Lester's Story

After being abandoned by his parents, 9-year-old Lester arrived at a Food For The Poor-supported boys home in Guatemala.

One day, his mother and stepfather told him they wanted to take him for a walk. They drove to the outskirts of the city and parked the car. They then sent Lester to a nearby store to buy some snacks.

When the boy emerged from the store, the car and his parents were gone. Lester walked for hours, trying to find his way home. Eventually he found a police officer and told him what had happened. The officer then brought Lester to the boys home where he currently lives.

Lester’s parents were eventually identified and summoned to court. When Lester saw them, he pulled away from them. During the court proceedings it was discovered that Lester had been abused at home. The boy told the court that his parents had kept him tied up in a dark room. They would occasionally throw him scraps of bread. There were also other signs of physical abuse.

One of the nuns who now cares for Lester described his behavior during his first few weeks in the home: when served a meal, Lester would eat it extremely quickly, as if it might be taken away from him at any moment. He would also pace back and forth, possibly resulting from being locked in a small dark room.

After two years of living in a caring, nurturing environment, Lester has adjusted well to life in the Food For The Poor-supported boys home. He likes to play soccer and other sports with the other children in the home. His favorite class in school is physical education, and he’s quick to point out that his least favorite class is math.

Lester likes going to church, and he especially likes singing the hymns. “I feel better after church,” he told us. Lester continues, “I believe heaven is pretty, and God is really big and surrounded by angels.”

For precious children like Lester, the homes supported by Food For The Poor offer refuge, safety and security.  Your gifts to help support needy children are not only lifesaving; they also give young ones hope for a better, brighter future. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

Innocent children like Lester need the love and support of people like you to sustain their fragile lives. Please consider becoming a member of Food For The Poor's Child of the Month Club by reaching out to help a child in desperate need.

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