roberto

I think I've posted on the blog before about working with Roberto on Saturday mornings. Roberto is a ten-year-old boy from a small town about three or four miles from Ixtlan. He lives with his grandma, mom, younger brother and baby sister. Roberto does not have a father figure at home which is very, very evident in his life.

About the time I started taking him to my woodshop with me last October, he got in a fight with another kid at school and got suspended for two weeks. After his suspension, he tried school again, but claimed the other kids were making fun of him and refused to go anymore. For nearly 5 months, while his mom was working, Roberto would roam the streets, getting messed up in all kinds of bad things.

About the middle of March, Hannah and I felt like we needed to do something more with Roberto. He was obviously heading down the wrong path in life and really had no home or friend support to help change his direction. After praying about it, we decided to sponsor him and enroll him in our church school. We found out quickly that this involves far more than money. On a normal day, I pick Roberto up and get him to school at 8:00. Hannah takes him his lunch at 10:30 and then helps him with his homework from 2:00 to 3:00, which is when I take him home.

So, that’s been a big part of our lives lately. We really have enjoyed working with him and seeing him acclimate to a new school and really a new lifestyle. He told me the other morning that his mom is not allowing him to go out in the streets anymore. This was a huge step of progress and we’re thrilled to see his mom “join our team” and provide some support at home.

As always, we appreciate your prayers and ask you to pray that Roberto would continue to show progress in school, that he could make friendships, and that more than anything, seeds would be planted that will one day grow and help him to make a decision to follow Christ instead of the world.