At what point do you stop helping…

You may remember the sad tales of Daniel and his brothers. We went to see them last Monday to bring them food.  Four of the 5 windows in their house where broken or gone. The holes were covered in plastic bags and tape. The stove in the kitchen was gone, but the permanently fixed on was still in the only other room of the house.  I asked why they didn’t call us…”I was embarrassed”…..”That embarrassment keep you warm at night?”  The oldest brother, Fernando, Told us that his mother had been very angry and was throwing rocks at Daniel and that’s how all the windows got broken. Later, the middle brother, Adrian came home and started to tell a different story until his brother stopped him. We never got to hear that story.  We were told their mother burned blankets, pillows, and clothes in the back yard. Their mother had been home for  a few days with the boyfriend and they trashed the place, sold stuff.   We saw evidence of this.  But I had been told stories before that Fernando was the one to see everything in the house. We know the truth is some where out there, but we’re just not sure what it is.

We were able to get Fernando a job and he today was the starting day. But he slept through his alarm and missed his ride. No do overs. One of the crew members actually lives across the street and shared with the boss that the family doesn’t work, they just wait for hand outs. And then they sell what they can.

Their father is dead 5 years now, their mother is gone–living with another man and has a new baby. I had started to arrange with members of our church a work day.  We would go to this house, fix/replace the windows, clean up the yard, plow the field and plant, give the place a good clean.  But now, I don’t know if we should. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but at what point do we stop and say “no more.”  Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians…if you don’t work, you don’t eat. There is a difference between unwilling and unable.  With these boys I see unwilling, but able–Daniel being the exception…bless his heart, he is special and not capable of doing much on his own. He’s going to follow his brothers.

We have offered to take the two younger boys to camp.  But should we do more?  Now, I’d really like honest answers from you all. I just don’t know what to do with these boys anymore. So I’m looking to you, our sponsors and supports for an outside opinion.