The Family Connection

My last night in Peru, I was having a family reunion before I returned to the US. We were all talking when Gregorio, a guy who currently lives in the streets, rang the bell.

We have seen Gregorio in both good and bad times. He is a very good hip hop dancer, so he has performed for us countless times. He used to live in a house with other guys that were around his age. This group worked in the morning and went to school in the afternoon. The other people living in the area did not like having a group of teenagers that had previously lived in the streets as neighbors, so they gathered signatures to close the house. Gregorio did not have any other place to go, so he ended up back in the streets.

I do not recall seeing Gregorio in such bad shape as I saw him that night. After taking a shower and getting clean clothes, he joined us for dinner. As the good friend that he is, he was involved in the conversation and we shared some laughs. In the quiet moments, we all could hear his quiet crying and could tell that he was trying to hide his tears.

Gregorio was desperate for affection. He had just had a nasty fight to protect himself and his friend from people who wanted to enslave them. Traffickers target people that are easy to convince that slavery is their only fate. So Gregorio had to visit us to remember that there is a family that will always receive him with tenderness.

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Irvin Santana
Posts: 2

Gregorio
Reply #2 on : Sun September 28, 2008, 16:38:28

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How is Gregorio today? Did anyone assist him get off the street? Where is Gregorio and his friend today? His plight is horrific. It is wonderful to know he has friends such as yourselves. You all are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. This story will also be passed on so that others may know the plight of the poor and enslaved within Peru. God Bless.

Brett
Posts: 2

Re:
Reply #1 on : Sat July 26, 2008, 13:03:48

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That’s pretty intense, Kique. Thanks for sharing.