I get to be a hero

When working with the children of the homes, we are reminded that we need to help them to stop looking in the rear view mirror and to look ahead to a point where they can be heroes and most importantly, believe it.

It is a challenge to keep an eye on the mission of what we are trying to do, year in and year out. When the years go by and the children are getting older and though they go out into the “real world” there are more then, to look after. The job is never done.

A little boy introduced to you in Sendai who wasn’t even from Japan and living in the home because his parents quit him and went back home leaving him behind. When introduced he just looks away. What else can you do when even your own parents aren’t interested?

A little girl in Iwate-ken, “When are you coming back?” Us: “ We promise we will be back” Her: “That is what they all say”"

The 3 year old boy who was moved from the baby home where the kids are raised from hospital in case their mother gave birth while in prison and then from the hospital they are cared for until 2 and transferred to a more permanent home. But he hangs on to the leg of his new teacher even if she gets up to walk across the room like he is on a ship weathering a bad storm and her leg is the only thing left he has to hang on to and he will not let go.

The teen who wanted a job, got a job interview, got the job and then never showed up for the first day of training. No one can find him. Apologizing for all the parties who had come together to make it happen. Writing him the letter so that he knows that no matter what, he is part of the team and we are still going to support him and his younger brother. That when he expresses that he wants something he is, in fact, not alone and people are moving all around him in a chorus to help him with what he desires. That he should think about talking to us more before he decides not to show up so we can talk it out. You then meet him and you can see in his eyes the switch of caring has already been switched off when he bows and apologizes to you.

The teen whose father passed when he was 8 and his younger brother 4 and the mom quits them and starts a new life somewhere else without them. You meet with him weekly because he wants to go to university and when it all gets to be a bit much, he goes missing. By the time he gets home you ask that they let you know because he is now like a son.

He is sitting with you when you explain to someone who asks, that the plan is to stick with him until he graduates high school, if he wants to go to university, we will support him, if he doesn’t we support that decision too and will help him find a job but we are sticking with him for the long run. You glance over and he is smiling as if you are talking about someone else and he cannot believe you mean him.

You take them to get suits and ties and shirts because literally no one else thought to do that.

You explain to them in letters that you may not be around for their entire life but for the rest of your life you are available to them 24/7.

You drive them to the job interviews and explain that they can do anything if they put their mind to it.

You glimpse in the rear view mirror when changing lanes to a better life but you keep your eye on the road and you too can be a hero.