Goats For Gangs

Today was a landmark day! We had the first official Give A Kid To A Kid meeting with the members of 2 gangs. Guess I need to have a subdivision of the project called Goats for Gangs or something of the sort :). There are 26 young men from Merger in what we would call gangs, the call them a 'baz' (base). They say they aren't mean guys just a group of guys who wants to be together and have fun. To my knowledge they are not into guns but they do like to drink, smoke pot and some petty theft to pay for their habits.

Pastor Johny has broken ground with them by having them to Christmas dinner for the past 2 years, now they don't harass the church services. They always were bugging me saying I do everything for the kids and nothing for them. The past couple of months I have given them some young male goats to look after but they want their own goats and have agreed to attend classes on goat care, so here we go.

I had them fill out a questionaire about themselves. Some have only gone as far as 3rd grade and one has done all but the last year of high school. Most have kids. They are older than I thought 20-40.

I don't know if they will really follow the goat project rules or advance with it but even one does... Mostly they just want respect and a chance to advance. The goal is and isn't a goat. They need to know they can do for themselves and they have value. Me giving up my Sunday afternoons for them is a start and them learning something continues it. I am working on lining up some speakers for them - people who have made it "out of the hole" and done something with their lives.

They want to learn english and how to drive, both on Pastor Johny's vision list. Pray for a way for them to become a reality!

I really wondered if they would show up and over half of them did. Over an hour late but they came and listened and asked questions. That is an amazing accomplishment in itself but what is more amazing to me is a conversation that occured after the meeting. A community member came up and said Dr Kelly these guys are too big for a goat, it really won't mean anything to them because their needs are greater than what one goat can provide. He said what they need is a way to make money now. I didn't disagree and told him aobut wanting to teach values, safe sex, money management and more. He said that's great and how about if I teach them about electrical wiring. They could do your place and if someone builds a bedroom or something the could put lights in. YES, YES, YES!!!

Already someone else in the community is willing to invest in them. It is just taking that first step!! I can't wait to see where God leads us! I am totally blown away.
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