So let me set the stage for you. Imagine a dorm building, filled with children that grew up without parents. They were raised by people that did their job and usually nothing more. They were never given hope or even encouraged to dream. Now they are 16, you move them all into a big building with little supervision, no life skills and then you give them money every month to do whatever they want with it. Imagine now what it is like there?
When we got off the bus the first thing i seen was a brightly lite sign that said "Strip Club". Anya says all the children stand outside of it with their cell phone so they can take advantage of the free wifi. We walked past the strip club, down a dark street, turned to the right and we entered the court yard of the trade school. At this trade school the children have a choice, they can either get a 3 year degree in institutional cooking or painting walls. Three years to learn how to paint a wall! We went up the stairs and knocked on the first door. We could hear in the room next to us the voice of a boy. Anya said, "He really isn't supposed to be in there". She read my mind since my gut was feeling also that he shouldn't be in there. No one was answering the door that we knocked on, the lights were off, but we could hear them moving around in there. A minute later two of the girls came out, quickly closing the door behind them. Anya looked at me and said, "Maybe they have a boy in their room also". We stood in the hall a few minuted talking with them. It was so nice to see these girls again. But that feeling was cut short when a boy darted out of their room as if it were possible we wouldn't have seen him. My heart sank! We have seen this so many times. These children that you care so much for, cycle every year into the trade schools un-prepared for life. They do not know how to deal with consequences because they have never been allowed to suffer them or taught right and wrong the way our children were. Anya says, "It is like a machine, the girls all come to these dorms at the same time, and every year many of them become pregnant". It was so hard to see this. The Papa side of me felt heart broken, the way i would if it were my own daughter making that decision. We decided to walk away and go visit some of the boys. I could see that it bothered the girls to see the disappointment on our faces.
Visiting the boys was a bit better of an experience, but not entirely great. They are good boys for the most part. They face the same pressure as all these children do to make the wrong decision. This evening they had been drinking. Anya said, "It is especially wild here tonight and I think we should go". It wasn't for fear of our safety, it was because it was so hard to see. Two of the boys followed us out, and we stopped to talk to them a little before we left. These boys I had never met before. They both had been drinking. They asked us not to think bad of them. They said that they rarely get visitors and were so ashamed that when they did we had to see them like that. That statement kind of solidified what I have been thinking for so long, If we could get Godly people in these places full time, building relationships, encouraging hope and offering the gospel, we could effect a significant change in their lives. I told the boys that i was a little disappointed in their decision to drink, but that I didn't think badly of them. I told them that my first impression of them was that they looked to be pretty sharp young men. I went on to tell them my story of growing up in a broken home. I gave them more detail of my life than I would care to share here. But I felt I needed to so that they would know that they can come back from anywhere and any circumstance, the only thing that can hold them back is themselves. Anya was so sharp! She seen that we were reaching this one young man, and she remembered that we had Bible study Tuesday nights at the Transition home, so she asked him to come. He said he would and asked if he could bring a friend? We said...ABSOLUTELY!
So today we are heading back to the transition homes. I will have a heart felt talk with the girls if there is opportunity. We are also going to see Yulia that stayed in our transition home last year and meet with her teacher. Anya says this teacher is a rare jewel because she also cares very much for these children.
Please add these children to your prayers!
Grace and Peace!
Shane
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