Oraciones
or, the most normal response
In an earlier post I mentioned that these young men arrive at the shelter wearing only the tattered clothes that they wore on their journey. Our organization gives them a new pair of basketball shorts, a t-shirt, underwear, socks and a pair of sandals to fill out their wardrobe. Additionally they are fed three square meals each day with snacks in between. They immediately start basic schooling and are given counsel. And extraordinary effort is made to re-unify them with their parents.
Contrast this with their sufferings on the journey north and the inhumane way they were treated by the coyotes, cartels, and climate. They are now in a place of blessing.
As such, many kneel beside their cots in prayer. Most pray before every meal without provocation from their adult leader. A reminder, these are boys - mostly between the ages of 12 and 17; and the most normal response imaginable for them is to pray.
On May 7 I had the privilege of being the temporary leader for Group P - Carlos, Henry, Jose, Oscar, Hugo, Edin, Walter, and Rudy. I went through the entire day with them - meal, school, soccer, rest. At meal time I noticed that 7 of the 8 prayed. And I'm not talking about "God-is-great-God-is-good-let-us-thank-Him-for-our-food-Amen" or the ever popular and brief, "Praise-the-Lord-praise-the-meat-Good-Lord-let-us-eat-Amen" prayer. Some of these prayers lasted up to five minutes. I asked Rudy, seated closest to me, the Spanish word for prayer - orar, oraciones - the most normal response to a God that blesses us beyond what we deserve.
Padre nuestro,
que estás en el cielo.
Santificado sea tu nombre.
Venga tu reino.
Hágase tu voluntad en la tierra como en el cielo.
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal.
Amén.
