One month living at a restoration center: Life is fun and exciting, a constant thrill of life changing moments and experiences. Adventure is everywhere and can’t wait to wake up the next morning and see what is in store. You see the physical, mental, and emotional changes of the guys and you are just on this spiritual high of how good our God is for changing lives and bringing light to the darkness.
Month two of living at a restoration center: Life is still a thrill, laughter still fills the air and smiles still occupy the faces of these boys who are becoming men and growing in Christ. The thought of living in Africa is still a head rush and nothing could bring that high down. But some things start to slow down, boys start to get irritated with each other, fights happen, problems occur, you find yourself going stir crazy in the midst of one of the biggest adventures of your life. Some guys get sent home, some guys think they are ready to face the world, some guys face temptation, you start to see the reality of what the enemy has in mind for these men, you start to feel the attack of the devil. You start to see what you have been blinded to for so long in this world. But still, God is good; God is bringing light to the darkness. God will restore their hearts and minds and souls.
And here we are in month three at Camp Joy: Our final month together, the final count down. I now see the harsh realities of addiction. I no longer have blinders on to what these men have truly been through and done. I hear the stories of men shooting men, blood for blood. I see what drugs have done to people and families first hand. I have shaken the hands of murderers. I have walked the streets full of gang violence and seen the hopelessness in so many people’s eyes. I have witnessed the pain of relapsing. I have seen the lives destroyed over and over again by gangsterism. I have seen men leave this place and come running back because they are in danger, the drug addiction is back, or someone is after them. Guys that have become my friends; I have seen them lose hope and want to quit. I feel their pain as they lose friends and family out on the streets. I have stood by their side at funerals. I have heard their heart breaking prayer requests that bring tears to my eyes. This is the reality of month one versus three months living in a restoration center. These men have turned into brothers. Their pain becomes your pain; their pain becomes your daily prayers, their story becomes part of your story because we are now family. We find God is good even in the trials. We learn together that there is no way on earth to go on without God. We know how much we really need Him because God will turn the darkest darkness into light. God will not give up on us.
“We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Now, I am wrapping up my time in South Africa and at Camp Joy. I find myself in a state of confusion and desire to do more. My brain keeps getting wrapped up in the harsh realities and statistics of these past two and a half months. It is safe to say that I have formed bonds and relationships with 30+ men and women who are recovering from drugs, alcohol, and/or gang violence. In the past month, I am aware of at least six cases of relapses into drugs and gagsterism, one resulting into homelessness and back to a life on the streets. Also, after spending a morning watching videos of old World Racers at Camp Joy, we talked with the staff to find out that up to three of the men in the video are now dead, one from suicide and two from gang violence. So many questions arise when things like this happen to people you once called friend.
Could I have done more? Could I have said something to change their minds? Could I have prayed for them more? The real question is, why do us as humans so often crave temporary pleasure when we have tasted, felt, and seen the ultimate and everlasting pleasures of God? How come we don’t stand strong against our temptations? Why do we fall for them even when God tells us He will never tempt us beyond our limits?
I don’t know. We are just human though. You may be in a drought, you might fall for you temptations and selfish desires over and over again, you might not want to run back to God for help, you may think your way is better or you are too far gone now; but God is closer than ever. You may not feel like it, but God is walking with you every step of the way. He was with those guys as they relapsed, He was with those guys when they went back to their gangs, and He is with them and loving them the whole way. God loved them even when they were doing the unthinkable.
Our God’s love is not comprehendible.
Our God wants what is best for us.
“For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abundant in faithful love to all who call on You.” Psalm 86:5
What I do know is that God wants the stories of these men to be heard, their successes and their failures. Nothing was without purpose. Maybe his or her relapse story can help stop someone else’s drug abuse problem. Or maybe his life lost through gang violence will save a young boy from the decision to put his own life at risk through gangs. Stories like theirs might save a family from falling apart, give a baby a mother or father again, or even encourage someone to give their life to Christ and turn things around. Testimonies like theirs can help this world find an end to drug abuse, alcoholism, and gang violence. Their stories are ones that need to be heard.
Please join me in praying for the end of the drug and gang culture that we are living in, in today’s times. Pray for the men of Camp Joy to stay strong in their recovery and new lives ahead of them.
