Antonio: Shyly longing for love

Originally posted November 22, 2013

By Amber Foster

-ANTONIO IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Antonio is Miguel’s little brother and our youngest single resident. At first glance, Antonio is a very angry young man. He has suffered untold abuse from his mother and been abandoned repeatedly. But once you get to know him, you see the sweet, playful, young man inside longing to be loved.

Antonio is learning to read this year and is very shy about sharing it but so proud of his progress. Antonio is not a talker, at all, but loves to just sit with an arm around him as we relax or work on projects. Pulling Antonio out of his shell has proven to be a very long process, but so very rewarding.

You can usually find Antonio quietly lingering nearby waiting for some attention or playing soccer with some of our little guys. There’s never any doubt when Antonio is playing soccer. It is the only time I’ve have seen him completely let go. He laughs, teases, and yells with excitement regardless of whom he is playing.

Antonio has a hard time opening up, but he is getting there. Beach Christmas is one of those times when he can just be a kid, no pressure and no shame. 

Escarleth: Beautiful and broken

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By Amber Foster

-ESCARLETH IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Escarleth fills and breaks my heart more than almost any of the teens. She is absolutely beautiful and so very hungry for love. I have had many conversations with a friend of mine who has known her since she was a small child about who she used to be. My friend Ana tells stories about Escarleth being the princess of the government run children’s home where she lived. With beautiful dresses and bows in her hair the workers doted on her, as much as they do on anyone.

But then she began adolescence and her developing body drew too much attention. Escarleth suffered repeated abuse that we pray our children never even learn exists. Then she withdrew into her shell. She did everything in her power to “be” a boy. She took on a tough, violent exterior, cut her hair and started dressing in boys’ clothes. She ran away from the children’s home where she was being abused and took up a life on the streets.

Her mother was a prostitute and crack addict and she knew the streets well. Escarleth began a downward spiral into addiction, theft, and pain that she has struggled to break for the past three years. Escarleth has been in and out of our facility repeatedly, each time taking a little more of our hearts with her.

At the end of the summer, Escarleth moved back in. She began taking barber classes and working on learning how to read. Escarleth just finished her classes and has a job lined up selling clothing starting December 1st. She is so very proud of her accomplishments.

Despite her rough exterior, Escarleth is one of the sweetest girls I know. She desperately seeks approval and love from us. We often find her coloring or making crafts with the little ones as she seeks to hold on to some of the childhood she lost.

Yovanny: Our lovable goofball

Originally posted November 21, 2013

Yovanny (left) with Escarleth at the water park

–YOVANNY IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013–

By Courtney Mathews

Some kids find their way into your heart with an incredible ease. And others force their way in with an almost annoying persistence – to the point where now you couldn’t stop loving them even if you tried. That’s our Yovanny.

I love Yovanny – we all do. He is a goofball. And sometimes boasts a neediness that wears our patience paper-thin. But he is lovable, and his desire to draw nearer to God and put his life on a better path make his more annoying moments more bearable.

This awkward guy doesn’t, at first, seem to fit the description of an individual affected by life on the streets. He isn’t hard. He doesn’t have tattoos. He smiles effortlessly and shows affection generously. But he does have a past that he doesn’t want to return to, and a story that urges him forward.

Yovanny bounced around between various centers throughout his life, spent some time on the streets, and was involved in street theft and selling marijuana. With a father serving a long sentence in prison, he has seen a glimpse at what his future will look like if he follows a similar road. And he doesn’t want that.

Yovanny is also one of our teens who is most interested in the Bible. He has certain passages that he will cite as his favorite and is interested in discussing his faith at any time.

We are thankful that this goofy guy has found a home with us. Yovanny is currently searching for work to provide a more stable life for himself. Please join us in prayer for Yovanny has he continues this journey and pursues a life of faith. 

Richard: A proud papa

Originally posted November 21, 2013

Richard with his wife Suyapa and son Axel at Axel’s graduation. He was so happy and proud – despite his lack of desire to smile for the camera.

By John Carson

-RICHARD IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Sometimes when I am with Richard around our building, I think to myself, “We could not be any more different.” Then I see him walk into the building with one of his children, or I see him helping his son with special needs down the stairs. And I think, “there is a father who loves his children.” That is something that is consistent in Richard’s life, despite any mistakes that he may have made in his life. He desperately wants a better life for his kids and grand kids.

In my time of knowing Richard, I have never seen him more proud than the day his son, Axel, graduated kindergarten. He was beaming at every step of the ceremony! I saw his eyes as he watched Axel get his diploma, and it was like he could see the future that could come.

Please consider sponsoring Richard to give him a chance to spend a fun Christmas with his family this year. He will be the dad consistently in the waves with his kids throughout all of Beach Christmas.

Melvin: A boy of few words

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By John Carson

-MELVIN IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

One thing I like to do when I’m around the building is play with Melvin when I can. As shy as he is, that sometimes proves hard to do. I sometimes come up to him and say “talk to me,” or I ask him a question that he has to answer with words rather than by nodding or shaking his head. His reaction of shock is funny to see. He’s not exactly a big talker.

Melvin will start his second year in bilingual school in February, moving up from pre-K to Kindergarten. We can’t wait to see how many more English words he will learn but still refuse to say to us!

It’s hard for me not to think of Jesus’ words, “let the little children come to me” when I see Melvin. He has such a joy in his heart when he is playing, and he loves doing the activities in church. He is such a sweet, shy boy.

I’m excited to see Melvin grow up and turn into a wonderful man and a great father like his dad, Eugenio. If history proves true, he will be a strong, silent type like his father. And that is not a bad thing.

Please consider sponsoring Melvin’s Christmas experience this year. He adores splashing in the waves of Amapala, and we hope you’ll make that possible again this Christmas!

Nayeli: Passing on the blessings

Originally posted November 21, 2013

Nayeli (right) with Pamela following their school’s Independence Day parade

By Courtney Mathews

–NAYELI IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013!–

There are few concepts more beautiful than that of “paying it forward.” Recently, during a dinner table conversation with several of our Breaking Chains kids, the “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question was posed. After a round of nurse, lawyer, and race car driver responses had been uttered, it was Nayeli’s turn.

Her first response was “an astronaut.” Everyone chuckled a little at her answer, but soon quieted as she followed up by saying that she also really wants to help people. That she wants to open a foundation or a center for underprivileged kids or single mothers. That she has been blessed, and she wants to be able to similarly bless others..

I couldn’t help but smile at that response, or escape the warm feeling in my heart as the rest of the kids around the table echoed her sentiment. It was so great to see the kids actually “get it.” That small conversation reveals so much about Nayeli’s heart. She has such a sweet nature and a desire to serve. I pray that God continues to foster that sweetness and opens doors for her to share it with others.

Lucky for us, Nayeli recently watched a movie about space that scared her out of being an astronaut. (Which is good, because I don’t think Honduras has a space program). So hopefully she will continue to pursue her passion for helping others. We can’t wait to see what Nayeli in 15 years looks like, because the present-day Nayeli is pretty amazing.