I met a boy named Jonathan while volunteering at Children’s
Garden, a place for 15-18 year old street boys to live and learn every thing
from how to read to woodworking and welding. I’d like to share Jonathan’s
story.
Growing-up, Jonathan’s parents fought a lot, his mother
yelled at him and his father beat him with a board that had nails and wire on
one end. Jonathan lifted his pant leg as he explained that that was how he got
all the scars that cover his ankles and legs. His dad was a drug dealer and got
Jonathan involved at a young age. At only 6 years old, Jonathan was delivering
drugs for his dad and put into jail. He spent 3 years being mistreated in jail
and at the age of 9 was able to escape with some friends he had made there.
had left for another province with 3 of his sisters. His father was still into
drugs and now had also become a “womanizer”. At this point Jonathan began
sniffing rugby, a readily available and inexpensive glue used to repair shoes,
which helps take away hunger pains. He also smoked cigarettes and marijuana,
which he got from his dad.
At some point Jonathan’s dad was put into jail and wrote a
letter to his family saying that he was a changed man and was going to leave
the life of drugs and bring the family back together. Jonathan wanted to
believe his father, because more than anything he wanted his family back and to
be with his mom. When his father returned, he quickly went back to his old ways
and crushed Jonathan’s hope.
At age 9, Jonathan was put back into jail. He was placed in
a cell with members of a gang who forced him to get tattoos on his arm and
back. The meaning of one of his tattoos is “I will do what I want”. The tattoos
are both indicators as to which gang he is associated with and if a rival gang
member were to see them, they would be expected to beat him to death.
(Children’s Garden is working out a way to try and remove the tattoos). After 4
years of maltreatment in the jail, Jonathan was on the streets.
point Jonathan’s older brother had warned him of his father’s threats to kill
him
and advised Jonathan to run away. I think this is how he ended up living ina dump under a highway overpass. While living among the rubbish, Jonathan accepted
Christ with the help of Jerome, a YWAM volunteer who shared the gospel with
him. About 3 weeks ago, Jerome connected Jonathan with Children’s Garden.
Jonathan is now drug free, fed three meals a day, has a bed and a roof over his
head. In addition to this, he is being taught through an individualized
education plan that starts where he is at, regardless of his age. He now sees
hope for a brighter future. Jonathan also is being encouraged by the loving
Christian staff and is learning more about Jesus in daily devotions.
daily prayer is that his family be reunited. He longs for his mother and he
misses his 6 sisters and his brother. He wants his dad to change and he wants to
be able to let go of the anger he has toward him. These have become my prayers
for him as well.
