The Varones are all of the boys, ages 11-17 who live on our side of the red wall. The wall divides the children's home(Fundacion Salvacion) into two parts so that the boys can be locked away from the other kids at night. Guatemalan law requires us to separate the older boys because of the potential threat of sexual deviance due to their past trauma and abuse. Some of the boys in this age group have avoided the stigma of living behind the red wall because they were taken in by a couple of the house parents on the other side. But sixteen young men remain on this side, waiting for the chance to have parents.
Fundacion Salvacion came under the directorship of Story International only a few years ago, and in that time they began implementing the "house parent" model, meaning taking smallish to medium-sized groups of kids and raising them under the care of a foster parent (or parents). Currently at the Fundacion we only have three full-time house parents units, leaving four groupings of children without true family-style care. One of those groups is the varones.
So, in response to this need, we had Camp Varones-- a dedicated week of eating meals, doing chores, playing sports, and hanging out, to help us gain an accurate assessment each of the boy's needs, and formulate a plan for the future.
And let me tell you: It. Was. Awesome.
Mealtimes were a joy, laughing at all of their jokes and sharing devotions together each morning. Afternoons were spent playing soccer, cleaning up the massive storage building, and winding down each evening for creative journalling and dinner. The boys responded so well to us and were thrilled to be eating on their own, away from the noise of the main dining hall. All week Dave and I prayed for God to reveal to us a plan for the future.
Finally, on Friday, we prayed again, and in an instant, God downloaded to us an idea for separating the varones into three groups. We'd throw up a wall in the middle of the current varon bedroom to make two smaller apartments, and take the third group into our house. One of the maintenance guys on staff had already approached us with a desire to house-parent the boys-- and it turned out that our director already had someone in mind for the third house parent.
And just like that, we went from an institution-setting, to making plans for three little homes. The plan is that each room will have it's own bathroom, bedroom, and living area with a table for meals (which will be brought from the main kitchen). Maybe in the future we could even get a couch or two for each house so that they will have a private area to hang out as a "family". Each room will have five boys and a full-time house parent. The boys will have loving, personal attention at last.
For us, we will be welcoming six boys to live with us. We will tell them tonight at dinner.
I am reminded of a dream that I had about a year ago. I dreamed that I was standing on a stage, with a line up of handsome, well-dressed young men beside me. I couldn't see their faces, or even see how many there were, but in my dream I wept, because I knew that they were my sons, and I was so proud and thankful to be their mother. When I awoke from the dream, I knew it was from God, but I had no idea how he would possibly fulfill it.
God has answered my prayers and fulfilled His promise to me. Every tear I cried and every prayer I prayed brought me here.
I have finally found my children.
"Then you will say in your heart,
‘Who bore me these?
I was bereaved and barren;
I was exiled and rejected.
Who brought these up?
I was left all alone,
but these—where have they come from?’”
I was bereaved and barren;
I was exiled and rejected.
Who brought these up?
I was left all alone,
but these—where have they come from?’”
22 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I will beckon to the nations,
I will lift up my banner to the peoples;
they will bring your sons in their arms
and carry your daughters on their hips.
23 Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
I will lift up my banner to the peoples;
they will bring your sons in their arms
and carry your daughters on their hips.
23 Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
---- Isaiah 49:21-23 (My favorite chapter of the Bible)
