Ten Years

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Today is my tenth anniversary in Honduras…ten years exactly from the day I packed a few things in a couple of suitcases and left my life in the United States behind.

I moved to Honduras in August of 1998 to start an educational program for street kids in Casa Alianza’s crisis center. I had worked with Casa Alianza (Covenant House) for a few months in 1993 as a senior in Wheaton College’s HNGR program. When I met my first street kid through their programs back then, I knew that this would be my life’s work.

A little over two months after moving to Honduras permanently in 1998, though, hurricane Mitch swept through Central America, creating massive destruction and loss of life. The bridges, homes and businesses of Tegucigalpa seemed to fold before the flood waters as if they were made of matchsticks. You couldn’t be in Honduras without trying to do something—anything--to help those who had become damnificados, homeless victims of the hurricane.

Villa Linda Miller wasn’t my idea. In fact, it almost seems like God’s idea of a practical joke. Let’s take this green, 26 year-old, recently-arrived boy, whose never laid one block on top of another or mixed a batch of cement or done anything even remotely like community organizing, and let’s use him to build a new community of 165 homes. Ha ha! On second thought, I’m pretty sure that God used someone as inexperienced as me to build Villa Linda Miller in order that all witnesses to the event would be ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that it was God who was in control and not man. Isn’t that how He always works, after all???

As I began to meet daily with the hurricane victims, generous people from all over the world began to donate to us. In the beginning, it was just simple things…funds from my home church, Central Presbyterian in St. Louis, to by mattresses and gas stoves for families that were crammed onto the floors of churches and schools. But by February of 1999, we were able to purchase the beautiful rolling land that would become Villa Linda Miller. Through grit, determination and unity, the families of Villa Linda Miller raised their own community out of land that used to be an arid and over-grazed cow pasture. Today, they have a beautiful school for their children to study in, a clinic to get well in, and a church to worship in. The kids that have the run of the community are too young to even remember hurricane Mitch; but many of the adults say that it was the best thing to ever happen to them because it brought them to a beautiful new place.

During the busy year of planning Villa Linda Miller in 1999, God started to disquiet my heart again. After hurricane Mitch, the problem of street kids in Tegucigalpa only increased, as more children were driven into poverty by the tragedy. But after all that God was doing through Villa Linda Miller, my perspective on the work had changed. Yes, working with street kids must involve feeding and clothing them, educating them and helping them to detox from their addictions to yellow glue. But first and foremost, it must be about reintroducing them to God…the One who created their inmost beings, but had since been displaced in their lives by the bondage of a broken world. If God can take a tragedy like hurricane Mitch and make a beautiful thing like Villa Linda Miller, surely he can take the violent and tragic young lives of these boys and turn them into something beautiful—something that glorifies Him—as well? With that, the Micah Project was born.

When we opened our group home in January of 2000, I had no idea what was in store for me. Walking alongside young men as they struggle to come out of addiction and the incredible evil that they encounter on the streets is a terrifying and yet glorious experience. So often, throughout the years of Micah, we have asked ourselves-- is this really possible? Can these kids really be transformed?—only to have God move again and again in their hearts to bring that transformation. So often, their lives seem to be on the brink of utter chaos…only to be reigned back in again by God’s loving hand. Back in 1999, did I think it was possible that these lost little boys would one day graduate from college and become leaders in Honduras? Actually, after seeing all that God had done for Villa Linda Miller, I was convinced that He could do anything. Even so, I am constantly surprised by the way those same guys are becoming confident, well-spoken, purposeful and compassionate men of God.

2008 has been a different year for me. You’d think eight years of living in the Micah House would get routine, but God has a way of bringing a freshness to it year by year. In some ways, it has been a harder year, as some of the violence and addiction of the streets has once again invaded our home. But these very things have reminded me to open my eyes and see that this work, with these kids, is on the frontlines of the battle between good and evil. And—lest I forget---the Mighty Champion is fighting on our behalf!

