When some Mexican boys get to a certain age–generally twelve to fourteen–their mother’s can no longer discipline them and they begin to run wild. All too often, they turn to drugs and alcohol. They join gangs and take part in all that lifestyle offers.
These boys are lost–lost to their families, lost to decent society, lost from the kingdom of God. One might think–and many of these boys, angry, think–that no one cares for them. But there is One who, counting His precious sheep, discovers that some are missing.
And that One moves on the heart of men like Oswaldo and Danny. And, as His servants, they head out to find and recover the lost boys.
At least twenty such boys live at Quin Ler–what we call “the rehabilitation center.” It’s a drug rehab center and a place of ministry. Un lugar donde Dios te da la mano–an inscription on the wall states–A place where God gives to you His hand. The mural accompanying the inscription shows a huge hand from heaven reaching down to touch a tattoed hoodlum.
God reaches down His hand to touch the lives of these formerly lost boys through the ministry of this place.
Twice, I have had the opportunity to view a drama put on by the lost boys and their sisters. In it, one young person after another describes how they came to join the gang to which they all belong. Horrible things from their childhood. Being forgotten. Seeking a place to belong.
A young man comes in–he is beaten–but eventually is welcomed into their gang. Another man comes in with tracts–sharing Christ. They threaten him and eventually chase him off. The gang leader’s little brother saunters up, book in hand, wearing school clothes. He wants to leave school to join the gang. He wants to be like his big brother. The leader tells his brother No–He must stay in school, make something of his life.
At that moment, a rival gang bursts onto the scene, guns firing. When the smoke and dust clears, the little boy is dead.
Broken-hearted, the gang leader cradles his little brother in his arms and cries. One by one, the gang members share their thoughts. “I though it would be exciting. I thought it would be fine. And now I’ve become a part of this little boy’s death.” “The faces of my aborted children haunt my sleep.” “I see now the worthlessness of this life, but what can I do? I’m an addict. I’m a school dropout. My family will never accept me back.”
Perhaps their families will not, but there is One who waits with open arms for the lost boys of Mexico to return.
Please pray for the ministry of Quin Ler and other ministries that offer the hand of God to the lost boys. Pray that they would speak the truth in love. Pray for the body of Christ in Mexico that they would have God’s heart for these boys–that they would not judge and point fingers–but that they would open their arms to welcome these boys in.
Pray for the boys at Quin Ler–that they would come face to face with God. Pray that they would experience God’s forgiveness–and that they would experience deliverance from the drugs and alcohol that hold them tightly. Pray that they would be wholehearted towards God–not standing with one foot in this world and one foot in the kingdom of God. Pray that they would get serious with God.
Pray for Antonio, who is living with us, that he would grow mature in the faith–not a child but a man. Pray that he would love the Word of God. Pray that he would have discernment as he enters Bible school later this year, that he would hear the voice of God and not follow the voice of the stranger. Pray that he would have wisdom and boldness to deal with his past.
And pray that, in every place where the lost boys are, they would be found.