Andy in South America

Howdy everyone!

Okay so first lets go with the good news. Yesterday we went off to El Alto all day to do a special event for the kids on the street – basically consisted of football game, followed by a big lunch, followed by me sharing my testimony and then more football. (I am now as red as a tomato…….). 

Anyway, as we were trying to collect up all the kids I heard a yell of ‘Andy’ followed by a feeling this kid grab me from behind! I turned round to see the kid who had run away about four weeks ago behind me with his mum! You can imagine my joy! I spent a while chatting with the mum whilst the rest of the team went on to find more kids. It turns out the kid returned to his home after leaving us, but to be honest the mum did not seem too excited about seeing him. (We also know there have been issues with the dad in the past). He is also now not attending a school. I managed to get a contact number of the mum and will be in contact with one of our clinical team on Monday to try and work out where we will go from here.

The bad news is that there still is no news 0n the situation with the police, also I saw first hand the justice that is carried out here on street people. One of the older people we knew on the streets here came up to chat to me and get some first aid and told me when he had nicked two rolls from a street vendor the day before one the municipal guard had chased him and whacked his arm with a baton. I examined it and am fairly convinced it is broken, and so made a makeshift support and sling to immobolise it, however as a team we neither have the money for an xray and treatment or for a proper first aid kit at the moment. It is an area of great need on the street, and one which I have the training to help with, but don’t have the resources for.

Please do pray for both of the situations I have shared here, and also for the work as we carry on.

Bendiciones

Andy

Hi everyone

Please be praying like crazy at the moment. Yesterday we went out on the streets in the evening and couldn’t really find any of the kids we work with or any others too. We later bumped into one of the adults we know and he told us that on Tuesday the police rounded up about 25 – 26 kids and teenagers and said they were taking them to hostels. The media has reported that the kids they rounded up were involved in prostitution, but we are fairly convinced that is not entirely true, and those who have tried to get information out of the police have struggled to get anywhere.

Please be praying for this situation, and that our worst fears are not realised.

Bendiciones

Andy

Hey everyone 

I wanted to send this email to say Feliz Pascua (Happy Easter) to you all. 

I really was struck today whilst leading a retreat for our young people that this is a real time of celebration and remembering all the promises that have been fulfilled and are still being fulfilled in the cross. Wherever we are, God has put us there to receive his blessings and to share His blessing with every person we meet – how exciting. It doesn’t matter if we half-way round the world or whether we are with our family and friends – wherever we are, we are there to receive and share God’s blessings. 

I really pray that this Easter would be a real time for you to receive, but not only receive, to share as well, God’s blessings and his promises and His life with everyone you meet.

Bendiciones

Andy

Hey everyone

Okey dokey – so we still haven’t found the latest runaway, although we have heard rumours on the grapevine that he is in the area we work in but we have yet to find him! His brother though seems fairly settled and so we are hoping and praying that he won’t try and do a disappearing act!

As to other work – the school is going well. Had a horrible start to the week as all the kids were really unsettled for some reason, but things seem to have settled down today. I am in the middle of teaching a unit on fractions to one class and angles to the other – interesting in an other language!!! 

Other news – not sure! Can’t think of anything exciting….

Oooooo actually. Was up in El Alto as normal last night. Was good, but also re-highlighted the desperate need for a new centre up there! Maybe a longer term project…. will have to see!!!

Bendiciones

Andy

Hey everyone

Please pray as this morning another kid ran away. This was a kid in the first of the houses who is only 12 years old. He has run away and returned several times in the past. Please pray that he would return soon and safely. I am out on the streets this evening with the team so please pray that we might find him and encourage him back – especially as it is a kid I know quite well.

Please also pray as his younger brother is still in the house – pray that he would not follow his brother onto the streets as this is a possibility. Will try and send an update tomorrow morning.

Bendiciones y amor.

Andy