“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:25-26

There was an elderly retired English missionary in my first parish in the coastal city of Santos, just about an hour away from this city of São Paulo. The church was built as a chapel for the English who came to construct the railway system in Brazil. Most of them eventually left but a handful remained and the church continued to minister to these remnants. It wasn’t an easy place to start my ministry. Betty knew it. Her husband was my predecessor. He passed away just a few months after he retired as the parish priest. Initially, they came to Brazil as missionaries to the seafarers. For almost forty years, their home was a place of refuge for seafarers seeking a safe and loving environment to rest before embarking on another long journey. Life for this couple never was easy. There were moments Betty wanted to give up and return home to England. After all this, she promised herself that she would do everything within her power to make sure others would not go through what she did. She was always there for us. She was always in the background doing small things which might seem insignificant for others but they brought much joy and peace to our lives. Her home was our refuge. She always had a pot of tea and some English cookies. We would just sit and chat for hours. Whenever we left her cozy apartment, we felt ready to face whatever challenges awaited us.

One day she confided to me, “Reverend, I know my time is near. I hope that I did my part in showing God’s love and kindness in this world but one can never be sure. I have been a selfish person many times and I pray that God will forgive me.” Betty was not being modest. She was being honest. Her attitude did not come as a surprise to me. She walked in the company of the saints of the past. They always sensed the love of God in such a deep and profound way that they knew whatever they did would never reflect the tiniest fraction of the love and generosity they have received from God. Betty passed away peaceful the same year we returned to Brazil. She continues to be alive in our soul. I think about her always, especially when we serve in the streets now.

I think I have said enough about the unruly newcomers in the streets in the past few weeks. Suffice to say that they are like the characters from William Golding’s novel, “Lord of the Flies.” It might sound like I exaggerating but I actually might be understating. It does not mean that these children are worse than the previous ones. By no means this is true. They are exactly the same. They are just children hungry for something but it is not bread which they seek. They have stolen even gold chains to turn stone into bread. It appears now that the novelty is slowly wearing off and the excitement of getting away with thievery is growing old. The tempter’s lure is becoming weaker and the children are seeing the wisdom of Jesus’ answer to the devil,

“One does not live on bread alone but every word that proceeds from God.” Matthew 4:4

In the streets, there are tons of preachers screaming at the top of their voices the written word of God. The new children are within hearing distance of these people. Yet, they are untouched by the message. These are just empty words recited without compassion nor love, many times seasoned with anger and bitterness. Jesus spoke about the Living Word. It brings life and hope and can be only be encountered when Love is present. Our children need to be fed with this love so that their agitated souls could be brought to calm and peace. However, the challenge is learning how to communicate this love to them. One would think that we should be experts on this subject by now. After all, we have being doing this for almost ten years. However, anyone who claims expertise on any subject relating to human behavior does so from a distance, isolated from reality. Whenever we are faced with actual living human beings, we realize that there is no easy formula. Love cannot be reduced to a strategy. Every child is different. Every person is unique. Each one sees and understands Love differently. We need to learn the best way to communicate to them. Thankfully, we have met many Bettys in our life. They know exactly what to do in times like these. They would do the same thing that they have always done. They would serve and love quietly in the background. This is our approach; to unite ourselves with those whose lives reflect the Presence of the Living Word. We follow the footsteps of Betty.

