I wrote a blog recently about seeing fruit from our World Race ministry in Candelaria. This is another testimony that was sparked from that month.
“What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to do with your life?” I remember asking Anthony that question last year. He stared at me blankly. He had never even considered the question.
At that time Anthony was a 13 year old drop-out. His family was in financial trouble so Anthony had begun, at his mother’s request, working a dangerous and illegal “job” stealing metal from the nearby sugar cane fields. This “job” could get him shot or put in prison. He was throwing away his future, but it was the only way he knew to keep his family from losing their home. It broke my heart to see someone so young carrying so much responsibility and to discover that he had never been taught to dream for his future.
As my World Race team & Tommy and Linda Gable (founders of New Song Mission) learned more of Anthony’s story, we knew we had to help give him hope for the future. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” If the Church is following in His footsteps, then we are also bringing hope-filled futures to others.
Using our team’s tithe money, Tommy and Linda started a work-to-school program for Anthony and others like
him. As a part of this program, the teens are given a job on New Song’s property, are mentored by an adult who can teach them job skills and work ethic, and they receive sponsorship to return to school.
him. As a part of this program, the teens are given a job on New Song’s property, are mentored by an adult who can teach them job skills and work ethic, and they receive sponsorship to return to school.
This week was Anthony’s 15th birthday. As he celebrates this new year of his life, he is days away from completing his first year back in school. He is now working making handicrafts (bracelets and hammocks). The bracelets pictured to the right are some that Anthony has made.
I saw Anthony in September during my family’s fall trip to Candelaria. He 
came to the church one evening to show me the first hammock that he had made all my himself. He was beaming as he showed me his work and explained how he had made it. For the first time, I saw that Anthony was really proud of the work he is doing. He is finding hope and beginning to dream for his future.
came to the church one evening to show me the first hammock that he had made all my himself. He was beaming as he showed me his work and explained how he had made it. For the first time, I saw that Anthony was really proud of the work he is doing. He is finding hope and beginning to dream for his future. I have been quoting Jeremiah 29:11 to Anthony for over a year now constantly telling him that God has plans for his life. I think that Anthony is finally beginning to believe that truth for himself.
i want a hammock made by anthony! how do i get one?!?!? maybe i place a special order and tommy and linda can bring it to boone next time they’re here…hmmm…. 🙂
Any chance we can we order bracelets?? 🙂
Hey I heard that you are going back to Candelaria. We were just there last month…I am on the World Race right now. Your story about Anthony gave me the chills and I am very excited for you to return. One of the girls in our group also got close to him during that time and to see the fruits of how God is using all of us in his life is wonderful. He has a future!