As I was walking out, I met Manak a boy who previously ran away from the streetkids rehabilitation shelter. This little child comes from a very sad background, with his mother addicted to drugs and his father passed away just 2 years back. As a result, Manak's behaviour got worse and he got really messed up in drugs and soon was caught stealing. We took the child in against the advise of the villagers. They told me "You really want this kid ? He is notorious for stealing and he is hopeless !"
But we knew that this boy just needed someone to believe in him. So we took him in. And before long, he ran away. Came back regretful. We took him in. And he ran away again !
This went on not once but 4 times !
Just this year, he was sent to a monastry, or a boy's home. But even under these conditions, he managed to get himself kicked out for smoking. This time he's back in the village again and he thought about us. The silly people who keep giving chances to people like him
Not once but 4 times. He caused so much grief to both the staff as well as his sponsor. Finally when the mother could not manage him anymore, the family sent him to a monetary to continue his studies. But he was kicked out when he was caught smoking.
Though I reconised the child and wanted to give that child a hug. But I held back, just to test if the child is truely sincere about coming back. So i told him to come back 2 hours later after my personal retreat. He nodded.
While driving to my retreat spot, I was overtaken by thoughts of how to handle manak without compromising the discipline at the STREETKIDS home. On one hand I wanted to give him a chance, but yet, if i were to take him in, i would set a very very bad precedance and example for the rest of the kids at the shelter. The kids will just loose respect for the system and run away knowing that they can always come back later !
I put that all aside and took the time to pray and read a book. And I was reminded that we too, have always taken God for granted, but He has never given up on us. Why should we go by another yardstick ?
The day was perfect. It was a little drizzly but it brought in the better aspect of the weather- the cool 23 deg mountain air ! It was almost magical to be sipping a cup of coffee while enjoying the majestic mountain range.
After 2 hours, I drove back into the village and soon enough Manak arrived.
He's a hardened child who will never ask for help. Coming to the centre itself was already a humbling thing for him. We tried to meet him halfway.
His head was bowed for the whole session and terribly quiet. So i pressed further "Manak why are you here ?"
After moments of silence he replied "I thought of you and puu" It was a difficult moment for him and we knew it. What he was saying was that he had no where else to turn to.
So finally he asked if we would consider bringing him to Chiang Mai to study. Deep inside we wanted to help, but sending a child to school in Chiang Mai is really not cheap and as of right now, we have to fork out an additional 1000bht per child, per month above the sponsorship fees. And moreover, sending him to the chiang mai home and going to study will just send a very wrong signal to the rest of the kids going through rehab.
I decided to strike a balance between helping him and maintaining discipline. I decided that I will offer this child to go to Chiang Mai for home schooling and vocational training. Only when he has proven himself to be committed to change, will we enroll him in the next school term in 2012.
I had to make sure that he was really serious so I told the child to prepare 400bht for his return bus fare. Its 2 days of wages. Something that if he was really serious about, he will be able to obtain and not steal to get it. This 400bht will be kept by us and should he fail the probation for any reason, we'll give him this 400bht to take a bus fare back to the village.
He knew we were serious and I told the boy that if he is ready to start anew, come on saturday with his clothes and the money. We'll take care of the rest. He nodded and bid farewell.
But knowing manak for the last 3 years, we know its a 50-50 case. He may or may not turn up. But if he is serious enough about starting anew, he will. If not we'll just be praying for him. So lets see how things turn out on Saturday.
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