The children and the young adults are always fascinated with art. We decided to bring some material which would teach them how to draw. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to try it. They just ignored us initially. Then one came and then another slowly approached us. Mainly because we are always there in the background. The drawing intimidates them. They asked if they could color with us. One of them who behaved like a vicious robber a few weeks ago now sits and and colors with us. Each day when we arrive, she asks us to sit with her so that she could color. She never says a word but every time we can see that she enjoys being with us. Then, there is Henrick. I have to say this teenager is quite annoying. He likes to whine in the most irritating manner, not a very likable character. To my surprise, he sat next to me and asked if he could try drawing. We have known this boy for almost five years and he never took an interest in us. I taught him how to do it. I am not an artist by no means but I am getting better at following instructions. He drew a face of a bulldog. It looked more like one which had suffered massive head injuries but it didn’t matter. He did it. Then he asked me if he could draw something else on the condition that I help him. He did not want to do it alone. Then as he was drawing, he shared a story. He shared the story of Job with me. He said that he heard it in a rap music. He found it meaningful that Job did not turn against God despite all the pain and suffering. He shared about his family and it was obvious he suffers deeply from his mother’s rejection of him. After he completed his drawing, he said that he felt spiritually recharged. It was like being in a retreat, he said. He came back several times to thank me for the time together. He is not as annoying as I thought he was, well maybe a little less, but I like him now.

We are going through a lot of drama in the streets now. However, there is never a lack of drama in life especially in churches and politics. In the midst of all these Jesus beckons us to be united in Love; a unity which is sadly lacking in many churches. Nevertheless, in every parish whether big or small, there are people like Betty working in the background. Sometimes, smaller churches are blessed with more than their fair share of these people. These saints never changed what they are doing no matter what happens in the world around. Scandals come and go. Disagreeable people eventually leave. The “Bettys” of this world remain in the background to show love and care to everyone they meet. I am grateful that I have met enough of these saints to know that the unity which Jesus prayed about is not unity in a general manner but being joined together with the spirit of these saints who display God’s love no matter what happens. Their love brings peace and tranquility to the hearts of those whom they touch. They feed hungry souls who are seeking for than the bread this world offers. If you know a Betty in your parish, give her a hug for us. Let her know that her example is helping us to become better servants to these lost and hungry children. Her example and life is instrumental in any ministry done in the Name of the gospel.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:26-27

Sometimes he can be charming but most of the time he tends to be annoying although not in an offensive way. I was very much like him at his age. Gabriel is not new to the streets. He showed up just before the Pandemic started. He was ten then. No one knows anything about him. We do not know if he came from a neglected home or an orphanage. He is kind of a mischievous kid who is either high from sniffing paint thinner or playing the fool. Most likely it is his way of dealing with his harsh reality. He decided to plant himself between Josiel and myself which irritated us to say the least. Josiel had a hard week and he was in the middle of sharing something important and then Gabriel disrupted the momentum of the conversation for no apparent reason except perhaps his extreme neediness.

Josiel is one of the youths who decided on his own to abandon criminality. He has been in the streets since he was a child but most of it was spent in the juvenile detention center. We always thought that he was one of the youths deeply ingrained in crime. Therefore, we were pleasantly surprised when he approached us for help to buy one of those delivery bags, to be frank, I am not sure what they are called. They look like a huge thermal box with straps. He had registered online with a food delivery company. He had a bicycle but needed the delivery bag. It was quite costly. Naturally, we offered our aid. The older teens are aware that we are here to help them even financially if they want to make good and healthy life choices. However, we were not sure how it was going to work out because it was the first time for him to do something as such. As we all know, it is not always easy to do something new. He proved us wrong. He got into his work without any problems. He showed me the amount of money he had earned. He gets paid according to the number of deliveries. He was ecstatic. He said that he was feeling so much better and happier than he did not need to resort to crime for anything.

Unfortunately, someone (not from the streets) stole his bicycle and to add insult to injury, his debit card was stolen along with all his savings. This was such a blow and we were worried that he might get discouraged and go back to crime. This was exactly what he thought about doing, he said. He felt it was pointless to walk the straight and narrow and was almost on the brink of giving up when he said “No!”. He was going to choose life.
He rented a bicycle using an app and started delivering food again. He confessed that his bicycle was bought with money from crime. Now, he is given a chance to start with a clean slate. He is going to save and buy a new bicycle with honest money and not allow anything from his criminal past to move forward with him into the future. We were quite proud of him. It showed much maturity on his part.

