Bus Stop Conversation

So on Friday afternoon as we were leaving Sitio, the location in City of God where we have a new church, we saw a little boy, about 7 years old, that we call Cauan #2 at the bus stop. He's always shirt-less, shoe-less, and dirty. He was siting on the bus stop bench, alone, with his hands curled up to his mouth. An older lady was drawing attention to him because he was there alone and his mother wasn't taking care of him. "Look at this boy, all dirty, taking the bus here and there by himself. I told him to go home but he said his mom's not there. What a shame. Look at him!" We sat next to him and tried to talk to him about where he was going and what he was doing, but he was too embarrassed to say anything I think. Then, the squawking lady drew attention from a man who then proceeded to castigate frightened Cauan. "What are you gonna do? Go out and beg on the streets? You know there are people that drive around looking for children just your size," he said as he pointed out his height, "they want to take you away and steal your organs to sell them."

What a disgusting experience. We convinced Cauan to walk back to Sitio with us so we could buy him a drink and some cookies. After explaining to him that many people will tell him things to scare him but God will always tell him the truth and that God will always take care of him, we prayed for him and his protection and told him to go back home and not go out into the street alone. What is he supposed to do? He is actually one of our more tough, problematic kids, but at this time he was obviously timid and afraid. His mom probably demands that he goes out to beg, unaware or apathetic toward the possible consequences. I'm pretty certain he no longer attends school, at least not consistently. For this reason, we are planting a church in Sitio. Boys like Cauan need to know the hope that we have in Christ, because it is the only hope they have for a future.