Hector

Tonight, it is officially clear that God has me in a strategic position.  The need is clearly great and the pain of students is real.  But my role is clear and clearly important .

One unclear piece of our decision to work for UrbanLife, was how God would marry my desire to love the orphan and my desire to see the lives of youth in our neighborhood flourish.  Being realistic, I knew that the demands of programming and relationship building might leave little, if any, energy to reach out to foster kids in our neighborhood.  I made some calls in the first month of work at UrbanLife.  But it quickly became obvious that I need more time with the students in front of me and I need more adult leaders to bring the potential new students into.

Tonight the first foster student came to us.  He came asking for money, about 20 minutes before the other 70 arrived.  I got the chance to hear a little of his story and it made me hurt.   He is barely 18 and now emancipated from the foster system.  He is not welcome with mom or dad.  He has been living in an abandoned house in our neighborhood since November.  He smelled like the street.  He hasn't finished high school, and just wants to work.  He is holding onto the American Dream that his mother moved here for.  He is not a citizen.  His future is dim.  His God is in love with him.

That last statement has me open to God's leading.  I am no fool.  I am not going to be able to solve even most of his problems.  But he is in a bad spot.   He needs some warmth tonight.  He needs some folk to believe in him.  Tonight he is sleeping in the new mobile trailor at church.  His clothes tumble in the dryer as I type.  He has a warm sleeping bag and hot tea in a thermos.  The space heater is extension-corded all the way out to the unit.  The space heater is pointed at his face.   He should sleep well. 

But what does tomorrow hold?  And what is my role?  Tonight, it was just to be a warm smile, a listening ear, and an encouraging voice.

Thank God for this position.