This young boy is about 10 years old, or older. We don’t have any information on his date of birth. You see, Jonas was a “restavek slave child.” His mother and father had died, so he was sent to a family member. We saw first-hand, this young boy, working hard in the field in the hot sun, with grown men… no water, no food. A big lady across the field was yelling for him to “work harder!” Fear gripped him when he heard her voice! When her back was turned, we got a chance to talk to him. He was a “restavek slave child.”

We told the lady, “We’re taking him home.” It was a struggle for Jonas to go to the clinic for a checkup. He was scared to death. Jonas did not know how old he was! He had never been to school! He had never seen “water running on the inside of a house!” He had never flushed a toilet or seen a shower. He had never had a ball or a toy! The saddest thing was… “He never had a hug!” That’s what brought tears to our eyes. We gave Jonas a birthday “date.” We had to put him in kindergarten with the little kids. He could hold a heavy “wou” (garden tool), in the heat of the sun, but he could not hold a pencil in his hand! Jonas is still working hard in school! We hope and pray he can pass all his classes!! Thank you, partners.

Sherry