Nancy: Our loving, teen mom

Originally posted November 25, 2013

By Courtney Mathews

–NANCY IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013–

Raising a child is hard. Raising two children under two, and doing it without your husband is even harder. But Nancy does it with incredible grace.

We first came to know Nancy a few years ago as a somewhat scared, pregnant teenager who came to our building with then boyfriend, Josue, and two of her friends. They were the first group of teenagers who ever lived in the building.

Since that time, we have had ups and downs. We have witnessed her marriage to Josue, the birth of her two beautiful baby girls and Nancy’s beginnings of a training program. And also the sad news of husband Josue’s recent incarceration for minor crime. But even through times of living with us and living apart, Nancy has always remained part of our family.

Nancy is sort of an anomaly among teens on the streets. She doesn’t have any drug or alcohol vices. She is educated and, thanks to a children’s home where she spent part of her childhood, even speaks a tiny bit of English. And she is a caring mother. Nancy’s biggest downfalls just come from following the attitudes of poor associations.

But Nancy has desires for her future. She wants to provide a good life for her two daughters, and she wants them to see in her a strong, loving, godly example. Though she dropped out before the end of her beauty training program earlier this year, she wants to finish or begin steady employment in another field. Her first concern is that her children are well taken care of during the day while she works or studies, so we will soon enroll them in a daycare program.

We are so proud of this loving mother and the way she is looking toward the future. Please continue to pray for Nancy has she takes on the role of single mother for a while. 

Lesli: A beautiful namesake baby

Originally posted November 25, 2013

By Leslie Moore (former intern and frequent Honduras visitor)

Baby Lesli has had a piece of my heart since before she was born. She is the seven-month-old daughter of Nancy. I first met Nancy in Honduras during the summer of 2011. What started out with handing out rice and beans and a simple hello, slowly turned into a friendship. Nancy was nine months pregnant then with her first child, Ashley. And a week before I left to head home Ashley was born.

Two days before I left was the first time I got to hold her. While I was holding her, I remember saying a prayer to myself asking the Lord to always be with her. And during trials of this world to reach down and make sure she knows that she is loved.

During the next several months I would constantly check up on Nancy, and Courtney told me that Nancy asked about me often. Over the next several trips, I would always bring Nancy a shirt for Ashley. Even though I wouldn’t always see them, I would always have Amber pass along the shirt and let them know I was praying.

During the summer of 2012 I was in Honduras, and the last week I was there we were feeding at the building. I felt someone come up and give me a hug. I looked over it was Nancy with Ashley. I had not seen them in a few years, but there was an immediate connection again. With the help of Courtney, we talked about life, plans and Ashley.

During spring Break 2013, I asked Amber how Nancy and Ashley were doing. Amber told me that she had not seen them in a little while. During that week I hoped and prayed that I would be able to see them. One of nights that we where feeding, we went down to downtown and area. While walking around the downtown area passing out food, I saw Nancy and Ashley. That is when I found out that Nancy was pregnant with her second child. We laughed and gave hugs till it was time to go.

A few weeks later, I texted Courtney to ask her how the baby was and what Nancy had named the baby. Her response was, “You’re not going to believe this. Nancy told me she named her Lesli.” This almost brought me to tears. Learning that someone named their child after you brings some excitement. The next few months I spent praying for Lesli, longing for a time when I would finally get to meet her.

During this summer, July 25 was the first night the group I was with was going to pass out food downtown. We got to the downtown area and I walked around with Amber looking for Nancy, Ashley and Lesli, praying the whole time that I would see them. I had about given up, when we turned the last corner and I saw them. The next ten minutes I spent holding Lesli, praying over her and showing her love. Though those ten minutes are the only time I have seen baby Leslie so far, I treasure that time with her and cannot wait to see her again.

Nancy, Ashley and baby Lesli are not just people who live at Breaking Chains. They are now my friends. And there is not a day that goes by that I do not think about them. I look forward to seeing Lesli grow up. I pray that she is able to break the cycle of poverty. I am so glad that Lesli has the Breaking Chains family in her life. I hope that you can consider supporting her.

Just because you do not speak the language does not mean you cannot show them love.

Sara: a loving self-starter

Originally posted November 25, 2013

Sara (right) with Escarleth and Amber after completing her barber training program

Sara (right) with Escarleth and Amber after completing her barber training program

By Michael Carson

–SARA IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013–

I have met some independent people in my life – those whose fire comes from within and not from others. Beautiful Sara is most definitely ones of those types of souls.

Sara prides herself on doing her best and has told herself she’s going to develop as many skills as possible to make herself look versatile. She has a fire within that won’t let her stop. No one in her life has stood behind her always encouraging her to better herself. She does that on her own.

But Sara’s independent nature doesn’t mean she’s a loner. She is quite the social butterfly actually, and she’s so affectionate and loving toward me and the rest of our staff. I’m so grateful she’s in my life.

Sara recently graduated with a few of our other kids from barber training, and she just finished her year of high school. She will start back to high school in February and plans on training in other parts of a salon and even computer training if she can.

In Sara’s mind the sky is the limit for her, and we’re so proud to say we agree and can’t wait to see what’s in store for her future.

Cristian: A dedicated boy overcoming a tragic past

Originally posted November 23, 2013

By Michael Carson

–CRISTIAN IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013–

A lot of our kids are filled with anger from lives filled with trauma and loss. But I’m not sure anyone has more bouts of anger than our sweet-hearted Cristian.

So much has happened in Cristian’s life. He has never gotten over the way he watched his mother die in front of him, and he sometimes struggles not to fall back into a depression about his childhood.

But Cristian never stops trying. He’s not a quitter, and while he has a lot of anger inside of him, he still manages to be one of the kindest, most loyal people in our building. I can always count on him to be honest, even if it means admitting something he did wrong. We know we can trust him with any responsibility. If he agrees to it, he will see it through.

My favorite thing about this sweet boy is his heart. He lights up when you give him a hug or really just want to know how he’s doing. And if you ask him to help with a project, he is always willing to help.

Cristian believes in working hard. He finished his class in carpentry that gives him the training to work on small construction projects. Next year he will start the next session that teaches him further skill to work on even more difficult projects. He also finished the next grade of schooling and will continue in February receiving his basic education.

Cristian works so hard because he dreams of living once again with his little brother Henrry, now 18 and studying hard himself. He wants to have all the skills he needs to provide a good life for him and his brother.

We’re so proud of this young man and his hard work. He has a long way to go with controlling his emotions, but we know he will keep trying to improve with the help of God’s power. 

Brayan: a little piece of God

Originally posted November 22, 2013

Brayan enjoying last year’s beach Christmas

Brayan enjoying last year’s beach Christmas

By Michael Carson

–BRAYAN IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013–

I see God in lots of places around our ministry house, but there’s one person in whom I see our Creator more than anyone. Within sweet, innocent Brayan.

Brayan can’t speak for himself, but his eyes and animated arms speak to how much he wishes he could share with the world everything he’s thinking. But he does share, he shares his innocence straight from Heaven.

Brayan went to his first year of school this year. His parents found a wealthy school for special needs’ kids willing to give him a big discount. We’re so happy his sponsors agreed to take care of the rest of Brayan’s education costs. This sweet boy has the chance to develop a better quality of life in his future.

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.