Mario Castillo

mario_christmasMario Castillo was the oldest guy that I took care of back in 2004 when I was living at Casa Shalom, and at the end of the year both he and another guy named Edwin graduated from high school.  In 2005 I returned to school at Georgia Tech for my masters degree, and he moved from the home to live in Guatemala City to work.

The following Christmas I was able to spend my semester break with the kids, and Mario came to stay with us each time he got a break from work.  I distinctly remember our conversation together about how the first year was for him away from the home.  He shared about the confusion about what to do in life, the difficulty in adjusting to a very different lifestyle, and the incredible loneliness he felt living away from the home.

It was this conversation that really made a lasting impression on me about the great need to help these guys adjust to life outside of the home.  Praise God that Mario’s still doing well!  But I want to take these lessons learned with Mario and help some of the other guys who are now getting to the point of moving on.

I distinctly remember how much I missed my parents and family during that Christmas visit, but on the other hand, it meant so much to Mario and the other kids to have me with them during the break.  I often take for granted the incredible blessing that so many of us have of a great family to support me and help me. I want to do that for these guys!

Mario is the guy in the middle of the other kids in this picture from that Christmas morning.  Please keep guys like this in your prayers!