some faces....

this is Henry, we met him in Juvenile Hall. He did really good in our weekly outreach, and when he was released called right away...actually it was under poor circumstances. Rival gangs were trying to kill him, missed him, but hit the two people he was standing with. So he went into hiding, has been ever since. That was in September. Henry wants to go into the Army, get his eligibility for GI Bill so he can go to culinary school. Henry has plans now, when we first met him, he was in survival mode like the rest. He has been working at night and then he lays low, he can't go to his mom's house at all, it would jeopardize the whole family. The army says Henry has to cover the gang tattoo on his arm before he will be accepted, that is the only thing holding him back. Henry got this tattoo when he was 11 years old! It goes from the elbow to the shoulder and would cost over $600 to cover up! So Henry has been very discouraged, trying to pay for a car to go to work, insurance (to be legal, yippee) and pay for this tattoo. Well, the students here at the YWAM campus took an offering and paid for his tattoo, so Henry could move forward, because the Army has given him a deadline. This really got Henry's attention, that total strangers would do this for him has blown his mind! Henry said " I never thought I would get out of my gang at such a young age, but it is happening, I can't believe it." Henry is 18 years old, has his life ahead of him and he knows he has God to thank for this second chance!

This is angel..he's 12 years old and is on the Freedom Project, our team first started working with him at Jeopeardy, a gang intervention program. Angel comes from a broken home (everyones story here) has gotten into trouble and is on probation, but after being on the team since last spring and traveling all the way up to Canada this past summer with us, he has been doing better. Angel loves to go to church when he can get there, likes to dance, and hang out with the Freedom Project. They are a strong, positive influence on him and his family. His attendance has not been consistent and that makes it hard, so pray that he will be able to get here each week and we will be able to pick him up on Sundays for church!