. . . & come back up!
Yes, these two guys from our restoration home, 'El Camino,' were baptized yesterday at the local church where they've been attending here in Santa Cruz. Both Luis Miguel & Raul have come a loooooonnngg way since 1st joining us. We've known Luis Miguel for close to 7 years. He came & left the home several times before coming back for good nearly 4 years ago now. Luis Miguel graduates high school this year & plans to attend college afterwards. He's a bright kid. 2 of his interests include philosophy & hip-hop/reggaeton music, & as many of you know he even writes & performs his own songs. God has taken him through a long maturation process he's still going through. We have high expectations & believe the Lord has great plans for his life.
Raul 1st came to us 5 years ago. He was much smaller back then, and attended Patty & I's wedding! He left shortly after & went back to the streets, & returned about 1 1/2 later with renewed vigor & determination to get his life back on track & finish his studies. At the home, Raul came to know the Lord and has been growing significantly over the last 3 1/2 years. Raul has a big personality & loves being the life of the party. He's one of the guys of influence at the home. I've personally seen him encourage & give words of wisdom to kids who're struggling or thinking about going back to the streets, & literally seen them change their minds and stay on the right path because of his words. Raul's in 9th grade this year & has also been instrumental in encouraging his younger brother, Angel, to leave the street life. Angel is currently locked up in a youth detention center, but will be released later this year & plans to join us at El Camino following his release!
Praise God for both of these young men, & for His hand & work in their lives. They're both truly a testament to how God can cause a total 360 in someone's life & then turn around & use them as agents of change in the lives of others!
