Street Kids Direct

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.(Matthew 25: 40)

Abandoned

On Good Friday the Solemn Liturgy at 12 noon preceded "Two Hours at the Cross" when our preacher was Jackie Simmons who chose Abandoned as the title for her addresses. Jackie took some of Christ's Last Words from the Cross, linking them with horrifying, brutal scenes in our contemporary world, especially the desolation and suffering of street children in Guatemala with whom she has recently been working. "I only wanted to be a child but they wouldn't let me" is the inscription on the grave of Nahaman, a 14 year-old street boy who was kicked to death by police in Guatemala City in 1990. The death of Nahaman was publicised around the world and the BBC produced a harrowing documentary about the plight of the street children of Guatemala City. Duncan Dyason saw this documentary and one year later flew out to Guatemala and began to help the children living on the streets. He now runs a small UK charity called Street Kids Direct which assists with those already assimilated into the horrors of "street existence" and in identifying those "high risk" children living in abject poverty and often cruel abusive situations.

Jackie shared her personal experiences with us, emphasising the utter degradation of young human beings who are also made in God's image just as we are. However, she said that it is a great joy to spend time with the children who have come from the streets, been through the process of rehabilitation and are now enjoying life in a children's home.

(The Bible quote at the top of this article is one used in Jackie's address)