He was about to open up about his mother suffering domestic violence when Gabriel got in the middle of us. As if this wasn’t enough, the young boy kept staring at my ear in a bizarre manner which was extremely distracting and annoying. Finally I had to stop Josiel and ask Gabriel what he was doing. He wanted to know if my earrings were gold. In the streets, this is generally a rude question. It usually is taken as threat to steal. I asked Gabriel why this was important. He responded by saying that if it was gold, he was going to steal it from me. I asked him to leave us because he was being disrespectful. Josiel added that it wasn’t the way to speak to us. Nevertheless, Gabriel was defiant and walked away angrily, making some rude comments.

“For though I am not splenitive and rash, yet have I in me something dangerous, which let thy wisdom fear.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet

I was truly unsettled by this sudden turn of events and even Josiah noticed it. Gabriel’s disrespectfulness quickened something in me that I would rather be dormant. Witnessing people getting robbed constantly wears us emotionally and spiritually. It saddens our souls to see that we are living in such demonic times. This is not to suggest that there are strange and sinister non-material beings wandering around causing mayhem. I refer to our Lord’s definition to what I consider as demonic activity.

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Matthew 16:23

The world becomes more demonic when everyone acts according to what they deem as right in their own eyes. The new group of children believe that it is right for them to steal from unsuspecting victims. They have a way of justifying their vile actions. The police believe that hard brutal violence resolves everything. They justify their corrupt behavior. The people think that harsh prison and death penalty is the way to go. They have a means of justifying their self righteousness. Everyone operates on their own privatized moral codes without realizing that they are succumbing to the seductive charms of the devil. Peter thought he was saying a good thing to Jesus. In reality, he was just acting according to his base human desires.

It would be foolish of me to think that I am immune from this environment. There are demonic voices constantly enticing us to join in their chorus of hatred and rejection in this world. Gabriel’s actions stirred something within me. They opened a floodgates of unwholesome thoughts. They made me sad.

As I was on my way home, I met Wallace. He has begging outside a store. He has been selling mineral water for weeks to survive but we are presently experiencing unseasonal cold weather. Consequently, no one is craving icy cold mineral water in the streets. For Wallace, this is a loss of income and he decided to beg for money to buy food. I stopped and talked with him and told him what had happened. He said that Gabriel is being influenced by these new batch of children. Furthermore, he said, in the streets, you need to guard yourself from these influences if not they will lead into a path of self destruction. These are wise words. They are valid even for me. I got Wallace something to eat and we hugged and said goodbye. I pondered upon his words as I made my way home.

In this world, the demonic voices scream and shout at us, beckoning us to follow their lead. Sometimes they are very convincing in their arguments if we buy into their philosophy. To be unaware of this diabolic presence would be foolishness. On the hand, having a caricatural image of demons devised by popular and superstitious notions doesn’t help. These demons are not from without, they are present when we look into the mirror. They are pining to be released from the depth of our being. We can give in to them by feeding them with the lies which we hear and hatred that lies dormant in our hearts. Each time we dehumanize people with unflattering labels, we are strengthening this sinister presence in us. Gabriel is just a little kid lost in this world. Sometimes it is hard to see the real state of things. This is why Jesus sent us an Advocate. However, He can only help us if we listen to Him. Today He spoke to me through Wallace.

