You may look at this young boy, working and smiling and you think, “He’s got to be in fourth or fifth grade!” The trouble is, Jonas had never had a birthday so he doesn’t know how old he is. We rescued him from continuing to work in the heat of the sun as a “restavek!” In Haiti, when a child’s parents die, he must go to live with a relative, and he or she will become a slave child or restavek. This child will work hard, will receive many beatings, will always be a slave, and never go to school!

When we rescued Jonas, he was so afraid! He had never “had a shower,” where it rained “inside!” He had never slept in a bed or had a toy. He had never had a “hug!” He was so “scared!” It took almost two years for him to learn how to hold a pencil or pen! We had to give him a birthday date and age, so he is considered ten now. He had to go to Kindergarten for two years and now he will be in first grade. The most difficult thing for him was learning how to “hold a pencil.” Jonas is sweet, kind, and thoughtful… and thankful!

Sherry