The Drop-In Centre

There is so much going on at the Drop-In Centre. More kids are coming along from different groups and in fact the team are finding that with over 20 kids attending they aren't able to give the kind of attention that these kids need. Before the Drop-In Centre opened there was an idea that each day a different group of kids would be invited. It has become obvious that while that might scratch the surface for a bigger number of kids there would be more lasting fruit from having fewer kids more consistently. So every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11am and 3pm there have been about 10 kids attending consistently mainly from one group nearby the Centre. Over the course of 2 or 3 months the difference in their attitudes has been phenomenal. It doesn't mean that at times they aren't quite a handful but we have seen kids come to know Christ, some have come off the streets and some have returned home. It's quite convincing evidence that the consistency and focus on a smaller group pays off in the long run. Of course the idea is that groups pass through and that eventually these kids will become well integrated in society and no longer have need of the Drop-In Centre which would then be used by another group of kids.

The process of discipleship is long and time-consuming and just last might we were chatting about it with Alex and Paty. There are so many kids needing discipleship and the Proyecto MEFI team is already stretched to worrying limits with what they have on their plate at the moment. Pray with us that God will raise up mature believers with a burden for these kids who would be willing to 'adopt' a kid and begin discipling and counselling them. we're so grateful for Christian MacKinnon and his passion in this area. He has been researching suitable discipleship materials and we are hoping to have some people lined up that he can train when he returns from his trip to the USA in the New Year. So far there are two potential men.

Over the next few days and weeks the rules in the Drop-In Centre will get a little stricter in order to maintain order and maximise the usefulness of the time there. Basically there are 3 rules:
Arrive on time
No swearing, inuendo etc.
Respect the property (e.g. no drugs, damage etc.)
A breach of the rules merits expulsion from the Centre and the length of exclusion depends on the severity of the breach or the frequency with which the offender has broken the rules in the past. It may seem harsh but Alex and Paty were just saying how they have actually found friendships with the kids to develop as they have been disciplined in love. One kid who had been excluded for a week or so came to the Drop-In Centre to invite them to his parents house. His dad was going to kill a sheep to prepare a meal and they wanted to invite Alex and Paty as they had been so instrumental in the change in his life!

We are excited at the progress being made with the engineer. There was a question as to whether the drainage system would need to be replaced to cope with the number of showers, toilets etc. we required. It is obvious that it will need replaced but it's maybe not such a bad thing. Andrew was horrified when he lifted one of the covers to find cockroaches and worms etc. having a party down there! The fantastic news is that the work will potentially be started this week and it also seems like the tubing for the bathroom and washing facilities will be complete before the next work team arrives from Ardmore, USA in January. Thank you for your prayers for all of tat and keep praying that the work will be completed.