God has great plans for Junior! This is just the beginning.

This boy... The odds were against him. One of the most beaten boys on the streets. Addicted to drugs. Found in the mortuary, alive. What this young man has been through in his life already, is more than we will ever go through in our entire lives. We had the honor of having him a part of our family for the summer. We were able to support and encourage him as he began his recovery journey.

Even more than that, he taught and encouraged us. Sometimes we think we are doing all of the giving. But actually, we felt so blessed by him. Especially, me (Chelsea). I love that boy. I love how strong he is. How tough he looks on the outside but inside he is the kindest, most caring, lovable young man. He cares for others deeply. He always kept me safe. I would take him to town with me, knowing no one would mess with me (not that i was unsafe, more because I would get asked for money often and many offerings of marriage lol). They would not ask when he was with me. He proudly held my hand and walked me to where we needed to go.

In the mornings, we would wake up to him cleaning the kitchen and hanging the laundry. He was so good at helping with the chores and he did it all with a smile on his face. I was always greeted with a "Good morning, mum, I love you, mum" and a big hug. And the days ended the same. Always loving, always thankful.

We prayed about what was next for Junior. When we left where would he go? We knew it needed to be out of Soroti. Away from such a familiar place. Especially at the beginning of his recovery. We found a newly opened center near the capital, but it ended up not being a good fit for him. That left us discouraged, but then God reminded us... I have great plans for Junior. Do not worry. Do not be discouraged.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We were led to a place that has years of experience with addicts, mental health and great reviews from past clients. It was way out of the price range that we could possibly afford. Five times the amount we were paying before... per month. But something about this place felt right. So, I took a leap of faith and called, told them his story, told them we were very limited on funds, but believe God wanted him there. Guess what?? They gave us a significant discount. More than half off, because they too wanted to help Junior. They believed in what God was doing in his life.

Junior has now been in recovery for over two months! Praise God. He loves Jesus. He hopes to be a pastor one day. He knows that God will use his story to encourage others, especially his street brothers back in Soroti. He has been enjoying playing sports (they have a sports ground at the home), bible study, life skills training, therapy and building new relationships with others in recovery. We were able to visit him before we left for the States, it was so comforting to see him doing so well. God has great plans for Junior. Just wait. This is just the beginning of his mighty, powerful God given story.