The next day when we arrived at the street, we saw Gabriel siting on a bench waiting. He ran up to us and asked us to forgive him. It brought such joy to my heart. He was trying to explain that he would never do anything to hurt us. I stopped him. I told him that it was unnecessary. Apparently, he had spent the night listening to the Advocate too. We hugged him. He wanted to color something with us. It was freezing cold. Not the best day to sit in the open and color while the strong cold winds were trying to convince us otherwise. I told him that we can play a game when it is warmer. It was enough to convince him that he was truly forgiven. It was enough to convince me that the Advocate is going to guide us as we walk into territories where angels fear to thread. There is only one voice we need to heed. He speaks quietly in this world of loud and obnoxious demons. We just need to be more attentive.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13: 33-35

We have been doing this ministry for some time now. We have accompanied a generation of homeless children who arrived in the streets in their prepubescent years and now they are in their early adulthood. We have seen and experienced many facets in the lives of the homeless youth. Therefore, we should be used to the many changes which occur in this unpredictable environment. Nevertheless, there are things which still disturb our souls. The presence of a new immigration of children, their numbers are growing by the day, is quite distressing. For some reason, they appear younger than their previous counterparts. Maybe we are older now and everyone seems young. This new group is from the state orphanages. We casually asked one of the older teens if these places were truly terrible. She replied that some places were quite pleasant. They do not always stay in the same place. They are transferred frequently. Besides this, they are only allowed to stay in the state orphanage until they turn 18. Once this happens, they are asked to leave. The State believes that its responsibility ends when they become officially adults. The fact that they are orphans from impoverished backgrounds never seems to alter this decision. Apparently, there are many who have a family member or so who will take them into their homes. For the others, they come here to the center of the city and call the streets their home.

This is another example of society’s superficial acts of charity. We live in a country where the social disparity is appalling. The rich are extremely rich and the poor are very poor. The children in the orphanages are the most vulnerable ones from poorest of the poor. In many cases, it is the State which removes the children from the parents’ custody and more often than not for good reasons. However, sending them back as soon as they turn 18 without any assistance nor guidance borders on cruelty. These are children whom no one wants. This has been communicated to them from very first years of their lives. When they officially become adults, they are expected to find their place in this world. Most of the children do not wait for this time. They can not handle another rejection in their lives. They run away from these orphanages. They have no where to go and the streets in the center where we minister is where people who have nowhere to go end up.

We sit in our usual place and wait for them. Those who have accompanied us over the years will have noticed how frequently we use the “wait” in our reflection. It is all about waiting. The children are all around us but they do not notice us. Something else has taken hold of their attention. It is really nothing important. It is just that everyone is trying to assert their presence. The only way they know how to do this is through crime. At least, this is the only thing they have been exposed to since young. We offer something different. Unfortunately, everyone is too busy to notice us. It is okay. It gives us a chance to quietly observe them.

A boy took out a stack of hundred dollar bills from his pocket. He is too young to have that kind of money and I doubt he understand its value. It will be gone tomorrow and he won’t remember how he spent it. Unfortunately, even in his circumstance, he knows that wealth is a sure way to be noticed so he flashes his money around. Sadly, he has become a master in the act of stealing gold chains. He was like the Dickensian artful dodger. All the other little guys look at him with admiration. This boy himself looks like he is hardly ten. It is heartbreaking to see him behave this way. Just the other day he smiled at us. It is obvious that he wants to be seen in a different light. He watches us every now and then. He hasn’t made the step to approach us. He has an image to protect for now, I suppose.

A group of unfortunate tourists came around the corner. Immediately, all these kids pounced upon them like a pack of wolves. We have not seen this happening for a long time. A young teenage girl put her arm around a young female tourist to subdue her so that she could steal something from this poor victim. Fortunately, she was able to break free from the hold and escape. Nothing was stolen from them except perhaps their dignity. Maybe they will a frightening story to relate when they go back to Europe. The incident created excitement once again. An outsider watching this incident would think that these children are like little monsters. I won’t blame anyone for thinking this way. The children seemed to be oblivious to the pain and suffering of others. They were not always like that. They have been subjected to much pain and suffering in their young lives and no one was around to show love and compassion to them. They are not asking for our sympathy. They are just living out what life has taught them until now.