Maybe it’s because this ten year marker has made me reflective, but I admit that, lately, I’ve been overtaken by overwhelming moments of gratitude that almost bring me to my knees. I told the guys at our Sunday evening worship time that I wouldn’t trade my life with anybody else’s. I’m thankful that God chose to use me in this work, when He certainly could have chosen someone smarter, better-trained, more organized, etc., etc., etc. I am thankful that He has given me a life where I get to see His mighty hand transform lives on a daily basis. I am even thankful that he has given me a ministry that often includes tears and sorrow and uncertainty, because these are the only things that make me remember to fly back to His arms and cling to Him for dear life.

If anything, large amounts of gratitude and contentment can lull us into neutral…to staying exactly where we are because it is such an awesome place to be. But I dream that one or two of our young men will take over the Micah Project and use all that God has taught them to keep transforming the next generation of Hondurans…and in the process, make me obsolete. But for now, every morning when I open my eyes, I thank Him for allowing me to do His work in Honduras for another day.

Gracias,

Michael Miller

Our own "extra mile"

If you have been keeping up with our blog, you know that Darin Swanson ran an ultramarathon in the end of July to help support the Micah Project. To read more about Darin's fifty mile adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail, click on his blog: http://runnerwhocodes.blogspot.com/. In support of Darin Swanson’s ultramarathon on behalf of the Micah Project, we decided to stage our own Micah run that same day, to at least feel a little of his pain!

On Saturday, July 26, seventeen of the guys and staff headed out to the mountainous road that leads to the colonial town of Valle de Angeles. Together we ran our own 6 mile run, with a lot of laughter, a faithful intern throwing us bags of water from the Micah van, a dramatic bicycle crash between running Maycol and a disgruntled bike rider (amazingly, no one was really hurt), and an overweight chocolate lab who only made it about a mile before climbing into the van. Mocha was the only who didn’t finish though, and we cheered the final participants across the finish line, everyone feeling the satisfaction of having faced a challenge and met it together (click on the pics above to see our not-so-ultra marathon above!

Thank you Darin, for not only running for us without even knowing us personally, but for encouraging us to run our own personal races in life with faithfulness and courage as well.

Sincerely,

Your friends from the Micah Project

The Prodigal

Many of you have faithfully followed the story of 16-yr-old Erick over the years and particularly through the struggles of the past twelve months… watching him change from an intuitive and insightful young boy, to an out-of-control addict destroying not only himself but those around him. The weeping of our hearts for Erick continued even as we rejoiced with many of the other Micah guys in their movement forward… and releasing Erick from Micah in January was one of the hardest things we have done. At the rate he was falling back then, it felt like we were allowing him to go to his death.

But… we serve a God of mercy and many chances, and a God who destroyed death and breaks chains through the blood of His Son… and a God who has brought Erick back! After nearly destroying himself and those around him in the first part of this year, he spent the past three months working and living with his sister in the remote mountains nearly seven hours from Tegucigalpa. When he came back to Tegucigalpa a few weeks ago, he told us he was ready to pursue long-term rehab. We could see that something was different; for the first time in a long time, he was clear-eyed and spoke with determination. As of today, he has now successfully completed the first three weeks in a six-month Christian rehabilitation center outside of the city! As we wrote about on May 14th, three of our other young men are currently there as well (Darwin Matute, Jerson, and Juan Carlos), getting the professional help that they have long needed, and they are all encouraging each other onward in this battle against addiction and bondage. I take a few of the guys out to the rehab facility every Sunday afternoon; we want to make sure that they stay connected to the Micah family and are cared for emotionally and spiritually through this journey.

If you go back to the blog entries from February, you will remember the amazing number of people around the world who joined us praying and fasting for Erick. In some ways we realize that while we asked for your fervent prayers for months on Erick’s behalf, we ourselves sometimes doubted that God would actually bring the change we so longed for… and we ask for forgiveness for that! Once again, He is doing above and beyond what we can imagine, in His own time… but the fight for Erick’s future is still just beginning, and the road will be long, so we beg once again for your continued prayers for this precious son of God.

