You never know when a conversation with someone may be the last you have. As we sat on the pavement with “Frijol,” we told him that just six hours earlier a group of people thousands of miles away in a little church in Northern Ireland had been praying for him. To a lad of 17, unloved by most, it was hard to comprehend. Perhaps it was on his mind in the days following. We don’t know because we never saw Frijol again. Although he made it to hospital, time on the streets had taken its toll. He died a few days later. A tragic, but all too common occurrence among a group of people we have come to love - Mexico’s street kids.
Andrew and Carol Agnew initially arrived in Mexico for a short term mission experience and have been subsequently called long term to work with the street children of Mexico City through the church work of OMS International.
Whilst in a Mexican church placement they heard of a Mexican man who had been working almost alone with street kids in the City for about eight years. The following summer, we led our church team to work alongside him for a month. Every day, we travelled into the city centre to meet groups of teenagers living in parks, under bridges and by the sewer drains. Our aim was to develop trust relationships through meeting some of their basic needs. We played soccer, chatted, administered first aid and distributed clothes and nutritious food. Showing love in a practical way to these unloved kids caused their hearts to open, and then we were able to share a message of hope, true love and transforming power from the Word of God. Our hearts were touched as we saw lives changed.
During our year long ministry assignment, our goal was to see a drop in centre opened and more Mexicans working with the project. The latter became our top priority as we developed a realistic view of the most effective way to see the small project develop and grow. As a result when we return to Mexico in early 2007, its exciting to know we’ll be joining a team of Mexicans with a vision and a love for the street kids of Mexico City – a vision that wasn’t there two years ago.
God’s power to transform lives is making a difference on the streets of Mexico City …..one life at a time.
Mike Berkeley, OMS International
