My team spent this past month building relationships with and encouraging gangsters, drug addicts and prison parolees through Camp Joy, a faith-based recovery facility. To be honest, I was a bit wary of relating with such hard individuals. After the first week at Camp Joy, it was clear that God was working in these men and women. These people aren’t hateful, they are kind and so badly want to know what real love is. Most of these young men and women have grown up without love in their lives and turned to gangsterism in search for that love and a sense of belonging. Below is the story of one individual who has been changed through their Camp Joy experience.
Siyabonga’s Story
Siyabonga speaks very poor English, has a hard time reading, and an even more difficult time writing. My first impression of Siyabonga was of a guy who has no care in the world but to worship Jesus. As I spoke with him through gestures and broken English, it was clear that he had a rough life growing up, but the Lord did something amazing in his heart. He would often show me scripture in the Bible about the great love God has for us and the mighty gift of Grace. Every conversation we had would end with “God is good” and a smile. I was able to hear more of his background through the help of a friend’s interpretation.
Siyabonga was born in a rural township and never received a proper education; he was only taught how to tend to the animals and fields. His mother passed away when he was very young, and the first place he thought he found love and acceptance was with those in the drug crowd. They seemed to accept him and give him what he needed. Soon, he found himself alone and consumed by drugs. He moved from his rural home in his late twenties to a city near Cape Town, looking for work. However, all he found were alcohol and drugs, and he got mixed in with another bad crowd.
One day, a group of men got in a fight with Siyabonga and he ended up stabbing a man to death. He was sentenced to jail for ten years and served seven before being brought to Camp Joy to finish the remainder of his sentence. A week before my team was going to leave South Africa, we got word that Siyabonga was being sent back to prison for acting up and not obeying the rules. I couldn’t believe it and wondered what the issue was. Later that afternoon, Siyabonga returned and was given the opportunity to stay at Camp Joy. From what I could gather, Siyabonga said something along the lines of The devil got in my head and I didn’t want to do what the facilitators were asking me. I wanted to do things on my own time. As soon as I realized I was going back to jail I decided I would preach about Jesus to everyone in jail. Then God had mercy on me and brought me back to Camp Joy. I need to be on my guard against satan. God is good, God is good. These words don’t to justice to the faith that radiates from this man. One thing I will never forget that Siyabonga said happened on a Sunday morning church service, he said “The Lords strength is amazing and it caught me by surprise. You must trust in Him.”
