Our New Groups

We were set to start a new study in our discipleship groups with the older kids this week, so last week we re-opened it back up to all of the ones who had not participated with us for the last few months. We've got quite a few more kids now, almost more than we know what to do with, but that's certainly a good problem to have.

We can see the Lord's timing in relation of these groups with Chepe's death. The most obvious example is with Chepe's brother, Juan. He had not participated in our groups before, but told us last Wednesday that he wanted to join. Of course none of us had any idea that his brother would die on Saturday. He came tonight and participated, although he didn't say much. That's not unusual for Juan, though.

Another of our older guys, Eduardo, had not been a part before, but called us late last night and asked if he could come and join tonight. He was there with Chepe on Saturday, and he is the one who fell in the water, got caught in the undertow and said that he was afraid he was going to drown. At dinner he said that he feels like God has given him another chance and that he wants to do more things to please the Lord now, and that joining our group could be part of that for him.

Also Pablo- he has participated with us from the beginning. He is one that we always heard was "on the edge" since we came, not one who ever expressed much interest in living completely for the Lord. Yet we have never seen that part of him; he has been faithful to our group and we've loved having him a part- he really seems to be seeking the Lord. Tonight he said that Chepe's death initially made him very angry at God. Now, though, he says that he understands God has a purpose, and that all of this has made him reflect a lot on his own life, and that now he wants to know God better.

I was talking to one of my heroes, Stu, the other day, and he said to us something like, "God knew that this was going to happen, and that it was going to happen at the same time that He has you all are there ministering to those kids." I hadn't thought about it before- what a privilege and what a responsibility. (We had a meeting with Kendon this morning, and without knowing about our conversation with Stu, he said the same thing, almost verbatim. Seems like it's something we should pay attention to.)

Another story from our group tonight- Alex went to work in the city today, and while walking to his work from the bus, saw two men who looked pretty shady and whom he thought he'd better avoid. He walked on the other side of the street from them, but one came over and ended up robbing the only Q.10 that he had. For some reason, the other guy apparently felt a little sorry that now Alex didn't have money to ride the bus home, so he walked back over and gave him Q.1.50 for the bus fare.

Unfortunately for Alex, Q.1.50 was only enough to get him halfway home, and he didn't have any money for another bus to get him back to NLCH. He said it was very embarrassing, but he started asking people for money. He said about six people all told him they were sorry, but they only had the exact amount they needed for their own bus fare. Finally Alex just got on a bus without having the money to pay. (Riders don't pay as they enter- an attendant comes around while everyone is riding to collect the fare).

Alex said he didn't know what he was going to do when another man came and sat down next to him and said, "Hello, Alex, how are you?" Alex asked him how he knew who he was, and the man said that he had done some work at NLCH. He said that the man's face looked vaguely familiar, but that he couldn't place him. This man said that he normally doesn't have to ride the bus in that part of town, but that he was on a special errand for work, and of course- he paid Alex's fare.

I've heard stories about angels... who knows? At the very least... God is faithful to these kids; they are His. The rest of the world may call them orphans, but in reality they are sons and daughters of the King, who is always watching out for them. I'm thankful the King has us here too, and curious to see how He is going to use the tragedy of Chepe's death to do more good than any of us could have imagined.