One Sabbath afternoon about a year and a half ago, my parents and I decided to walk to the market area to search for alcoholics to befriend. We were wanting to start an alcoholic ministry, and this seemed like a good place to start.
When we reached the market, we recognized an alcoholic sitting on the raised sidewalk outside of a corner store. We had seen him often in this section of town, usually wearing a cap and rubber boots and carrying a sack of his belongings.
My mom began talking to him. He quoted several passages from the Bible and told us that he had been baptized into the Adventist Church a few years before. We became friends with Alcides that day.
A few months later, while we were talking with Alcides and Amilkar (another alcoholic), Amilkar asked us to take him to the rehab center in Matiguas. He was tired of his alcoholism and he wanted to change. My dad told me to ask Alcides if he would like to go too. I was sure that Alcides would say no. He had been drinking daily for the past 3 years. He didn’t show much interest in giving up liquor, and he had already been to rehab several times.
At my dad’s insistence, I asked Alcides anyway. To my surprise, he agreed. We told the two men to meet us at the bus station on Thursday at 9 a.m. Several times during the week we reminded them.
That Thursday morning, we passed by Amilkar's house on the way to the bus station. He was ready with a backpack. Alcides, though, was nowhere to be found.
It was now almost 9 o'clock. It appeared that Alcides had changed his mind. But I didn’t want to give up so easily. I had been shocked when he agreed to go, and now I was determined to take advantage of the opportunity. We asked around until a man selling sorbets told us that he had seen Alcides near the gas station.
Now it was past 9 o’clock. We were late, but my dad gave me 10 more minutes to search for Alcides while he stayed with Amilkar at the bus station. I ran down the road in the direction of the gas station, hoping and praying that I’d find Alcides within five minutes when I’d have to start back. About half way there, I saw Alcides. I could tell he didn’t really want to come, but he didn’t refuse.
That was October 4, 2018. It has now been one full year. Thanks to God, Alcides has not returned to the street or to alcohol. He is currently working on a beautiful farm, raising chickens and watching over the property. His birthday was on Sunday. I didn’t know if he’d be home, but I bought him a cake and started walking toward his house. It was 9 o’clock. I was heading in the direction of the gas station.
Much like that Thursday morning one year ago.
