Ju-Wayne’s Story

Background

At a young age, I started using drugs. But I believe there was a reason behind it.

My father gave up on me and my family. He was a warden who probably couldn’t cope with the things he was exposed to in prison. He began drinking and neglected us, especially my mom, as he was her first and only love. He was unfaithful to her.

When my mother eventually left him, I was only a baby. She moved in with her parents in Riverview. She worked long shifts to take care of my sister and me. My father broke my mother’s heart, and she prevented him from visiting us.

He stalked the house, and one night, nearly 37 years ago, he got hold of petrol and set our house on fire. My sister was badly scarred on her face and hands. My grandparents, as well as my nephew and cousin, died as a result of the fire. My father also died as a result of the fire.

I was in a pram, which fell over during the fire and protected me from being killed.

Protected, but not protected

Yes, the pram protected me from being killed in the fire, but my forehead was burned and left a scar.

Growing up, I felt different. I looked different. I always felt that other children were making fun of me. I had no self-confidence and felt out of place.

I was traumatised even before I was born. While I was still in my mother’s womb, my father tried to kill her by throwing a stone at her. The scar on my forehead went deep—deep into my soul.

Finding comfort in drugs

As a teenager, I started experimenting with drugs. I failed my matric. I stopped using drugs for a while and went to Boland College for a couple of years. Then I relapsed and dropped out of college.

My life spiralled downward. I stole from my mother and sister to feed my habit. I became involved with a girl, and we had two daughters. I was an absent father.

We lived in a shack, and as parents, we both used drugs and were incapable of fulfilling our parental responsibilities. I was dirty. I stank. The shack was filthy, with mice and cockroaches crawling around.

Crying out to God for help

When I was younger, I remember standing in front of a mirror, talking to my father and to God. I blamed them both for not being there for me.

I blamed God for not letting me die in the fire. I blamed my father for never being there for me. I excelled at cricket, but he was never there to help me develop my skills.

But now, in the terrible state I found myself in, I once again cried out to God:

“God, God, I’m so very tired. Please help me…”

God hears

A day or two later, a lady approached me and asked if I needed help. She wanted to take me to her pastor.

But I remembered my mother’s words: “If ever you need help, go to the Change Makers.”

I told the lady that I preferred to go to the Change Makers. She contacted Brandon Oosthuizen, who came to see me.

Admitted to Moria House

Brandon arranged for me to attend the day programme. I remember how it rained, but every day I walked in the rain to Moria House.

In July 2024, I was admitted to the programme.

My initial goal was simply to become stronger and gain some weight. I had no desire to give my heart to the Lord. But the Lord had different plans for me.

He captured my heart after I had been in the programme for two months.

Things changed

Soon, my relationships with my mother, my sister and my daughters were restored.

I had always wanted a family. The Change Makers became my family.

The leadership saw my potential, and after graduating from the programme, I was asked to do a one-year apprenticeship in office administration.

Today, I am a staff member, helping with the finances and office administration. I also work as a relief worker when needed, looking after the men in the house.

Thank You

I thank God that He was always with me.

I thank Him for using a pram to protect me from the flames. I believe that God was with me throughout my life journey.

What He has done for me, He will do for others.

Thank you, Change Makers.

Thank You, Lord!