Coming off a restful, family fun weekend we were feeling good and ready for Monday morning….or so we thought. Upon arrival at “Tallando Vidas” (Molding Lives) carpentry shop, my husband was devastated to find that we had been robbed. Bent razor wire; bare drill boxes & shelves; empty noise of what once was filled with saws, drills and hammers. Not to mention the ever-present gut feeling that this has been an inside job. Julio called me and ended the conversation saying, “This is not okay. Satan is not going to win this battle. We have the victory!”
One youth takes off, unable to stay amidst the questions, disappointment…perhaps guilt too. Others stay, yet wonder how to move on with the absence of such basic equipment (8 hand held machines were taken). How could anyone dare to do this? This shop is ours, given to us by God. How could someone steal from themselves….their shop, their tools, their dream, their future?
Youth #2 is quite angry and goes on a scavenger hunt for runaway youth. He finds him in an abandoned house, high from drugs and/or alcohol. Any attempt for information is wasted. That night we have a time of prayer with fellow InnerChange staff Nate and Jenny along with Julio’s Dad and sister, Samaya & Genesis.
The following day, Youth #2 finds runaway youth and forces him to come to our house. At a loss for words, we sit around our prayer table in deafening silence. My husband, Julio, utters a short prayer. After inviting God into this space, each one share how they are feeling, what they are thinking — loss of time due to lost machinery; the possibility of losing this job and not being able to provide for wife and children; how to pay the rent; anger; disappointment and some resentment as this is not the first time it has happened. The room is full of hurt and being in this together.
Now the hard part….the big, loaded question as each one is asked if they were part of the robbery. We hear a succession of “No’s” which makes our hearts sink as by now we are almost positive we know who is responsible; he is in our midst, right now, right here. Lord, is this how you felt as you dipped your hand in the bowl with the one who would betray you?
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other,
“Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied,
“The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
(Matt.26:20-23)
Help us love Lord. Love the one who has hurt and betrayed us.
Xelasoles 