Meet Abner

When Mang did his research in Bucana for the community-based drug rehab project, he didn’t think it’ll take him a year before he could enlist helpees. Now, he regularly goes to the community to care for three young people who have been on drugs for some years. One of them is Abner*.

Abner grew up in this congested coastal community in empoverished conditions. His mother has left them to fend for themselves. He lived under the care of his grandfather who is now old and unable to keep up with the demands of raising Abner and his siblings. His grandfather says Abner is a kind-hearted lad, except for those times when he is high after a glue-sniffing session.

Abner dropped out of school when he was in fifth grade. He doesn’t see the need to study. He said he needs to earn for the family more than to be in school. He usually joins a bunch of small-scale fishermen whenever they set sail to fish. Out of his small earnings, he helps his grandfather as well as gets his budget for his next fix of Rugby (the cheapest and readily available glue) and occasional treats of shabu (methamphenamine) which costs more.

Everytime Mang visits, he would have to search for Abner in the nooks and alleys of the community. Sometimes he finds Abner high on drugs, at times sober and easy to talk with. Whatever state Mang finds him in, he makes sure they go out for a snack at the nearby bakery. Many times, youths and children like Abner take drugs to forget their hunger and their poverty.

One afternoon, I joined Mang for his usual rounds. I realized that people already knew my husband as well as “his boys”. Some bystanders readily ushered us to where Abner was. We found him on top of an unfinished stilt house. His leg was swollen. He shyly showed us a wound on his left sole. It was an ugly sight though it was partly covered with sand. I didn't have to be a nurse to know that it needed immediate medical attention or else he might lose the whole foot to infection. Mang bought cotton and an antiseptic.

It was almost evening when we administered first aid on Abner’s wound. I depended on the late afternoon sunlight as I washed and applied the medicine on the affected area. I realized that part of Abner’s sole was actually cut off! “Didn’t it hurt?” I inquired. “No. I actually didn’t know that my foot was on the coal that we were using to cook our food.” Abner was smiling as though he had a simple cut. I was astounded! “I fell asleep because I was so tired after fishing,” Abner continued. “I slept and didn’t realize that my foot was actually being cooked like barbecue!” By then, Abner was gaining the confidence to even joke with us. I couldn’t help but notice that he was smiling the whole time I was cleaning his wound. Mang assured Abner he’ll take him to the doctor the next day. I gave him instructions to keep the wound dry and clean.

“That’s what you get for being hard headed!” a man in his twenties said from the other side of the fence. I looked at him with questioning eyes. He then introduced himself as Abner’s older brother. He narrated how they’ve been warning him not to take drugs and urging him to have a better life. “We keep telling him to stay away from his so-called friends who are nothing but bad influence! But he’s just so stubborn!” Abner just looked down. “Good thing you are here,” his older brother told us. Turning to Abner he said, “See, you’re lucky because you’ve got them to care for you. There are still people who are concerned about what happens to you. You shouldn’t waste this!”

In a few minutes, the brothers shared their story to us. They were born to the same mother but to different fathers. Their mother was widowed twice leaving her practically unable to cope with the demands of raising five children alone. Though she comes by every now and then, she’s away for the most parts of the children’s lives.

Mang took Abner to the doctor the next day. Thankfully, the infection wasn’t so bad. But he was given a strong and, not to mention, expensive antibiotic. After buying bandages, plaster and medicines, Mang took him home and gave instructions to a trusted community volunteer to attend to Abner during the week.

This whole event reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan who cared for an ailing man and ensured his well-being. In many ways God is calling us to be a Good Samaritan to our neighbors. But responding to this call entails inconvenience and sacrifice on our part. It’s our response to the blatant cries for help around us that determines whether we are a Good Samaritan or a religious hypocrite. The only way to be a good neighbor is to engage and sacrifice our resources, our time and our selves.

Abner’s wound is nearly healed. His addiction, though, is still far from over. But our hope is in God who called us to be with Abner and youth like him and their families. Please pray for Mang as he seeks to facilitate transformation in the lives of drug dependents and their families. Pray for wisdom, strength, love, patience and grace. Pray for provisions of financial and personnel resources to assist in the project. Most of all pray for God’s power to work in the life of Abner and others like him.

*Name was changed for security reasons.