#75: Ulises Reyes & Alvaro Rivas

In this podcast, you will hear a remarkable story of redemption, of how God brought together two men whose faith carried each of them through both personal and family persecution.    Ulises (Uli) Reyes, was born in Venezuela, immigrated to U.S. through Cuba as young child, and grew up on the streets of East Los Angeles. Today, he owns a successful beauty salon in downtown Franklin and helps an NGO that supports children in Nicaragua.    Alvardo (Al) Rivas, grew up as an orphan in Nicaragua and went to Los Angeles as young man. Through Young Life, Al felt God’s call to support orphans like himself in his home country, and so returned to Nicaragua to work with NGOs supporting children. However, he was forced to flee his country, leaving his wife and child, and sought political asylum in the U.S. Al is here in Franklin, awaiting trial to decide if he will be granted political asylum and permitted to stay. His story includes having to go underground to get out of Nicaragua, spending days in an enclosed container with 150 other people, many of whom died, and finally arriving in the United States.    This is an emotional, very real story of how God cared for Uli and Al, brought them together, and how their friendship is impacting their own lives especially their walk with God.