Noah is My Friend
The biblical story of Noah and the ark fascinates our imaginations. It basically revolves around a God-fearing family who lived in the middle of an evil society and eventually became a beacon of salvation in their troubled times. It is for this reason that I claim to be friends with a modern-day Noah and his wife.
William (Will) and Daiana (Dai) have been my friends for more than 10 years, although they are both almost 15 years younger than I. During this time, despite seeing them at their weakest, the Lord has allowed me to witness the incredible power of a God-fearing family in one very dark corner of the world.
Will and Dai live in one of the most depressing and hopeless areas I know. In this 10-by-10-block neighborhood in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, most of the homes are on land held by immigrant squatters. Basically, it is a shantytown of little shacks off of muddy, dirty streets. The majority of the men in this neighborhood are absent, not only because they have several families, but also because most of them are in jail for violent crimes.
Women, many times left with their own children as well as children from their partner´s previous families, find creative ways to support their families, sometimes turning to the oldest profession in history. Childrem run wild on the dirt streets and attend school sporadically. Boys, starting around age 10, smoke, drink, use drugs, and begin lives of delinquency.
That area of the city is avoided by most, and is the stomping ground for the kidnappings, human trafficking, abuse, and murder as we hear on the news.
When Will and Dai were younger and newly married, they were given a plot of land by her father as a wedding present, so they built a one-room wooden cabin in this neighborhood. But the difference between this couple and the rest of the families around them is that they are evangelical Christians and go to a church where their pastors believe in their leadership qualities.
Will attends to seven small groups in his and surrounding neighborhoods. He shares Bible teachings with over 50 men, some of whom are teenage boys, young men with addictions, and older men at the sausage plant where he is employed.
Dai, besides being a mom, also attends to seven small groups. Two of those groups are for children under age 12. She also has three small groups for teenage and preteen girls and two groups with women. Nearly 60 people are impacted by Dai’s discipleship training.
Two years ago, a gang that presumably sells human organs on the black market kidnapped a 10-year-old girl named Janet from that neighborhood. Miraculously, she escaped along with a 6-year-old girl who had been captured as well. Dai had been taking Janet to church for six months prior to that terrifying ordeal. Janet testified that God had protected her and used her to rescue the younger child. Two months after that attempted kidnapping, the same vehicle pulled into the neighborhood and tried to grab two teenage girls, who also attend church with Dai. The boys from Will´s small groups came out in a hoard and contained the perpetrators until the authorities were contacted.
One of the young girls in Dai´s small groups, Malena, became pregnant last year. She was 14-years old. Dai comforted, counseled, and convinced her not to abort. Dai hosted a baby shower for Malena who is raising the child by herself and continues to attend this small group.
Eight months ago, a young 16-year-old named Fede blew his foot to shreds while playing with a firecracker. Due to the extent of the damage and the gun-powder residue, his leg was amputated below the knee. At one point, he was told he would never walk again. Will called the church to prayer and began to visit him weekly even when Fede grew angry and depressed. Recently, Fede walked into church with a prosthetic leg and a huge smile on his face.
Daily, there are stories stemming from this neighborhood, such as how Dai washes Gonzalo and Emiliano´s clothes because their mother works the night scene and sleeps during the day, often ignoring the needs of her children.
Often young boys visit Will for a pick-up game of soccer, but also for a bit of warm coffeecake, fresh out of the oven. Many times Dai has taken children to her house to sit out the storm of violence in their own homes.
I have seen the frustration and tears that Dai sheds when one of these teenage girls loses her virginity and turns her back on Christ. Or the times Will has helped a young man detox.
This beautiful couple no longer lives in that wooden cabin. Will, a dependable worker, has now been promoted to manager, and has built a two-bedroom, concrete home in the middle of the shantytown.
You see why I say I am friends with Noah and his wife? They go to my church. They are part of the worship band. And their neighborhood is slowly changing. Some of the homes are starting to look more like Will and Dai´s. The kids they bring to church smile more than they did three years ago.
Yes, I know Noah and his wife. We are their pastors, but they are my heroes. Really, they are the ones who will change their community. And if we are honest, it is the Wills, the Dais, and the Noahs who eventually change our world.
Robin Radi is a missionary for the Church of the Nazarene. She lives in Pilar, Argentina, with her husband, Carlos, and their three daughters.
Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.
