He was squatted in front of the trash receptacle for a long time.  Was he eating?  When he finally stood he walked to the next trash receptacle.  I watched him crisscross the street going through each residential trash container looking for what?  Once in a while he would pull something out of the garbage and stuff it in the long plastic bag he carries.   Joko is helping his mother by taking things “not in use” from our trash.  I’ve seen him doing his rounds at 6:30 AM.  He gets out of school at 11:00 A.M. then works his route but often misses school.  He says he is 13 years old, the same age as my grandson.   I couldn’t talk to him because of my language limitations so I usually just said hi when I saw him.  A few weeks ago he was drenched and huddled across the street under a tree.  He got caught in a sudden downpour He came running when I motioned for him to come in out of the rain.  He visits often now to study reading and writing in bahasa Indonesian and English.  An Indonesian friend took me to meet his mother to ask her permission to help him with his schoolwork.  How does she do it?  How does she pay rent and provide for her family?   Now Joko comes to study after he has completed his rounds.  His friends came tonight in the pouring rain.  He wasn’t with them.  His mom has been sick.  Since our visit to his home when he arrives at my home he is washed, wears clean clothes and his school backpack.  Dear God, please be husband to this mother and Father to these children.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are children…”  Psalm 127.5