The sounds of screaming and glass smashing, jolts me out of the bed time story I am reading Aiden. I go outside just as another bottle smashes at my door showering me in glass. Watching through one of many spaces in our wall I see a long standing neighborhood feud has erupted again. Three weeks ago there were guns fired and knives drawn, but this time just glass bottles and knives with thankfully no guns in sight. Three little 4 year old kids, wander into the fray as if it is the most normal thing ever.

Eventually four armed policeman arrive and try and calm things down. Sadly they are open to help the highest bidder. They take 15 neighbours off to the police station, some voluntarily others by force.  All a bit shaken I try to be of some comfort to the little kids who have been left behind while the parents go to the police station. They are just relived it is not them being beaten up for a change.

Growing up with this type of violence as normal is a disturbing view of what their future holds. Jesus says” Let the children come to me for the Kingdom of God is theirs”. I so desperately want to make that happen – yet feel so powerless. How can these little ones come to God and experience his kingdom when life is just full of violence and fear? 

The next morning as these little kids straggled into our school, bleary eyed after the late night dramas, I felt so desperate to find a way to bring them into Gods kingdom. There are so many little boys that no one wants, or seems to care for. It is no wonder there are so many disenfranchised young men. When 2 and 3 year olds are left to wander around all on their own, unfed, barely clothed and starving of love and affection what else can we expect of them as adults.

As I sit and write this tonight I check on 67 kids enjoying the space at the community centre. Almost all of them are young boys – the lost boys of Klong Toey. I sense God encouraging me as I see the smiles and the fun, as some play soccer, others learn guitar, Gorn and his little friends sit watching Power Rangers on TV, and another group swarm over the playground like little ants at a picnic. Barely an adult in sight and it is 7pm. As I watch, I sense I am standing in a place of hope in the midst of despair, a free space outside of the narrow, crowded, angry lanes where our houses sit packed together like sardines. God is here, He does care and He is showing us more and more ways to lead the little ones to Him. We can be here for them, modeling an alternative, broadening their horizons showing them a life beyond the invisible walls of the slum. Could these be the future leaders of God’s movement in this neighborhood? I even dare to dream that maybe we can break the cycle of violence and hate, one boy at a time. Our task as Christians here is to be the hands and feet of Christ and walk with these kids into a brighter future that only Gods love can offer them.

Arriving back to this immense challenge I feel an overwhelming joy. Yet in my spirit I know it will be a long hard road full of tears speckled with laughter, but an absolute privilege and real buzz!!

Anji Barker

Aiden and his neighbourhood friends from Klong Toey