As we talked while waiting for the boys to return, I assured her that, while Nelson is the smallest boy and the youngest by three years, his spunky creativity and easy laugh have quickly made him and integral member of our project.   She seemed proud as I told her how well Nelson was doing in classes, yet after a few minutes, a darker look crossed her face.  She suddenly, almost urgently, asked me to make sure that Nelson never goes to visit her on Saturdays or Sundays. When I asked the reason for this strange prohibition, she began to tell me the story of her 20 year-old live-in boyfriend, who works all week in the outdoor market, only to spend all his money on a drinking binge every weekend.  He becomes a violent drunk, hitting Yolanda and her kids and often destroying furniture and other household items in his rage.   The ragged scar that runs along her right arm silently speaks volumes of the misery she has endured. Suddenly, this lingering weekend visit made sense to me; she was afraid to go home.

She later told me that she gave birth to her first child--Nelson--when she was sixteen.  Because she suffers from "nervous attacks," she often loses her temper herself and become abusive, especially toward her eight year-old daughter who is "as stubborn as a mule," as she put it.   As the two sullen girls and I listened to their mom's stories, I began to get a clearer picture of why Nelson had to abandon his home.

When Nelson got home that day, he was at first shocked and reserved to see his mom and sisters waiting for him.  He quickly warmed up to them though, and insisted that they take their second tour of the Micah project facilities, this time from his point of view.  He showed them his schoolwork, then spent hours teaching them how to use the computers.  Late in the evening, when they were most likely hoping that the boyfriend was by then sleeping off his alcohol, Nelson's mom and sisters headed back to their barrio.  As they walked down the street, Nelson called after his eight-year old sister to work hard in school.

The Micah Project receives a steady stream of daily visitors.  Some come suffering and in need, others come to assist us in the daunting task of raising nine teen-age boys, and others come simply to experience and take part in the beautiful and loving environment we have created.  Each visit, whether it be a family member, friend, or other acquaintance, provides the boys with a chance to learn about and impact the society in which they live.

Last week, we had a famous visitor!  Angelito was a street kid in the late 1950's, shining shoes in order to survive and living in much the same way as the street kids of today.  His life story was the basis for the most widely read novel ever written by a Honduran writer, "Cipotes" by Ramón Amaya-Amador.  Although severely crippled and in constant pain, Angelito has a fine sense of humor and a hearty laugh.  The boys were immediately drawn to him as he told of the awesome ways that God has worked in his life despite his severe handicaps.  Likewise, Angelito was so impressed by the boys' testimonies that he joined them the following day in an outing to a local church where they shared their dramas, songs, and testimonies during the service.  This amazing man truly is a "little angel," as his name translates in English.

Another day, Harvin's brother Darwin appeared at our door.  Filthy and dressed in rags, Darwin is the kind of street kid that most people cross to the other side of the street in order to avoid.  A seemingly hopeless glue addict, Darwin has been on the streets for five years.  If he enters a shelter or rehab program, he normally returns to the streets within the week, drawn by the desire to inhale yellow glue.

Darwin's visits bring out the parenting drive in the Micah boys.  Before he knew what had hit him, he was out of his clothes and in the shower, with two boys supervising to make sure that the months of grime on his undernourished frame were completely washed down the drain.  Another boy washed his clothes, while yet another looked for a  t-shirt to donate to him.  As they washed him, the boys encouraged Darwin to leave the streets and the drugs.  Fourteen year-old Darwin, however, is so damaged by years of toxic inhalants that he doesn't understand the majority of what is being said to him, and he rarely speaks in reply.

After getting cleaned up, Darwin took a three-hour nap on our sofa.  He refused to take off his shoes while he slept, for fear that someone would steal them.  When he woke up, he was ready to leave.  He turned over his baby-food jar full of toxic glue to his brother Harvin, who made him promise not to buy another.  Most of us knew, though, as he walked down the hill to downtown Tegucigalpa, that he would soon find a way to pay the few cents that a fresh bottle of glue costs.  Harvin was very quiet for the rest of the day; though he was with us physically, his mind was wandering the streets with his lost brother Darwin.

Marvin's brother Geovany is another frequent visitor of late.  Marvin used to dread these visits, since Geovany came only to ask for money.  As a street shoe-shiner, nineteen year-old Geovany had graduated from glue to harder drugs.  In his early visits, he and Marvin would spend an hour or so talking on the street outside the Micah House.  But as his visits increased in number and frequency, they began to go into Marvin's room for their lengthy talks. 

Last week, Geovany agreed when Marvin asked him to accompany us to a church where Marvin would be singing and giving his testimony.  After Marvin sang two songs in front of the 200-person congregation, he began to give his testimony.  He spoke of his broken home, his time on the streets, and the transformation that God is working within him.  Then, on an impulse, he invited Geovany to join him on the platform in front the congregation.  As the brothers stood side-by-side, Marvin told the congregation about some of the problems his brother was experiencing, and asked them to pray for him.   The whole congregation shared Marvin's tears at that moment for his brother Geovany.

  Last evening, Geovany participated in the youth group that we have in the Micah house living room.  Twenty-four teens from the neighborhood joined us.   At the end of the evening, which was filled with games, worship songs and a Bible lesson, the leaders of the group talked about the importance of turning your life over to Christ.  When he asked who was ready to do this, Geovany raised his hand!  He prayed, and caused a party in heaven (and in the Micah Project living room!) as he became a new Christian.

  Geovany stayed with us last night, on a little mattress by Marvin's bed.  I'm sure they talked through most of the night!   After years of praying for and worrying about his brother, Marvin is now praising God for what He has accomplished in Geovany's life this week.

  Today is a normal day at the Micah House; by that I mean there is a stream of new visitors!   I walk into the dining room, and find two young men whom I have never met, eating breakfast with the boys.  We've grown accustomed to planning meals for thirteen or fourteen people instead of just nine!   As they dig in to their bowl of Corn Flakes, I overhear one of the boys inviting the visitors to church with them in the evening.   How wonderful it is that the boys are seeing the fruits of their ministry, and how much it has emboldened them!  Even a breakfast of Corn Flakes has become an opportunity to reach out to someone in need.

  I was reminded of the Micah Home recently when I heard a song by Fernando Ortega which is a blessing over a home.  In one verse, he sings, "May a burdened friend in their company rise/ A heavy heart is soon released to fly./ May their table be blessed with laughter and grace,/ and by the comfort of kinship be surprised."

  I ask that you would join me in this prayer, that the burdened visitors that enter would find redemption through the testimony and love they feel within our walls.  Especially pray for Nelson's mom Yolanda, for Harvin's brother Darwin, and for the brand-new faith of Marvin's brother Geovany.

  We know that many of you pray for the Micah Project continuously.   Please know that the victory in Geovany's life is your victory also.  Thank you for your prayers!

Also, thank you for your continued financial support.  Your faithfulness in donations allows us to continue growing our ministry!  

  Donations to the Micah Project may be written to "The Micah Project, Inc." and sent to the following address:  The Central Presbyterian Church, c/o Mr. Randy Mayfield, Missions Director, 7700 Davis Dr., Clayton, MO, 63105.   Receipts are available on request for tax purposes.

  Also, please take a look at the updates and new photos we have added to our website at www.micahcentral.org.  

  Thank you, brothers and sisters in Christ, for helping us to plant the seeds of eternal life through the work of the Micah Project!

Sincerely,

Michael Miller