A young girl came and asked if she could colour with us. She is part of the group but she is a little older. We found out that she was one of those who was turned out when she turned 18. She knew these children when they were in the orphanages together. We have been observing her. She put forth a tough and intimidating front. However, when she sat with us, she was an entirely different person. She had nice friendly smile and she was very open to us. Her name is Isabelle. We haven’t heard that name in the streets for a long time. Sounds like a name that would be common but we have only met one other girl with that name in the streets, albeit spelled with a slight variation. Her name was Isabela. She was tough like this girl. Hardly spoke to us initially and then approached us because she wanted to do some art. Eventually we become close. She left when she got pregnant and was determined to give her child something different. She has been away from the streets for more than five years. We shared her story with this new girl. She smiled and told us that she is not going to get pregnant ever. She doesn’t want to have children. They are too much responsibility. We told her that we don’t any kids too. She smiled and said, “Then you can adopt me!” It was a joke and at the same time it wasn’t. We heard some of children and teens say this to us several times in our time here. Most of them are the ones who come from the orphanages. All these children at one point hoped to be adopted and grow up in a stable loving environment. When that dream faded away and reality set in, they hardened their hearts. Isabelle stayed with us for a while and coloured. She told us about herself but most of the time, she was just quiet. She did not finish her colouring. She promised that she will finish next time. We told her that we will be here.

The next day, the same scenery and the same waiting for someone to approach. This time it was the girl who grabbed the neck of the poor tourist. It was quite unexpected. She walked up and asked if she could sit and color with us. Her name is Giovanna. She did not say much and we did not want to overwhelm her with questions. However, it was plain to see that this girl has suffered much. The boys in her group exploit her too. Life has not been kind to this girl. Yesterday, she was a monster but today we see that she is a vulnerable girl alone in this world. She did a beautiful job coloring. It was clear that she had some artistic talent. We commended her on her work. She gave a timid smile. It was clear that she appreciated it. She did not want to finish it. She told us that she will complete it the next time we are there. We told her that we will be here waiting for her.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

There is a strange phenomenon occurring in the streets. Well, it is strange for us but in reality it is the same cycle which has been occurring for many decades. It still perturbs our souls, regardless. On Wednesday, we sat and observed a new immigration of children to the streets. There must have been at least twenty children if not more. Many appeared to be under the age of ten years. They bear the signs that they have escaped as a group from somewhere; a veteran teen told us that they have escaped from an orphanage. I am not sure if the word “escaped” is appropriate. No one ever comes looking for them. They have just abandoned a place where they were neglected. Now they have the sense of being freed from all rules and regulations. They are unsure what to make of their newfound status. The streets are never an easy place for anyone, much less for young children. They have to prove themselves. They have decided to become relentless thieves. It has become some sort of game. After all, they are still children. They are unaware of many things. They live in an immature world where everything is play. The problem is they might not ever mature. The thrill and excitement of getting away with something is a worse addiction than any hard drugs. Many who hold much wealth and power have never overcome this pernicious vice of being able to get away with something immoral.

No one says anything to them. No one can say anything to them. They don’t respect anyone. These children are a terror for now. Thankfully, they are smart enough to leave some people alone and we are included in this group. Not that there was a lack of trying. We are still strangers to them. One of them attempted to steal something from me but immediately, the veteran teens stepped in and warned them that we are off limits. I wasn’t too offended, just a little. Nevertheless it is part of their learning process. A long time ago, there was a time a young boy just like them who stole my Uno game. Eventually, he became one of our favorite boys and we even took him to the zoo on his birthday. These children will gradually calm down but for the moment, they are a terror.

We weren’t the only ones watching these unruly newcomers. Daniel and many of the older teens were watching them too. Daniel and his brothers were just like them about 8 years ago. Daniel was a preteen when he came to live in the streets. He will be twenty in June. Just like these kids, he came in a group of twenty or more. Now, some are in prison. Some have gone home. One has gone into hiding. Many still remain in the streets. Amazingly, none from that group have passed away. We are grateful for this. Young children immigrate to the streets of the center in groups, usually after they meet in an orphanage or even in the juvenile detention center. The city center is a tough place to be alone. Our children have learned from a very young age that there is safety in numbers. I asked Daniel if he wanted to play a game. He told me that he was in a pensive mood. He has been a little serious recently.

