5 Guys

Ok so we're not really calling it that, but the boys @ the reintegration house ARE becoming micro-business owners (see 2 of the 5 boys pictured above Raul, left, & Humberto, right). Now at the end of their (South American) 'summer' break, we came up with a plan together w/ the boys to hopefully empower them a bit more economically & help them take another step towards integrating back into society as mature, restored, responsible young men.

The 5 boys: Raul, Abel, Francisco, Juan, & Humberto have agreed to start their own small lawncare company in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. We've helped w/ the initial investment & contacting potential clientele, but now they are in charge & will handle all the accounting, client management, scheduling & maintenance.

So why lawncare? Well . . . it's rainy season in Bolivia, the grass is growing like crazy, we know several families who pay for this service already, & (unlike a normal 8 - 5 job) it allows for flexible work hours for when they need to study extra for exams, or have classes in the a.m. & the late evening. The goal is to help generate income to help cut expenses at the reintegration house where they live, while at the same time empowering them to pay for some of their own living expenses & teach them responsibility, team-work, time management (of work, school & household chores), as well as how to handle their own money.

We're excited. They're excited. And we know that it'll in time be a blessing, a great learning experience, & help to lessen the financial burden at the house.

Purpose

(Pictured above, part of our small group of older boys, at the boys' restoration home 'El Camino').

2 years ago, at the boys' home El Camino, we saw the need to deepen & improve discipleship with the guys, and felt like a small group format was the right step to help achieve that. So now we've divided the boys into 3 groups at the home basically by age. Patty is over the youngest boys, (under 13); our friend & ministry partner Roberto works w/ the middle-aged boys (13-16); and Larry ministers to the older boys (17-21).

Tuesday nights are our small group nights, & overall it's been a tremendous success. The smaller audience groups the boys w/ peers their own age, & enables them to talk about & go to what the bible says about real issues, problems, & insecurities they're dealing with everyday. Years of having to survive on the streets, has hardened the boys & many have expressed feelings of great loneliness, despite being around caretakers & other kids 24/7. Part of the idea of the small groups is to create (or restore) TRUE community & friendship within the home. We've begun by trying to shed light on 'normal' teenage issues, going against the internal notion that most harbor, that they're the ONLY ONES feeling what they're feeling, struggling w/ what they're struggling w/ etc. The goal is to inspire the guys to follow Jesus from a young age. Part of that is linked to them releasing & being honest about some of the intense inner conflict that almost all of us feel during adolescence, & allowing their roommates/peers the space to do the same. So far we've been able to tackle issues ranging from honesty to sexuality to decision-making and now . . . Purpose.

We're using Rick Warren's, 'Purpose Driven Life,' as a tool to look at what God's Word says to questions about who we are? & what we're created for? The older boys just finished the little over 7 week/40 day study & it's been a wonderful eye opener for all of us. The boys are maturing & asking great questions, beginning to see their lives past, present & future from a more Godly perspective; & are being challenged to rethink a lot of what they believe about themselves, God, His world & His plans for their future.

Welcoming Ruth!

Above is Adela Ruth Alvarez, 15 years of age. Ruth was taken to the girls' restoration home yesterday after spending nearly a week at the Reception house.

Ruth was born in Bolivia, but came to us from the streets of Argentina. Long story short, Ruth's mom sent her off w/ her uncle to Argentina to 'work' illegally, & Ruth within a short time wound up on the streets, into drugs & in with the wrong crowd.

Ruth is definitely a sweetheart, has recommitted her life to the Lord while at the reception house and has stated that she dreams of being a teacher one day. She also loves to sing and enjoys dancing. Help us pray for Ruth that she will make friends quickly at the girls' home, continue to seek the Lord and know Him more, and also make the most of school and different vocational activities for the girls there.