Herman

Ok so many of you guys know that a major reason I am back in Honduras is Herman, and boy I met last summer and have been sponsoring since. We met him in the last two weeks of last summer’s trip, and he’s been living with Tony ever since making incredible progress. He WAS a 17 year old street kid, hanging out with gang members in the streets of Los Pinos. Now, he IS an 18 year old living with Tony and Nidia, going to school, taking English and computer classes as well, working on the property and being an example for the younger boys here and his friends on the streets. This past Saturday was his 18th birthday, so I took him into Tegucigalpa for lunch and a movie and we had an amazing time. He picked KFC for lunch, and I gave him cards from my family which he LOVED, and his present from me, a Spanish-English Bible. And since then, we’ve been having short bible studies with this bible every morning reading scripture and praying. During our lunch, he was telling me about his year and how much he’s changed. He said he’s had a few struggles, but he loves life now. He said he misses Los Pinos, mostly because of family, but he no longer wants any part of that life. He told me his three best friends were Hector, who is in jail, Jimmy, who was killed a few months ago when he tried to rob someone on the street, and Christopher, who is living on the streets often high on paint thinner. He very bluntly told me that if it weren’t for these changes, he would be in one of those three situations too. It was such a good time for just us two to talk and catch up, and I thank God for the amazing amount of Spanish he puts into my head in these situations! We went and saw Men and Black 3 in 3D and then came home for even more celebration with his friends and his family (a surprise for him!) on the property.

In this past year, I can see such a difference in Herman. He is a leader during our nightly family reunions (prayer, discussion of the day, a message) and he (generally) works hard at his schoolwork. But it’s also important to remember that this change is a process, and it’s hard for one year to rewrite 17 years of streets in his head. Herman was supposed to come pick me up at the airport, but he bailed at the last minute and even was a bit distant when I first saw him. Seems strange, but it’s because he was nervous. He knew I came back to Honduras to see him, to see his progress, and to do life with him. For a boy who’s never really had major expectations on his life or never been pushed, that is a tremendous amount of pressure. And even recently, when there was an issue between Herman and Elisha (that I witnessed) over a misunderstanding, he wouldn’t even make eye contact or respond to anything I said to him for the entire day until very late at night when he finally pulled me aside and we talked. I wasn’t at all involved in the conflict, but I firmly believe that he was embarrassed of his actions. Once everything came clear, he realized his mistake and he regretted his words, and again he felt that pressure. However the conflict was an excellent opportunity to let him grow and learn conflict resolution, because these boys are never taught that resolving a conflict is important, or how to do it. In general, they’re taught that if you are offended, you get mad, you stay mad, and no effort goes into repairing that relationship. So trying the uncomfortable situation of asking forgiveness is difficult to learn, but this was an awesome opportunity to try it (and it was successful). And also to talk about God’s unconditional, unchanging love. His love came first, then our obedience, not vice versa. Which, if you think about it, it’s absolutely illogical. He chose to love us, and to put his name on us, and to have us as his servants. Bluntly, we’re all screw ups, so His plan seems destined for failure. It only works with His absolutely superfluous, overwhelming, unchanging, and REDEEMING love for all of us. These boys, and each one of us, are redeemed every second of every day from all our stupid decisions, into a person whom the Creator chooses to put His name on. If that’s not encouraging, I don’t know what is. So prayers for Herman, please pray that he sees the unchanging love of God and he sees that love reflected in me as well, so that he doesn’t feel as much pressure. And please be praying for his spiritual growth, and for his prayer life to become a two way street. He’s going to be a great leader, he just needs a little more confidence in himself.

Herman and his family