Where to turn? Smothered in an overcrowded squatter area with addicted, beyond-poor parents or to the streets with air to breathe and even more abuse and addiction waiting? Lawrence, only 12 years old, chose the streets and living with the nuns through elementary school had provided him with no preparation for this choice. Sniffing glue, gangs and violence quickly became his new life . . .
Shortly after Lawrence came to the drop-in center, he declared that he wanted to go to school and was tired of life on the streets. He demanded more from us. Why couldn’t we send him to school and give him a home?
A short-term missionary, knowing nothing about Lawrence, began to share that he felt God had a plan for this boy to go to school. With tears running down my face, I immediately made the arrangements for Lawrence to enroll in school. He amazed us all by finishing his first year of high school above average - this after not attending school for 4 years.
At this time, his family suddenly transferred to a city five hours away, and taking him with them, they told him it was just for summer vacation. But, at the end of the summer, he realized he was not going back to school, not back to church, not back to the drop-in center.
Hearing of his plight, we contacted the family and the parents agreed to sign over legal temporary guardianship of Lawrence to us. And so, Lawrence came home last night to live with us. He will live with us in the staff compound for now until our shelter is up and running. He can't stop smiling...and is so thankful. God is good!!!
Please continue to pray for Lawrence and the many many more Lawrence's who desperately want and need a safe place to call home.
