So Virginia is doing the amazing stuff Virginia does ministering at Pearl Lane, and she learns that one of the kids in the after-school program who longs to play music can’t because he can’t find a trombone. Now a trombone may seem like just a oddly shaped piece of metal, but in reality it (and music) are one of our hopes for keeping this particular young man out of gangs at a crucial time in his life. So Virginia asked for help, and we asked for help. Low and behold we found six! Who would have thought that there were so many trombones out there?
What was neat was how people used their own networks to find them. One that was particularly meaningful was a personal instrument of someone in the church. It had been given to him as a gift because years before he had to sell his to pay some bills (if I’m remembering the story correctly).
Anyway, I took ttwo of the trombones to Pearl Lane yesterday when I went to the after-school program. Virginia told me that the young man was actually at home because his immunizations weren’t up to date and he wasn’t allowed back in school until they were. She asked me if I wanted to take them. So I did.
I have to confess that I’d been to this kid’s house a couple of times, but I got turned around and knocked on some wrong doors before I got it right. You get interesting looks when someone opens the door to a geeky looking gringo carrying two trombone cases around and sheepishly asking for someone who they know isn’t there because they got the wrong apartment but doesn’t know how to say “my bad” in Spanish and so asks for a name to cover up. Anyway, I did a few back-and-forths but eventually got it right.
There he was, a 12 year old watching his two little sisters. He smiled when he saw me, and looked a little nervous at what I was carrying. I told him I had heard that he needed a trombone, and that I had asked around and that the church had found a couple. Would he like to choose one?
He gave a cautious yes, and asked to see them. He took them out. Cleaned the mouth pieces and assembled the instrument. He did a few notes. When he opened the one that had been a gift his eyes got big. It was shiny gold in a red velvet case. He told me what kind it was by looking at it (I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a classic or classical trombone). He knew which one he wanted. When I said OK he broke out in the biggest grin. He started talking fast about a book he has, and then he put his head back and his arms up in a gesture of pure joy. He was so happy.
We talked about him giving a recital some time.
He thanked me. I told him it was our pleasure to bless him, and encouraged him to pray and give thanks to the Father, because the only reason we knew about it was because of God directing Ms. Virginia and Ms. Sandee to the ministry center, and that someone was willing to give it to him because of what Jesus had done in their heart.
He clasped his hands in front of him, gently told his little sisters to shut their eyes, and then prayed a beauthful prayer of thanksgiving.
As I walked back to the ministry center, past all the young men on their cell phones and cool cars, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how absurd it all was. Not the blessing. That was totally cool. But the fact that it was a trombone. A trombone vs. gangs! I’m still laughing about it. But if the Lord could use one smooth stone and a teenager to kill a giant, I know he can use a twisted piece of metal to protect another. Let’s keep praying that this one won’t go to the streets.