Muchas gracias,

Rebecca Haver
Micah Project Director of Operations

Update on "Running the Extra Mile"

I wanted to let you know that an article was published in the Portland area "Tigard Times" about Darin Swanson's plan to run a fifty mile ultramarathon and to benefit the Micah Project in the process. The article is called "'It comes down to why not' Bull Mountain runner says about racing for a cause". The article's subtitle says "Swanson is running to benefit a nonprofit Christian organization and scholarship fund that helps boys in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, get off the streets and get into school." You can read the full article here. We will be praying for Darin's stamina on July 26 as he undertakes the Mt. Hood Pacific Crest Trail Ultramarathon.

Also, I've just put our new summer photo album on our www.micahcentral.org website. You can access it here. There are lots of great pictures!

Su hermano en Cristo,

Michael

Running the Extra Mile

I wanted to share an important link with you all: http://runnerwhocodes.blogspot.com/2008/07/micah-project.html. It is a blog by Darin Swanson, who is a friend of future Micah missionary Brian Wiggs in Tigard, Oregon. Darin will be running a 50 mile race on July 26 called the Mt. Hood Pacific Crest Trail Ultramarathon. As he explains in his blog, Darin will be taking pledges based on his time or his placement, and the funds raised will be donated to the Micah Project. What a creative (and painful!) way to raise funds for this ministry. We wish him very happy trails!

We thank Darin for using his talents to support this ministry!

Group visits and a letter from Erick

June is a busy month at the Micah Project. We have a couple of groups from the U.S. spend a week at a time with us to partner with us in our ministry here in Tegucigalpa. That was made more challenging this summer by the closure of Tegucigalpa’s airport after a plane accident on May 30. Our groups are now flying into San Pedro Sula, which is separated from Tegucigalpa by five hours of winding, mountainous roads.

Our first team to come through was from the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. This was their eighth year to bring an official group to the Micah Project. Normally, the group splits up, with half working to provide medical care and the other half providing VBS activities for the children.

This year was especially exciting. The FPC team usually sets up their clinic in the Villa Linda Miller community and uses it as their base of operations. This year, though, they took their talents directly to the people who needed it. On their first full day in town, both the outreach team and the medical team set up tables under the bridge in downtown Tegucigalpa where most of the street kids live. There, they worked with the street kids and adults for several hours, reaching out to some of the neediest people in Tegucigalpa. (See the second picture above, in which Joan and Meghan look at two very young kids from a homeless family). Then, a couple of days later, the group took their tables up into the city dump and provided medical care and children’s activities to the people who scavenge through the trash (see first picture).

I loved accompanying the team as they ministered in very difficult places last week. I think that, if Jesus came back to earth and decided to spend a day in Tegucigalpa, He, too, would spend it with the street kids and up in the city dump. He does not see the grimy faces or smell the unwashed bodies. What He sees are God’s children, waiting to be shown that they have a heavenly Father who loves them. It is such an honor that He allows us to do this work for Him until He comes back again.

I also wanted to share with you a letter that I received from Erick last week. Many of who have been praying for Erick since he began his downward spiral into drugs almost a year ago as a fifteen year old. It was heartbreaking to see this sensitive, intelligent and funny kid slowly destroy himself with drugs.

A couple of months ago, Erick moved out into the mountainous region of eastern Honduras to live with his sister in a last ditch attempt to get away from the temptations of drugs. Erick’s sister is building a mud brick house with her husband in the uncharted, trackless mountains of the Olancho region of Honduras. Because there is no electricity, Erick began going to bed with the rest of the household at 8:00 p.m., waking up at 5:00 a.m. with the sunrise to begin a hard day’s labor. Erick has been helping his brother-in-law build their adobe home, and also doing chores on his family’s ranch.

