A hard day

Hi Friends and Family,

Yesterday was a very good day that ended terribly. Cris Ann and I traveled to Tacloban and bought some more items for the Internet cafe. We became very good friends with the manager and his wife. We actually were already friends with the managers wife, because she was hanging out at the store the frst time we were there. Just so hapend she was there again and we became good friends with her husband,the manager and he really, really helped us out in some areas I needed some help in. We also had the opportunity to sit down and treat a police chief to lunch. I stopped to ask him about some self defense issues because I am a target and I have been very close, many time, to defending myself and my wife. It went from a conversation to a lunch date. Cris Ann and me sat with a high ranking police officer and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. He gave us his number and said if you need anything call me!

We, Cris Ann and me, were excited to get home because the neighbor would be starting to build the computer desks. However, I was wondering and worried about Jr. Jr stole from my father in law who built him a house for free. Without explaining the whole situation, Jr stole from him on two diffrent ocations and was incredibly disrespectful. We confronted the situation but Jr showed no remorse and said he should not be disciplined for what he did. Regardless, we made him dig a hole, U-Turn style, but when I went to check on him he cursed me. After talking to Cris Ann we decided to put him back on the streets for three days and hope he would realize what he had been given and show some type of thankfulness. He came back to the house the day before we left to Tacloban riding a bike like he had before. We welcomed him back and said while we were gone he had to stay at my mother in law's house because we do not trust him at our house.

When we finally arrived home we got a great welcoming from the kids, neighbors and family. Cris Ann was so excited to go to the fair with her sister and brother, she could hardly contain herself. They went and as they walked up she heard Jr threatening to kill a guy for 5 peso's. Cris Ann quickly told him to watch his mouth and she called me. I tolled him to come home, being responsible for him I did not want him there, and if he did not come home he could pack up and leave. Well, he did not come but Cris Ann did, crying and overwhelmed. I told her we would deal with it in the morning and just rest because it was a long trip from Tacloban today. In the morning, we were informed that the bike Jr was riding was stollen from an old man who was at church and he sold it to Ubert's brother for 200 pesos. The neighbors son is a police officer and from the same place as the old man who had his bike stolen. So I paid over double to get the bike back so Ubert would not be in trouble and we are attempting to return it to this man. Further more, without telling the details this whole situation started trouble with other neighbors that forgave Jr for pulling a knife on their son and after apologizing they accepted him into the family. Well, they were very disrespected in this situation and they were very, very, unhappy with Jr.

Cris Ann and me went to Social Services and asked if there was anywhere that would accept Jr. They had looked everywhere for years but when I suggested Manila she said that was the only place they had not checked. I told them to find a place and my family has committed to getting him there. We talked to Jr and he was willing to go. Then we had to make one of the hardest discussions in my life. Do I put him back on the street till we find a place or allow him to stay at the house. I could not allow him to stay, he is just to disobedient and dangerous. If I could tell him to stay on the property and not leave I would have let him stay, but every time I tell him that he’s gone. Also, Jr is almost 16 and he has pulled a knife on two people since he lived with us. Because of emotional intensity of the situation I told him he had to pack and leave.

I sat him down and told him we love him and all these things he does is not his fault, but he got a terrible card in life. I told him it was not his fault he was left alone on the street at 8 years old all alone. It was not his fault he leaned the way he acts because he spent 7 years on the street in crucial developmental years. Then I said, we are not capable of helping him any further, but he needs a place that has trained employies and housing for others in his situation. I told him we would still support him with money and he could come by every few days and we would fight for him to have a place to live as if he was my brother. He said ok and packed his stuff with a tear in his eye. We walked him to the street to wait for a ride and I saw a whole different person than when Jr first came to us. He did not even resemble the street kid that we took in and I couldn’t believe we were sending him back. But I know the Lord has big plans for this kid and that belif runs deep. It was so hard to watch him get on the side car and go back to the streets, but there was no other choice.

I am convinced the Lord will find a place and we will find a way to get him there. Please pray for his safety, a place that is capable of rehabilitating a 15 year old and that the Lord continues working in his life as He has been.