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Robert asked if he would be able to speak at a dinner or some other event where he could share what his mentor had meant in his life. I told him about the upcoming auction on November 14th, and asked what he would like to share. This is what he said: When I was initially matched, my Father was in jail for abusing my sisters. My Mother was struggling to figure out her own perceived needs while trying to raise three children. Drugs and men moved freely into and out of our apartment. Bob, my Youth Mentoring mentor was my only constant--the only person I could really depend on. It was Bob who taught me how to ride a bike, and later how to drive a car. When I was old enough to leave on my own, it was Bob who showed me how to plan for, and get my first apartment and how to figure out my finances and budget and support myself. The most significant thing, it was Bob who shared the beauty of the Gospel and also prayed a blessing over me and my beautiful Christian wife when we got married. It was Bob who gave me advice on how to be a Dad--the type of Dad God wanted me to be. I never imagined I would own my own home, but now I own my own house and have my own business. My wife and I have two children. In the last twenty-two years there has not been a period of time longer than two weeks when I did not speak to Bob. Now my friends call me for parenting advice, and I tell them what Bob taught me." As he paused, I thought about the fact that this man now has a three year old and a six year old childliving in a safe healthy home. Finally I said, Robert, your young ones are really what this ministry is all about. He asked me , why. I told him that the sort of abuse that he and his sisters experienced in childhood is usually passed on from generation to generation. The fact that his children have never been exposed to this trauma is testimony that God has put an end to it in his generation. I could hear the feeling in his voice as he said this. John, what you say is so real. So much bad has taken place in my family and I have changed so much that I wanted to change my name. I did not want to have any part of my family name. Now I am glad I did not, but I understand what you are saying about multi-generational sin. I asked Robert what sort of business he owns. He said, I install fire sprinkler and alarm systems. I told him that I had requested bids for such systems to be installed in our new ministry facility. Would you like to submit a bid? I asked him. Robert said that he would; so, I emailed the blueprints to him. He called back to say he would not be bidding on the job because he would like to do the job--free of charge. I said, Robert, I really value your loving gift, but I do not want you to get hurt by being so generous, particularly at such a stressful financial time. Robert replied, I have installed a couple churches in my community already for free. It never hurts me. I always end up ahead, and I would like to give to Youth Mentoring. Is not Gods care of us, His children, astonishing. Whenever I begin to overlook why we work on this mission field . . . whenever bills, the building or broken families pierce the peace in serving Him, He sends people like Robert to my side with a fantastic, heavenly reminder of just how great, and loving, a God we have. It happens all the time. I pray that someday, reality will penetrate my mind and I will learn to trust God and doubt my fears instead of trusting my fears and abandoning God. John M. Cragg Executive Director Long Island Youth Mentoring