Este

As we pass thru the remnants of a familiar trash heap, we gaze deeply upon the face of a young glue head. There is an instant assessment if the individual has become debilitated mentally by its effects or if there is hope of stripping them from its influence. Today, there was Este- his youthful face invited us into open conversation within the heap. As he saw Brett, immediately his smile ushered us to assessment of his position as we watched him shove the glue bottle into his over sized jacket pocket. His job was to gather enough metal, scraps to contribute to paying for a place to sleep in the trash heap slum, Matheri.

His mind has not been given over fully to the glue’s paralyzing hand. We asked if he wanted a different job, working with us. Instantly, he smiled and replied yes. Este was able to repeat back to us, AIC, 7:30am. Ask for vinny. He kept saying what do I tell them when they ask about the bad things I do? We assured him that was not his purpose in working with us and that he would not be defined by how we met him. Later on it hit us that he instantly associated the church with unacceptance because of his decisions. There are moments of great evangelism and voicing powerful words from Scripture to those who do not know the Lord. Yet, as we stood before this young teenager we were burdened by how he felt to walk thru the church’s door. Obviously from his questioning he has felt ashamed and removed from any acceptance by Christians- always feeling like he is defined by the bad choices that he makes. His choice to sniff glue is indeed quite severe and there is truly a window of time before a glue head is ‘lost’ mentally to the world. Este is still very much present and although a bottle of glue was awaiting his grasp as soon as we turned away, this young man has an opportunity of hope, of a future of what could be gained in his life. Pray with us that he may not miss the Lord’s love for him. Pray that us believers can usher him in with love, acceptance, and grace. May Este know a life other than lying on scrap metal in the middle of the trash heap because his life is far more worthy than handing it away to the enemy’s hand.