A burdened heart

Today, something interesting happened.

I was working at a middle school, playing Clue with JM, an eighth grade boy, when RD, another eighth-grade boy, came over and talked with me while I played. Our conversation was short, shallow, and all in Spanish. He doesn't speak much English because he just moved here from Mexico this year. He wanted to know what Clue meant.

My game with JM ended quickly because his dad came to pick him up. RD stuck around, though -- he kinda floated between me and another staff member who speaks Spanish.

That's when I began to wonder, as I have so many times before, why does he stay after school? If it's not to hang out with friends, what is there to stay for? What could be going on in this boy's mind? What wounds, what needs does he have that drive him to seek us out instead of his peers?

Later, I found myself -- partly by chance, but not really -- sitting next to RD while watching two other boys play foosball.

"Why did your family move up here?" I asked.
"They didn't." He went on to explain that only he and his dad are up here. His brother and sister are both in Mexico.
"Are they living with your mom?"
"No, with my grandparents. My mom left us when I was 5, and she has like five other kids with another dad. I don't know them."
"Do you know your mom?"
"Yeah!...but only from a long time ago."

There wasn't much more to our conversation, but it left an impression on me. I left work with a burden on my heart for this boy. To top everything off, he's being taught in a language he doesn't understand with only his peers to translate for him, so he's failing two of his classes. I knew I had to pray for him, and I know he is one of the many reasons God has me where I am.

How perfect, then, that at our prayer service tonight, we interceded for the younger generation! I had him in mind as I prayed, and, as a result, I have enlarged faith for restoration in this boy's life!