Sadly, Adios to Alberto

Alberto studying with Profe Rey last March

This entry has been difficult for me to write for a number of reasons.

After ten months of living with us, Alberto has decided he did not want to study any more.  It was too "boring" in his words.  He did not seem to understand that to receive a diploma, he had to learn more than basic reading and math.  He also had great difficulty accepting correction, and would become easily frustrated if he did not get everything correct the first time.  While this is not unusual for a Guatemalan male, it was very disappointing since he had so fervently wanted an education.  His desire to go to school was the reason he came to Casa de Esperanza last November.  He is an adult, however, and we needed to respect his decision, no matter how much we disagreed with it.

This has been very frustrating for me, and even more so for Dick, since he was the one who asked us to take Alberto so he could get an education.  Cesar, who had been the person who Alberto had first asked about coming to Antigua to study, somehow felt like he had made a error in judgment by facilitating Alberto's move. We had to reassure him that we all did what we believed God wanted us to do at the time.  This was a good lesson for all our guys, and for Dick and me, too, that obedience does not guarantee success, at least not by our standards.  I trust, though, that God had a plan and a purpose for Alberto living with us that we might never understand.

We all spent much time talking with him, to no avail.  His family in Peten was in full agreement with his decision, saying if he was not interested, there was no point in working so hard.  Unfortunately, this is the case with many young people with handicaps in this country.  If they are not neglected or rejected by their families, they are doted upon, and no real expectations ever put on them.

After much discussion with trusted advisers in Guatemala, we gave Alberto an ultimatum. . .since our house is to enable disabled individuals to better their lives through education and employment, if he did not continue his education he would need to return to his family.  (Employment was not an option for him since he did not have even an elementary diploma and no special skills which would enable him to find an employer who would take a chance on him.  I did tell him and his companion-caregiver that if he was actively looking for work in the community, we would allow him to stay with us.  He made no effort to do so.)

Celebrating Alberto's 27th birthday in August

Please know how difficult this decision was to make.  In the almost one year Alberto was with us, he did become family to us.  As is often the  case with our own children, sometimes "tough love" is necessary, and following through, though difficult, was important not only for Alberto, but also for the other residents of our home.  Therefore, September 18, Alberto's brother-in-law came to get him and he returned to his family in Peten.  

It is my prayer that the time he spent with us helped him move closer to Jesus, and that, in years to come, he may have an opportunity to apply what he learned living in Casa de Esperanza.