This past month was a unique one for the boys as they have been adjusting to life at the center, welcoming new street children from different areas, and interacting with various visitors.

The beginning of February was kicked off with a very special event. Two of our long-term missionaries, Palina and John, got married! The joy of this celebration was shared not only with our team, but also with the children currently at the center. The day after their wedding, when most couples are headed to their honeymoon, the newlyweds were at Embrace in their wedding dress and suit to celebrate with the boys, eat some cake and share a lesson on God’s design for marriage. Most children end up on the streets directly due to broken families, unhealthy marriages or divorce, and have never seen a healthy relationship modeled for them.

As a visual example, John welded two pieces of clean metal together and then had the boys try to pull them apart. No one succeeded. This showed the strength of a relationship between two people who honor Christ and live in purity (a lesson most of the boys have never seen or even heard of). As missionaries, we strive to not only to share the Gospel with street children, but also exemplify it with our lives.

Every weekend the Embrace boys enjoy a bonfire night. This month, while the boys sat by the fire and roasted their sausages, they got to listen to a variety of guest speakers from different countries and backgrounds. Some were missionaries passing by, some were guest pastors from other countries, and some were Embrace staff. The visitors were invited to share their life stories and testimonies. The boys were surprised when they could relate to the lives of these guests from far places that shared about their own broken journeys before Christ, such as life on the streets or even abuse in their family. It was a good testimony to the boys that people all over the world go through struggles and hardships, but Christ is able to bring freedom and healing into any life.

As our boys have been settling into the daily routine at Embrace, there are several areas of challenges that our team has been walking through with them. Considering that all of the boys are new to undergoing the rehabilitation process, many struggle with severe symptoms of withdrawals. These occur from the glue they sniffed, and drugs they used on the streets and act as a temptation for them to run away. Their addiction to drugs and being used to freedom from authority on the streets is another constant struggle for them to stay and adhere to the strict schedule and rules at Embrace. Sometimes, it just takes one boy to reminisce about their former street life to cause several others to run away and backslide on any progress they had made. On a daily basis, our team faces rebellious attitudes and stubborn disobedience from many of the boys, which we understand is often a consequence of trauma they’ve lived through in their families, life on the streets, or both.

This past month, several boys were willingly taken for their initial home visits to assess the situation in their families, learn more about who they were on the streets, and begin working towards reuniting them with their family. Two of our boys also expressed the desire to be saved and place their trust in Jesus as their personal Savior. We praise the Lord for His work in the hearts and lives of not only street children, but our Embrace staff as well!