The Third Option for Samuel: Hope Before It’s Too Late

On July 30, 2025, Samuel (known to many here as ‘Gringa’ or 'Chele') his mother, and his sister signed the paperwork for him to enter rehab. That signature didn’t come easily. It represents countless hours of conversations, trust-building, and one mother’s courage to hold her son accountable.

Samuel’s story is complicated. He’s 17 and infamous here. The entire town knows him, and not for good reasons. I have a dozen security camera clips and photos from local businesses with Samuel as the main character. People see him on the streets and shake their heads. They talk openly about the countdown to his 18th birthday.

And let’s be honest about what that means. At 18, the consequences won’t just be a juvenile detention stay. Adult prison will be on the table, but that’s not the only thing people are talking about. When people say they’re “counting down,” they mean something darker. There are people here who are done waiting for the legal system to act. Once he’s no longer a minor, they’ll feel justified taking matters into their own hands.

That’s the level of hopelessness (and danger) surrounding Samuel’s life right now.

Plenty of people have told me, “If you can get Samuel out of town, you’ll be famous.” Maybe they mean it as a joke, but there’s truth in it. They don’t expect him to survive.

Like with Gerson, Samuel came to me asking for money for “food.” Instead of handing him money or ignoring him, I tried the Third Option and that meant sitting with him, listening, trying to understand him, not judging him. His mom is scared for his future, and she’s bravely stepping up too, holding him accountable and partnering with me to get him the help he needs.

Rehab is his best chance. It’s the only path I see that leads away from his doomsday clock. He needs more than just a bed and meals. He needs time away from these streets, a chance to heal, and people willing to believe his story isn’t finished.

Samuel has made many mistakes. But behind the bad reputation is still a teenager who needs help before it’s too late.

If you’ve followed Project Gerson, you know this work isn’t easy. But when we got Gerson off the streets, he got a second chance. Samuel deserves that too. And if we can pull this off, it won’t just save Samuel, it might change what this community believes is possible.

We’re working to get Samuel to rehab as soon as possible. If you want to help make that happen, please consider supporting Project Gerson. This is the work that changes lives and sometimes, saves them.

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Michael

michael@projectgerson.org