve been letting my own priorities (not God’s) and selfishness dictate too much.

So you can pray for me too. Understanding all of this doesn’t necessarily make all of the struggles go away. I could definitely use extra measures of wisdom and strength. But spending time with the guys last night helped me put a few things into perspective.