Today started out like any other day. Wake up, brush teeth, kids start homeschool, check emails, kiss wife and kids, go to school to help with construction, come home, eat almuerzo (lunch)...and that's when things changed. We had all just about finished when the doorbell rang. I answered the door and saw a boy with a dirty black box and his hands almost the same colour. He asked me in spanish if he could shine my shoes for Q2 ($0.25). I was wearing a pair of sneakers so my first thought was, no thanks. I decided to ask Chantelle if she had a pair for him so we could bless him with some money. Chantelle said her shoes were up stairs and while I was getting them I found a pair of mine as well. I brought them down to him and he said if I could give him some water and soap he would wash my car too. Some of these kids will do anything for money while others will do almost anything. Before he started, Chantelle and I decided to invite him to sit with us and eat. I showed him where he could wash his hands and it looked like he thought I was crazy. These kids are not used to having soap and water or food for that matter. He sat down at the table and looked uncomfortable but we served him carne rez, ensalada, tortillas, y papa fritas (beef, fried potatoes, salad and tortillas). He took off his baseball hat, made the sign of the cross, prayed and ate. He ate so fast it was like he hadn't eaten for days. He kept his head down low almost touching his plate and shoveled his food in as fast as he could. We spoke with him as best we could. This is what we found out:
His name is Javier
He is 14 yrs old
He has been working for years in order to get enough money to go back to school and live
He needs money for books, a uniform and shoes or he can't go
He has no father
He speaks no english
He is a hard worker
He has almost nothing
He has 2 older brothers
He lives in a town about 30 mins away
He works 7 days a week
He likes tortillas and hot sauce
He doesn't get to keep all the money
He only saves a little of the money for school and lives off most
Sad thing is...he only needs Q800 ($100) for school
Even sadder thing is...I didn't have it to give to him.
After he ate he said thank you, immediately went outside and started washing the car and shining the shoes.
We could have told the boy no because the truth is, we didn't need our shoes shined. We are here to be a blessing and show the love of God so we let him our shoes, wash our car and eat our food. We also let him teach us all a lesson. Not everyone is as blessed and as lucky as we are. There are people in this world that need help and if we can help, then we should. I thank God for this boy. I thank God that I had shoes for him to shine, a car for him to wash, food for him to eat, time to spent with him and the LOVE of God to share. I did have some money but not enough to pay for all his school. He told me he would come back again to wash my car and shine my shoes. I hope he does come back and I also hope the next time he comes I have enough money to help this boy get back to school.
We covet your prayers. We also ask that you please prayerfully consider supporting us financially. We can not do what we are doing without your prayers and financial support. Thank you so much friends for the prayer and support that is already being sent. We are so very grateful for your help.
WIA
151-10090 152nd st
suite 314
Surrey, BC, Canada
V3R 8X8
If you are donating and would like a tax receipt make the cheques out to WIA. Do not put our names on the cheque, simply drop in a quick note allocating the funds to the Virag family.
Thanks to you all for your prayers and support. This is just one of the many stories in Guatemala.
The Virag's (Shawn)
P.S. found out after I posted this that Carsten gave the boy his allowance money and Emma cooked him marshmallows. We are very proud of our children and the things they are doing in Guatemala.
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