Erick’s mom went out to visit last week, and came back with this note from Erick:

Dear Michael,

With a lot of energy, I want to write to tell you that things are different with me now. I know that I failed everyone. I want you to know that I am sorry. Now, I want to change and enter rehab. I want to do this in order to thank you all for all that you have done for me, and to regain that happiness that I used to feel. Also, I want to learn how to help others who are struggling with drugs. I hope I can triumph. Say hi to everyone,

Erick

Above is the note that Erick sent to me followed by a picture that Erick’s mom took of him last week near his sister’s in-law’s ranch. I know that many of you prayed and prayed for him, and those prayers seemed to go unanswered. But God’s purposes are greater than our own; and it seems that He has been working in Erick’s heart all along.

We appreciate your continued prayers for Erick as he prepares to come back to Tegucigalpa to enter rehab. Pray for us this next week as well as we receive a team from Portland, Oregon led by Brian Wiggs.

Gracias,

Michael Miller

Update on Laje and Wilmer

Laje came by the Micah House tonight (see the post directly below this one to learn more about him). It was wonderful to see him! I had been in the States for almost two weeks and was out of contact with him. When I walked out of the Micah House to talk to him, I saw something on his face that I had never seen before: happiness. He began to talk excitedly about what God was doing in his life. He said I was right when I said that God was going to do something big in his life this month. He was so excited to tell me that he hadn't consumed any drug in 11 days...a record for him! I told him that each day was a victory that should be celebrated.

He told me that the police had taken him a few days before I went up to the States and held him for eight days on suspicions of gang activity. Throughout his time in jail, he was able to pray and keep his calm. Because of his demeanor, they let him out on condition that he not be caught again in gang activities. He has been reading the book that I gave him called "Emerging from the Darkness"and is through chapter 9. He said that he is really ready to grow spiritually. I told him that God is also ready to do great things in his life! He knows that it is not easy to change and that the old habits die hard. Even so, Laje is absolutey sure that it is God working in him that is keeping him from cosuming drugs and getting into further trouble.

There is so much going on in Laje's heart right now. It is easy to see that he desires to begin a new journey in his life. Pray that our future contacts with him would lead him in the right direction. Sometimes I feel scared that I don't have the right resources to help Laje give up his life as a hoodlum. Then I remember...I don't change anybody...I don't save anyone. It is God who saves, and it is his mighty hand that leads us to that point. Please continue to pray for Laje!

Also, fourteen year old Wilmer came by today for the first time in several weeks (see the picture above of his visit). You may remember from past posts that Wilmer had been escaping from the Micah House every two or three weeks to go back to the streets and the drugs. A couple of months ago, when he escaped yet again, we made the decision to not go after him to bring him back. We felt that he needed to show that he desired to be a part of the Micah Project.

Dan and our street team have talked with him several times since then, encouraging him to come back to the project through his own free will. During these months, Wilmer seemed to be splitting time between the streets and his mom's room in the market district. For whatever reason, he began to spend more and more time with his mom and less time on the streets.

Today, when he showed up with his younger brother Nelson, we got the impression that he had not been consuming yellow glue for some time. He was calm, exhibiting none of the frenetic energy that he had when he was struggling to overcome his glue addiction. He spent most of the day with us, playing with the other guys as if he had never left. In the evening, he and his brother went home, but they promised to come back tomorrow to spend the day with our mission team from Houston, which arrived this evening.

We're not sure what happens next with Wilmer. If he spends this week working with our missions team from Houston, it will help us to observe where he is at in terms of his addiction. It is possible that we might work out a plan in which he can spent part time at his home and part time with us. He was just learning the first few letters of the alphabet when he ran away; we would love to be able to restart his education once again.

Please pray for 27 year old Laje and 14 year old Wilmer. Both are at a crossroads, making decisions that could change the rest of their lives. Pray for wisdom on our part as well, that we could facilitate healing and growth in both of their lives.

Muchas gracias!

Michael