I was familiar with drugs

As I grew up, drugs was part of my life, as my father was a drug addict. When I was 16, he died of a stroke. At that stage I started experimenting with drugs and soon I became addicted. Because of it, I started stealing. At the age of 20 I was imprisoned for the first time – the first of many. Prison in and prison out became my life story.

Life was tough

To feed your habit, you have to steal and hurt others. I hurt my mother, my sisters, and others around me. Life became tough. Nobody wanted me, and I found myself living on the street. I mingled with like-minded friends, and we formed a gang. Our focus was to steal in order to feed our drug habit.

Living on the street, I found myself always being hungry, being dirty, having a desire to wash and a desire for drugs.

Hearing about Change Makers

One day during a time when I was sleeping in front of the police station, Julio approached me and my friends. He told all of us about a program that changed him. The Change Makers. I thought to myself, “If Julio can make it, so can I!” So, out of all those friends, only I responded. On that following Monday I went to the office of the Change Makers where I told my story to Antie Mia. She helped me to join the program. That was in 2017.

Relapsed

Shortly after successfully completing my time in the house, I relapsed. I immediately sought help, and was readmitted in 2018 for 3 months. Although I met the Lord for the first time while being in the program in 2017, I now realised how much I needed Him. I am so grateful for this second chance!

It could have been so different

Today as I look back, I can see the Lord’s hand upon my life. It could have been so different. I regularly see many of my friends who used drugs with me in the obituary of the Worcester Standard. They didn’t make it. By the grace of God I am still standing strong and can I give this testimony. Through Him alone I can say thank you!

From the Change Makers

In his quiet and gentle way, Wayne is an inspiration. He visits Moria House regularly. And he always smiles. Speaking to one of his supervisors where he works (TOPS Spar), she says it is a pure pleasure and joy working with Wayne.

Wayne got married in December 2019, and in 2020 he received an honorary jacket from the Change Makers. We are proud of you Wayne!