Micah 6:8

I'm not exactly sure where to begin. I mentioned street kid soccer in my last post, but I'm going to need to go into further detail.

Earlier in the year, I went to an outreach referred to as "street kid soccer," which is exactly what it sounds like: playing soccer with kids who live in the streets of Tegus. I didn't play because 1) I'm non-competitive by nature, 2) I value my life, and 3) I like talking with the others on the bleachers. A couple of weeks ago my friend Michelle asked if I wanted to go again with her, and I'm forever grateful she did. I met and made friends with Hannah, who was working as an intern with the Micah house for a couple of months. As we were talking, and she mentioned she would be leaving to go back to the States in a couple weeks, so I made it a point to go back to street kid soccer the next week. Hannah warmly welcomed me to visit her and the boys at the Micah house that night, and my experience there was (and continues to be) a huge eye-opener for me.

The Micah house is a group home for boys who were once street kids. Growing up in the streets of Tegus, many of these boys were once heavily addicted to glue to numb their hunger and pain. But now! Now these boys are learning about God's deep love for them, taking formal classes, and they are absolutely radiating joy and sweetness. It's unbelievable.

As I said, I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about street kid soccer. It's uncomfortable and sobering to look poverty and abandonment in the face, and it's so much harder when the faces are so, so young. But my experience at that Micah house gave me hope. Because many of these boys were once just the others, bleary-eyed, incoherent, and hurting. But they have been rescued from that. They are clearheaded and playful and affectionate and they understand that they are deeply loved.

This has changed my way of looking at things; to witness the radical difference in these boys' lives gives me tangible hope for those who are still hurting. I can go to street kid soccer with a clearer vision and prayer to our Lord who is mighty to save.

Visit www.micahcentral.org to learn more