Reborn

The first house we have done outreach in is the Reborn House, which takes care of teen mothers with young babies. Currently, there are two moms there with their little ones, both boys under two years old. While there, one of our jobs was to paint a small house on the back of the property that one of the moms is staying in now as she begins to transition to living on her own. This girl has an incredibly painful past. She began living on the streets when she was 7 years old, after already suffering much abuse at home. When first going to the streets, she began dating a boy who was 9 years old that was in a gang and dealt drugs. Although this may seem impossible, girls must have a 'boyfriend' in order to be somewhat protected from being raped and abused by multiple men. By the age of 14, she had already had three pregnancies and miscarriages. When she became pregnant with her little boy now, she moved off the streets into the Reborn House. She continued to see the father though, who was actually the same boy. They had remained together through this time, although he continued to live on the streets. Then, during this time, he had paint thinner poured on him and ignited. After being in the hospital, he died. This girl has seen more tragedy in her 16 years than I will likely ever see. Although she is doing well, she has emotional hardships that will never completely leave her. Unfortnately, this is a very common story. Please pray for her as she and her son build a life together. Also, thank God that the Reborn House ministry exists. Without it, she and her son would be on the streets. It is so hard to imagine, looking at the boys crawling around, that they would be living on the streets here. The Reborn House has provided them with not only food and shelter, but also trusting relationships with adults and healthy role models for both of them.(Setting people on fire is a common form of revenge among the gangs in Belo).