Our lost boy – who not only has no last name but has been called at various times by three different first names – has a new home. Due to the kindness of Gloria and her family and with a little financial input from me, he has in the last 24 hours acquired: a toothbrush, deodorant, six pairs of underwear, two pairs of shorts, two shirts, an inexpensive pair of Crocs, a New York Yankees T-shirt as a gift from visiting guests Katie and Ron, a New York Yankees ball cap as a gift from Tia Linda and Tio Ron, and a brand new soccer ball.
He has his own mattress on the floor of Luis’ bedroom, made up with clean sheets, and his own towel. He has taken a shower and washed his hair. By the time he goes to sleep tonight he will have had breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
To celebrate his joining their household Gloria declared yesterday his birthday, and got him a cake and ice cream that he sat and ate with his new family. He wept with joy; it’s the first birthday treat he’s ever had.
Gloria and her husband Luis have taken on a great commitment. Gloria spoke with the boy’s biological father, who has agreed to go with her and sign a paper giving Gloria something short of adoption but akin to legal guardianship. With that, she can access the record of the boy’s birth and find out his actual first name and real birthday. She can take him for a physical check-up; he’s never been to the doctor. She has already talked to the priest about getting him some instruction so that he can be baptized and receive his First Communion, even though he can’t join the regular catechism classes because he can’t read or write. She’s going to look into hiring a retired teacher to instruct him in basic literacy, so he doesn’ t have to sit in the first grade of public school with six year olds. She thinks he will need to talk with someone about the trauma of growing up for twelve years with the knowledge that no one has wanted him. Before falling asleep last night, he told Gloria that he has been sleeping in an old, abandoned house with no electricity, and that he has been very afraid of the sounds in the night.
Best of all, the boy has acquired a mother and father, and three new brothers who have promised to teach him things and watch out for him.
This week the boy is going with Gloria and Luis on the bus to Panama City for Luis’ physical therapy, his first such trip ever. And they are all going to eat lunch at McDonalds.
Tags: angels
March 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Gloria is well named. Please tell her that her generosity of heart and home are examples of how Jesus acted and wants the world to act.
And you ain’t too bad yourself.
March 8, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Oh — and when is Gloria’s wedding?
March 8, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I don’t know who Gloria and her husband are, but they ought to be named Saints! I’m sure the Heavens are smiling down upon them, and upon you too! Blessings to all of you and to that young boy, may he grow into a strong well balanced clear minded young man. I don’t know what to say about the biological father, I suppose there are circumstances, but….
March 8, 2010 at 9:15 pm
For Mary: Years ago I taught a stewardship class at the Divinity School in Rochester. One of my adult students was a black preacher, a woman, from some kind of God-fearing evangelical church. I was open with my students about my faith struggles. When the class was over, she took me by the arm and told me not to pay no never mind to all of that. God wasn’t finished with me yet, and of that she was sure. Her words were oddly comforting. I think her name was Pearl.
We are trying hard to get Gloria’s wedding scheduled before I leave at the end of the month. The holdup is a missing baptismal certificate for her husband Luis. The Church here is very rule oriented, and my suggestion that they dunk him again didn’t go very far. Will keep you posted.
Gloria is a person of deep faith, and I will tell her that you see her as an instrument of Jesus’ call to care for the vulnerable. That will touch her very deeply. There is probably no comment that would please her more.
For Barbara: Gloria is the housekeeper and cook who works for the owner of the villa I rent. I have come to know her and her family well. The father of this young boy – and I hope the boy has an actual name as soon as possible – is drug addicted. At least he is willing to sign off on Gloria’s taking charge, which is something.
March 10, 2010 at 12:39 pm
I got out my sandwich and am at my desk, ready to catch up on your blog for the 10 quiet minutes I have… I am weeping on my hard roll for all the kindnesses, the humanity for this young boy… there is good in the world and these are the stories we need to hear on the evening news!
March 10, 2010 at 4:20 pm
There is good in the world, and here, the good and the bad are both visible … not hidden or veiled. Every day we are seeing wonderful moments with this young boy. And I will continue to write about them, so that we can all weep for joy.