UP!

Mo and I just got back from spending the evening with Raf and Lesbia at their house a few blocks away. They treated us to dinner and we played with the kids for a while. I tried to get the boys to go to sleep, but that just ended up with Pallito and Michael tackling me onto their bed, and the only way I could get out was for me to tickle my way through. Mo came in and told me to try and keep them calm, but then Raf came in and got them laughing again. So much for things being "tranquila." Ha. Raf, Lesbia, Mo, and I watched UP! once the kids went to sleep. Some may know that this but it is one of my favorites of all time. We were cracking up.
Before we went over to Raf's, we spent the afternoon playing fútbol again. We didn't get to UNO tonight because Mo and I had to go over to Raf's shortly after dark. We had such a good time playing with the boys this afternoon though. I'm excited because Don Omar and Doña Fide have started a Bible study with the boys in the neighborhood. So they literally play on the sidewalk in front of the house all the time. They trust them. And this was the cry of my heart last year when I was leaving. That the Father would place people in their lives who were beautiful reflections of Christ, and Omar and Fide are just that. I pray that Mo and I will reflect the light of Christ whenever we're around the boys as well.
We went to Las Escaleras after lunch to see the feeding center there and check up with the teachers at the school. The government is not providing lunches for the children at the schools anymore, so they're trying to find a way to feed the kids lunch at school now. Before lunch, we went to the dump here in Matagalpa where people live all along the outskirts. By far, one of the saddest things I have seen in this country. Even Raf said today, "That's one of those things that, even though I live here in the city, I can hardly believe people actually live there." It's just a terrible cycle that is hard to stop. Because if you take those people out and build them a nice house and give them a nice job, there will be others that come in to fill in the gap. And sadly the best thing to do would be to guard the dump so that no one is allowed in. Raf, Mo, and I walked all the way into the dump with the others who were waiting for a truck to come by. We talked to one man who said he was there to find any plastic, glass, aluminum, metal or anything that is recyclable to recycle for money. He showed us a watch that he found that he was so proud of. He was hoping to get "cien cordobas" for it. That's only five dollars, but I doubt he would even be able to get that for it. I think all three of us wanted to do something for those people, but there was nothing tangible we could do. Oh how I've been praying for them today.
I spent some time in the garden this morning really crying out for the boys here in Matagalpa. They are so close to my heart because I see how much they need that personal relationship with Christ, but they have very few solid male role models to look up to. I prayed for the boys of Nuestra Tierra, San Jose, and even the boys here in my neighborhood of Apante. I prayed that they would see the reflection of Christ in me when I'm around them, even if it's through a smile or a game of fútbol. I prayed that they would have an experience with Christ, because honestly, I know if that happens, the Father will be faithful to continue that good work to completion.
I hope this wasn't too confusing! I went backwards through the day to spice things up a bit.
Love you all,
sb