It is not necessary to ask too many questions. Daniel communicates effectively with his body and facial expressions. He has been feeling lost and disoriented lately. Maybe the presence of these newcomers have made him realize that he is stuck in this cycle of emptiness and abandonment. Deep down inside he hears a voice beckoning him to leave it. Daniel shared once that he feels trapped and helpless and yet he knows that there is a better way. “It is strength that I lack.” He claims. Daniel told me that he can’t do much today. He needs to think.

“The wise man (sic) knows how to run his life so that contemplation is possible.” Gabriel Marcel

It is strange that we heard several people express this same sentiment from beyond the streets. We had a string of bad luck with our dentists. Almost all our previous ones have left the city or retired. Hopefully, it has nothing to do with us. Not too long ago, I walked by this old rundown building and saw a sign for dentist. The dentist was old as the building. I liked him but he had the strange habit which many dentists have. He likes to chat while stuffing all kinds of apparatus in my mouth. He shared that he was feeling a little lost and disillusioned with the way things are. He belongs to the Jewish community and plans to leave this country for Israel in a few years time. He is not far turning eighty. His intent to move is not due to his religious conviction. He said that his heart aches to see what has happening to his beloved country where he spent all his life and raised his family. It has not gotten worse. It has just never gotten better. There was a profound sadness in his voice as he said this. Soon after we left the dentist clinic as we were crossing the streets, we and a woman also crossing were almost run down by a car whose driver completely ignored our presence and existence. This is quite common today. One would think that there is a moratorium on traffic rules in this city. As usual, it is the pedestrians who suffer this lawlessness. Pedestrians always pay for the incompetence and apathy of those in power. There is lawlessness in every aspect of society and the pedestrians of life have become accustomed to it. The woman remarked with profound sadness in her voice that we are slowly slipping into hopelessness and darkness. These are not your common political conversations. Needless to say there is never a lack of people who are willing to share their political opinions and the solutions which they have figured out from the comfort of their armchairs. No. These two people shared their sadness without pretending that they have the solution. The truth is they don’t see any hope in the near or distant future. They just see a cycle of hopelessness and abandonment. This is not just a problem of the situation of the homeless children and teens. It is something everywhere and most likely it has always been there. Perhaps, the situation in streets is the reality of society reflected without its lies and falsehoods.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord
 and relies upon his God? But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands. Walk in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that you have kindled! This is what you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. Isaiah 50: 10-11

There are too many people who offer false hopes and even more who listen to them. They invite us to draw close to the fire that they have started and claim that it is the Light. Eventually, their sparks will burn and bruise our souls if we are fortunate. In most cases, they ruin our souls. However, there are some who wait for the voice of the Shepherd. These are different. They are not complaining about the way things are. They see how things are and they feel lost and abandoned. They are waiting in the darkness for a voice. However, not any voice will do. There are many who promise this or that. They distract us from the Truth. They claim to be defenders of the Truth but nothing could be further away from this. There is darkness which encompasses us. We are not exempt from it. We cannot say that we are carrying the torch to lead the children and teens away from this cycle of darkness and more darkness. We don’t hold the patent on the Shepherd’s voice. He speaks when He is ready. For now, He prepares our souls to listen. Part of this involves us not being distracted by the lies and false fires. The new batch of kids in the streets are being seduced with false sense of belonging and security. Eventually, some or maybe just one of them will be like Daniel and contemplate on the futility of it all. We have a simple role in this process. We wait in the darkness with these sheep and remind them that eventually His voice will be heard in our souls. This is our hope and joy in this world which promotes cycles of abandonment and suffering.