Cry Out to Jesus

An 11-year-old boy named Brayan arrived at the children's home yesterday afternoon, and I have been struggling to keep my tears in ever since he arrived. Brayan is from a small village near Cusco, a popular city known as the gateway to Maccu Picchu. As a young child his father abused him terribly, using physical strength and hurtful words as weapons against his son. After enduring this abuse for years, Brayan heard that a circus was coming to Cusco and began to plan his escape. He told his father that he knew he wasn't loved and asked if he could run away with the circus. His father confirmed what Brayan said - he didn't love him and he would be glad to be free of the burden of caring for him. So Brayan packed his small school backpack and ran away at 8 years old.

He traveled the country of Peru with the circus for 3 years, performing as a clown and enduring rough conditions and terrible treatment from the circus crew. When the circus arrived in Arequipa, a woman saw this young boy in the circus and offered the circus owner a good price to buy him. Brayan was taken to her home where he served as a domestic slave. He would regularly be woken at 2:00am to begin working in her garden, doing her laundry, and cleaning the entire house. Once again he was abused - physically and emotionally - to the point that he decided he would rather return to live with his father. He bravely packed his backpack with his few items of clothing and ran to the police station to ask for help in finding his father. As the police listened to his story, they knew that Brayan could not return home to his abusive father. Instead, they told him that they knew of a children's home in Arequipa where he would be clothed, fed, educated and loved. He spent the night in the police station and arrived here yesterday.

Brayan sat in our office yesterday afternoon with wide eyes, carefully watching and listening to everything we said. He spoke softly, answering our questions and helping us to determine what needed to be done to help him settle in. We gave him a set of new sheets, a warm blanket and comforter for his bed, a haircut and a pack of personal hygiene products that he could keep. He was introduced to the other boys in his room and then carefully unpacked his one suitcase of belongings. I saw one smile when I introduced our puppies to him, warning him of the kissing attacks that Cayma (Mike's boxer puppy) sneaks in whenever she has a chance.

The details of Brayan's life follow a similar storyline to the lives of many other children in our home. But we see them all as fairly well-adjusted children that are an active part of the community here at New Hope. I personally have missed the transitional months and years of their lives at New Hope. Brayan is the first child that has come in while we've been here, and I was deeply struck by the injustice in the world that would necessitate his placement in our home. This young boy has been robbed of his innocence; he's been inundated with painful messages that sharply contradict the truth about who he is as a child of God. I can only imagine what kind of questions and thoughts must be racing around in his mind as he is settling in here. I am heartbroken over the life he's had, but desperately hopeful for the healing that God can provide.

In the midst of my tears yesterday, Tony reminded me of a Third Day song that I absolutely love. It communicates a great truth about the hope of Christ for the hurting. I haven't heard it in about a year, but it was healing for soul to listen to it last night. The lyrics are here, or you can follow this link to listen to it live (my recommendation!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRN_ApWyb94

Cry Out To Jesus
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight