The Boys of Esperanza

Following the CAT Christmas party, we headed over the Casa Hogar Esperanza. We were planning to do much of our same routine - some crafts, some decorating, some pictures, share a meal together...but this visit, I have to admit, made me more nervous. You see, this home has just 15 kids, and about half of them are teenage boys. And believe me we know, after having a house full of them for over three years, that...well, they can just be difficult when they want to be.

One of the ways in which they can be difficult is when you try to make them hang out and interact with people they don't know, and/or who don't speak their language. So needless to say, we knew we had a challenge laid out in front of us - and I think that this evening helped to conquer the hearts of those boys, or at the very least it was a great start! Upon arriving we set up a table, drug some of the teenage boys over, and began to teach them two simple games that did not require much verbal language - so that they could play with the visiting women more easily. Before you know it those boys and those women gathered around that table were laughing, and interacting, and having a great time together. It was amazing. It was a victory.

Something is happening there at the Casa Hogar Esperanza, and I believe that our time there with the women's group served as even one more catalyst to help get things moving in the right direction.

I'm noticing that each time we come two things are happening: 1) We are growing in our love towards them; and 2) they are feeling slightly more endeared to us. And by "slightly", I mean to imply that I am encouraged, because with teenage boys "slightly" is a BIG step!

Each time we come these boys are seeming more excited to see us. They seem to engage us more, without us having to always be the ones doing all of the talking. Some of them look for ways to actually serve us, or serve alongside us - for instance one young man helped me grill the entire dinner. One boy, repeatedly kept asking when we were leaving. I was starting to almost feel offended, thinking that he just wanted us to leave so that he could "get on" with his evening. I finally asked him why it was he wanted to know, and he simply replied, "It's just that I want you to stay as late as possible, I don't want you to leave."

I thank God for the advances in the relationships with these boys. We really are starting to develop a love for them. We whole heartedly are seeing the need for us to continue to step into their lives, and walk beside them. We believe that God wants us to have a major impact on their lives, and we look forward to seeing in what ways He will bring that to fruition.

Manuel with Matt

Matt, Santiago, David & Mau