It's hard to know how many boys really live on the streets of our city. At Masana, we normally have 20 to 25 boys that attend on a daily basis. These boys show-up Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. They participate in our literacy classes and daily hear teachings from the Word of God. Daily, they know that, at Masana, they are cared for...they are wanted....they are loved.
But these 25 boys are only a small portion of the boys that call the streets of Maputo home. In 2017, we had 4 specific occasions that allowed us a glance into the reality of just how many boys live on the streets of our city.
ZELFO'S FUNERAL:
In March of this year, we had the honor of celebrating the life of one of the most notorious young men that lived on the streets of Maputo. About 80 street boys/men gathered together for Zelfo's funeral.
CHILDREN'S DAY:
June 1 of each year is Children's Day in Mozambique. A day to celebrate the children of our nation. It's become our annual tradition to take the street boys to the local water park on this day to celebrate. This year, we had over 60 boys show up for the celebration!
LAST DAY OF MASANA FOR 2017:
On December 1, we closed the day center allowing our staff to have a few weeks off to rest and be refreshed. We also use this time to encourage the boys to visit their families for the holidays. 71 boys showed up this last day...71 boys heard the story of the prodigal son...encouraging them to return to their families and to God.
CHRISTMAS PARTY:
A few days before Christmas, we had a party for all of the street boys. 81 boys showed up to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
So, you see, the 25 or so boys we have the privilege of ministering to on a day-to-day basis at our center are but a drop in the bucket. There are so many more boys who do not come around on a regular basis. My prayer for 2018 is that God would enlarge our territory...that the dozens and dozens of street boys that showed up for special occasions at Masana in 2017, would come more regularly so that we might have the chance to care for them....that they would know that they are wanted and loved.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10
