Elizabeth Hamso in Brazil

She writes “As tears filled his eyes and started rolling down his cheeks, I feltmy heart break. I had to wipe away tears threatening to escape from the corners of my eyes, as I looked at him with no answers. I felt so totally moved and broken, and it was as if I suddenly had a fresh revelation of why I’m actually here.

 

We were visiting J who is at home waiting for our restoration farm to re-open. While I was away, all the boys on the farm left, so we decided to close it temporarily to give us time to evaluate and improve to be able to work better. The other boys went back to the streets but J decided to stay at home. As I stood next to him, I could smell the distinct smell of glue in his breath and I knew he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation to use drugs which is present every single day in his home. His sister uses drugs and his house is in the midst of a slum where drugs are easily accessible.

 

J so wants to do the right thing but some days it just gets too hard.  We sat down and talked to him. We brought words of comfort and encouragement and reassured him of God’s presence with him and His faithfulness.

 

By the time we left some of the despair and depression had left his face but leaving him there I felt so completely desperate for him. I so longed to be bale to take him with us and enable him to continue in the process of restoration. He was doing so well on the farm and yet the choice he made one day to leave because of some small disagreement has led to huge consequences for him.

 

Three months later….. Jonathan is doing a triagem (2 weeks preparation time) before the farm is open again. His wait is over. It’s been a hard wait for him. He managed to stay at home with his sister using drugs. He is now on his way back to a place where he can be restored and maybe one day able to live with his family again.”