today i was on the jobsite helping work on the current 12x12 home. during lunch break romulo and i were sitting talking (romulo is the foreman for the 12x12 construction ministry.) where we were sitting had us both watching the happenings of a next door neighbors place. as we talked, a drunk guy kept harassing us, shouting about how he wanted a new house. i told him we could talk another day. romulo finally nudged him off.
the neighbor's house we watched had 6 or 7 kids running around. all morning they had been on their own, occasionally walking over to hang out with us. the oldest looked about 14, and the youngest maybe 3. the oldest girl stayed busy sweeping and cleaning, and every once in a while she'd ask some of the others where the little ones were.
i asked romulo if he knew them, he said yes. i asked if the kids are always alone like they are today... again, he said yes. i asked if he knew where their parents are... he told me the mom is in another city, working a vegetable stand, and the dad is the drunk guy who just left us.
i know this guy. he is drunk in the street almost every single day. usually passed out on the sidewalk or street after taking a hard fall.
romulo and i continued to talk about how sad their situation is. he told me he has known their family for years. we talked about how these kids have no hope. they have no example. no one teaching them anything. no one encouraging them, nor disciplining them. no one loving them.
they dont go to school because no one cares if they do or not.
after a couple minutes of silence, romulo asked me "and you know who is guilty?" who, i asked. "the dad."
he went on to tell me that this family has never had a leader. he said these kids have no hope because their dad is their example, and they will likely follow his footsteps.
as i listened to romulo, i thought of our vision that we have been having for the boys of Buena Vista. for over a year now, we have been feeling led to start a ministry devoted to mentoring young boys, with hopes that they may see there is another way, and break the generational patterns they follow.
romulo doesn't know anything about this, yet i felt God was using him to speak to me, to remind me, to push me forward.
thanks for the reminder romulo. thanks for the encouragement God.