This morning I picked up Belinda because Jairo was supposed to be at the Dr all day. He showed up at the church mid-day. I forgot to ask when he will have his surgery.
NOBODY was in the kitchen when we got there. That was a first. Marlin is home with a sore foot. She was in a lot of pain Friday so we weren't surprised about that. But nobody else showed up at all - none of the older boys, none of the Moms, only Belinda, Don Juan and me. Belinda and I immediately said we should make cereal because that is easiest, but Don Juan insisted that we cook spaghetti. None of us really knew how much to make or how to make it. Don Juan was by far the most knowledgeable. He joked that he was going to open his own restaurant after this. He basically told us how to do it all and helped with everything. Don Juan continues to amaze me. He truly is a man who can do everything.
Not many kids came today. Some of the kids didn't have school. Others got out early. Others have stopped coming.
We are down to about 50 kids on an average day. I wasn't sure why until our day of prayer. Since then I have been talking to the kids and it has been confirmed. The kids are not coming because it is not safe to walk to the church and home again. At least once per week the kids come running back to the church with stories about how they just saw someone trying to lure away one of our kids on the bus, or with candy - last week it was with a cell phone. Usually an older kid steps in or the kids just run away.
We emphasize that they walk in groups, don't talk to anyone and go straight home. Maybe the parents aren't allowing them to come to the church anymore, or maybe they don't feel safe to walk here. Maybe both. After hearing their prayer requests last week it seems like they only feel safe when they are inside their houses or the church. It is so sad! I know the majority of the kids who haven't come lately are not getting fed well at home. They would rather go without food than risk walking to the church. Wow.
Lourdes decided after hearing the prayer requests last week that we would put less meat in the food this week and send cans of meat home with each family so they could have some food in the home. Don Juan is worried the kids will sell the cans of chicken. I guess once it is out of our hands, we can only pray that it ends up in their bellies.
Please pray that somehow the kids can feel safe walking from school to the Breakfast Program and home afterward. We know they need the meal that we provide and the refuge that the church provides for them to play safely and learn. I haven't seen Lorenzo in weeks. My heart hurts for the kids that are going without. It feels like the "bad guys" have won if the kids don't feel safe to walk to the church.
