Sometimes the deep hurts from their street experiences
Before sunrise Rick leads
an intense Bible study.
surface, says Audrey, recalling the story of ten-year-olds, Daniel and Dennis, who lived in the halfway house at Rick and Audrey’s home. The boys can count on Rick for fun and laughter, play-wrestling and tickling. They have rarely received attention from men, even their fathers, so the rough-housing any boy loves serves as a light-hearted and non-intimidating way for Rick to begin interacting with these boys.
Dennis happily entered into the teasing and tickling, but Daniel held back. When Audrey explained that Rick wouldn’t hurt him but was having fun, she realized that Daniel had been sexually molested on the streets. Many boys who have spent time on the streets become victims of older street boys and men who trade sex for the addictive glue that so many of the street boys sniff.
“Daniel began to understand that we loved him, so within a short time he joined in the ‘tickle game’ with Dennis and Rick, having realized that Rick’s touches were touches of love, not evil,” said Audrey. Innocence cannot be regained, but patient love and encouragement can build trust and foster God’s healing.
Rick always finds the time to play with the boys.
"Dennis happily entered into the teasing and tickling, but Daniel held back. When Audrey explained that Rick wouldn’t hurt him"
Daniel is now doing well, has developed a pastor’s heart and, at his young age, already desires to serve in ministry. Sadly, just a few months after coming from the streets into Rick and Audrey’s home, Daniel’s friend, Dennis, stepped on a stick and, although he received a tetanus shot, the serum apparently was not properly refrigerated and he died within that week. With tears in his eyes, Daniel shared at Dennis’ memorial service that he had encouraged Dennis to accept Christ and Dennis had assured him that he had.
