About 9 years ago we met a family on the lot where their new home was going to be built. At the time the oldest brother was 12 years old. The oldest brother was shy, yet he opened himself up to a couple of the team members.
Over time, we got to spend more time with him and learned he was a very smart young man. Time passed and we visited the family from time to time. The four kids seemed to be doing just fine. They were healthy and happy, considering their circumstances. When the oldest brother turned 15, he came to us seeking help.
His parents took to using drugs and had deserted the entire family. This young man had just become the mother and the father to his siblings. At the time, he was going to school full time and he also decided that he needed to work to feed his siblings. We continued to help with his high school education and upped our support to help him pay his bills.
He informed us that his 14 year old sister was seeing a man 6 years older than her. She soon moved out and became pregnant. It broke this young man's heart to see one of his siblings slip away into a life of mere survival.
About this time, the neighbors turned the kids into the city officials and they were placed into an orphanage. They spent five months in the orphanage and then the grandmother came and got them out.
He often told us that he wanted to quit school and just work to help his siblings. We spent hours with him, encouraging him, and trying to show him that getting through school and fulfilling his dreams would make life a bit easier.
His five year old brother was about to begin school, but then found out he had no birth papers to get him enrolled. For many days as he left for school or work, he left behind his two younger brothers.
We went to look at the condition of the house and decided to invest some money to make it habitable. We bought new beds and frames, got the kids some new clothes, shoes and the basic necessities. The bathroom and shower were updated as well.
Later, we come to find out that the parents returned to steal everything the kids had been given. They sold the goods to help with their addictions.
The three boys were left with a pad to lay on the floor and a light bulb wired from the neighbor’s house. This oldest brother said he was done and he could not go on.
With our encouragement, support, and praising him for the great job he was doing, he set his eyes on the goal of finishing school.
And then his parents returned, yet again, only to steal everything he had worked for.