For some reason it felt darker in Ciudad tonight, physically and spiritually, even though the street lights were working fine. There was a lot of movement and not a lot of police presence. Jorge and I started out first as Luchin was going to be late. We prayed in our usual spot, at the door of the casino then headed to the usual areas. Jorge had a bag of clothes for Luis and in my heart, I was really hoping he would show up tonight. Most of them will say that they will show up but then they never do...time and space has no place in their lives as their movements and behaviour are lead by the drugs they smoke. But Luis showed up. A totally different Luis.
He was cleaner and almost unrecognizable. He had clean clothes on and he had this amazingly huge grin on his face when he saw us. He couldn't wait to talk and tell us what was on his mind. I was in awe. The whole week, I had been thinking that I wanted to celebrate his birthday and since he received the Lord last week and his birthday is in November, it would be a great time to take him out for a chicken dinner to celebrate and also to have an opportunity to sit down and talk to him without distractions around. When I suggested that, his smile grew bigger, "Today is my birthday, I turn 18 today!" I squinted up at him menacingly with my tiny chinese eyes. "So, why did you lie to me and tell me you didn't know the date of your birthday?" I never mince words with them. I just go straight to the heart. "I don't know. But really, today is my birthday!" he said still with his huge grin. "I want you to know that you don't have to lie to us, Luis. You can always tell us the truth and we won't think badly of you. " "Yeah I know," he said. Meanwhile, I'm going in my head, "Dang, now what else did he lie about?" But then, I had to change my attitude. I was in their world and until they trust us, they will lie and hide things from us. But tonight, there was a change in Luis, a huge change and he couldn't stop wanting to tell us about his change. And I really didn't care if he had lied because I know that God will deal with him and transform him.
We went to a chicken restaurant and let him talk. He told us that after what we had told him last week, he couldn't stay the same. He couldn't live in filth and just exist the way he did, living beneath the bridge. So he decided that he had a future and he began to hope (yes, that is the power of the living God working in him!!) and the first thing he knew he had to change was the way he viewed himself. So he made a date with soap and water and got clean and felt better. Then he went to look for a place to rent. He found a place to rent for 10 soles a day in a hotel (rent is expensive for them cos they have no documents and fixed jobs, so no one will let them rent long term) and he gave up smoking terokal 4 days ago and has stopped stealing. I asked him again if he had stopped smoking terokal and stealing and he said yes and he couldn't do it anymore because he felt bad. So he now works helping direct passengers to the minibuses and he makes about 10 soles or a little more each day. Jorge told him to talk to his landlady about lowering his rent a little more in exchange for him cleaning the passageways or certain parts of the hotel.
He started telling us that he also decided to stop living the way he did because he has a 3 year old daughter who lives with his ex girlfriend and her new boyfriend. And that through his sister in law, he found out that the ex girlfriend and boyfriend both beat his little girl and his main concern now is to get her out of there. I told him to not take matters into his own hands but to go through the proper channels of authority. But first, we need to help him keep bettering himself so he can help his daughter. And also to pray for God to lead and open doors in this case. He also wants to finish high school so he can attain his dream of becoming a cop. I told him that Siembra will and can help him if he truly wants that. He does. And Siembra will also help him go through the channels to help his daughter.
Tomorrow I will check with Blanca, the policewoman in charge of children's rights in Lima on how to proceed with Luis' daughter's case. In the evening, I will meet him at 6:30pm to take him to church with me. He wants to go. He has never been to church before nor does he know anything of God. And yet, God has never left him nor abandoned him.
If you're reading this, please pray for Luis. And his daughter Anjeli. And us to know how we can keep helping him. God is just awesome.
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