Dear Loved Ones,
Winter is in full swing. I’ve brought my laptop onto my bed and placed myself strategically in the sunlight which streams in through the window. Any added bit of warmth helps ward off the shivers. It’s cold days like this when I’m reminded of just how difficult life must be if you live on the streets. Many of the youth we work among find whatever nook they can to shield themselves from the cold. Even our friends who do go home after a day of working around the train stations, return to precarious shelters of plywood and tin. Not much protection against the piercing winter wind.
A facet of our ministry with the youth currently includes a twice a month gathering at our local church. Several youth have really come to look forward to this overnight event. Due to some recent construction at church we had to cancel last week’s gathering. I was seriously surprised by the disappointment the youth demonstrated. I hadn’t known until then just how much they look forward to coming. They even keep track of which alternating weeks they’ll be able to go to the gathering.
While the youth do receive respite from the bitter cold as they sit around the dinner table and sleep safely in a heated room at church, I believe they also crave the “warmth” of friendship extended to them during these Encuentros.
As part of our discipleship, our pastor leads the youth in a reflection of some kind at each gathering. I was really moved by one of the most recent discussions attempting to deepen the friendship between us. The pastor had prepared a serious of questions ranging from “What kind of music do you like?” to “What angers you the most?” I loved the simplicity of the activity. And I believe it was exactly that simplicity that made the experience so profound. I love that Pedro* enjoys reggae and listens to Marley. I honestly would have never guessed. Ricardo’s* brave admittance that he can’t get out of the vicious cycle of stealing gave me the courage to admit my own insecurities. And so we all went around the table, getting to know each other a little more. We shared our last names and told where we were born. We exchanged smiles as we discovered someone’s taste in music is like our own. We felt safe enough in that moment to know this was a space where, if we wanted to, we could chose to be honest.
It’s my prayer that in moments like these, the youth feel that the world isn’t such a cold place after all.
With love,
Adriana
*Names have been changed to protect identity.