Bus Fare

For those of you following my blog, you'll remember that several weeks ago I wrote of two teenage brothers that we were coming alongside to help with some transportation costs. Bus fare. Stacey and I are helping with bus fare. The brothers, 16 and 17, are going to classes to help them get their GED. They dropped out of high school several years ago because they didn't have a whole lot of support at home to tell them to go to school. Parents in and out of jail with drug convictions. Grandma taking care of multiple kids already. Aunts and Uncles in and out of jail with drug convictions. As you can imagine, not the most uplifting support system in place.

But God can redeem any situation when we're open to be a part of it.

Errol, Director of the mentoring program at Safehouse (where I work), found these guys when their grandmother called to get them mentors. Errol took a personal interest in their situation. Errol told their story to me one day while eating lunch. I shared the story with Stacey and we took action. Here is the update. The boys have made a 180. They are going to class consistently working towards taking their GED. They are showing up at SafeHouse volunteer opportunities ready to serve. They are showing up on their own.

This past Saturday Stacey and I had Errol and his wife Darlene, and the two brothers Joshua and DJ over for dinner. DJ has stated in the past his interest in one day going to culinary school. So we thought we would have them work with Stacey in the kitchen to bake some cookies for them to take home.

They all showed up, and DJ was dressed up in a shirt and tie. They came in, and were extremely polite. We had made my dad's crab dip for an appetizer. They both tried it and DJ loved it. Joshua stated he was not a fan of seafood, but tried it anyway. We Stacey had prepared a fantastic meal of baked ziti, salad, green beans, and garlic bread. We had a wonderful meal, with great conversation. We had put out cloth napkins. The boys had never used cloth napkins before.

After dinner they went to work in the kitchen and made chocolate chip cookies. They then took some with them. For that evening Stacey and I tried our best to make them the honored guests, serving them as if they were eating in a restaurant. In a way we wanted them to have a night to escape the reality they would go back to that evening. To show them that there are people who care about them and are rooting for them to succeed.

Errol sent me a text message later in the evening from the brothers. It said, thank you for making the best of our lives. We love you like parents. Errol and Darlene are walking alongside them and allowing Stacey and I to be a part of the journey.

Bus fare. Errol told me that was the magic key. That simply mentoring them wasn't enough it took freedom of transportation as the tipping point. Now they are actually contributing back to society in their own ways. Oh by the way, one of the brothers is currently on probation for drug possession. A little love, encouragement, and accountability goes a long way towards helping lives get turned around.

What is your bus fare going to be?