March 15, 2017

No matter how smart a young person may be, if he is unorganized, he is less likely to succeed. One young man had never been taught organizational skills, and so, his grades suffered, until he got help from Mercy Home.

Raffi was always bright, but until he came to live at Mercy Home, he was not living up to his potential. Raffi grew up in a single-parent household. His mom worked long hours to support her two sons. Raffi often came home after school to an empty house. Without structure and supervision, Raffi usually put off starting his homework until late in the evening. He would often have to stay up very late working on his assignments.

In addition to a lack of structure, Raffi was also unorganized. He did not use an assignment notebook and so never had all of the proper materials at home or at school to complete his assignments. An unstructured home environment and poor organizational habits placed a severe strain on the young man both inside and outside of the classroom. Ultimately, Raffi lost the motivation to complete his homework at all and he began to openly defy.

When his schoolwork looked like it could not get any worse, Raffi’s mom began to look for help. She found Mercy Home on the internet and placed a call that would change her son’s life. When Raffi moved into Mercy Home, like so many of our young people, he was not used to having structure built into his day. He was unaccustomed to having adults there to make sure he did his homework. But he soon began to succeed in school. With a set study time and bed time each night, Raffi was able to complete his homework and get to bed before 10 o’clock. Through volunteer tutors that Mercy Home provides five nights a week, Raffi was able to get one-on-one help with his homework. He also had someone there to hold him accountable for his school work and his grades. Raffi quickly came to understand that Mercy Home’s youth care workers and school resources coordinators were there to help him succeed.

Almost a year after Raffi walked through Mercy Home’s doors for the first time, he is now doing markedly better in school. His most recent progress report showed that he’s earning all A’s and B’, is turning in his homework on time and is following school rules. I am grateful every day for the generosity and prayers of our Partners in Prayer. It is with your support that we are able to open doors for young people like Raffi and to help them discover the gifts they already have so that they might attain their full potential. During this month of March, I ask that you pray for Raffi and all of the young people who reap the benefits of structure and support here at Mercy Home. Know that, as always, you are in my prayers and in the prayers of our children here at Mercy Home.

Father Scott’s Partners in Prayer:

A special Partnership for the sake of Mercy’s kids and for our Sunday TV Mass.

You can make a difference in the life of a troubled child. Father Scott needs Partners to pray for our kids at Mercy Home–and also faithful Partners to help broadcast Sunday Mass at Mercy Home.

By pledging your support and your prayers, you’re offering a precious gift to Mercy’s kids–and helping our community of faith join together every week.

The boys and girls of Mercy Home are very proud of the difference they are able to make just by sharing their time and heart with others. None of this would be possible without our kind, faithful supporters, for not only sharing their friendship but for also setting an example of generosity and compassion for them to follow. During this month of January, please keep the young people of Mercy Home and all of our generous benefactors in your thoughts and prayers.