No Longer Addicted to Rugby

“The first time I heard a kid say, ‘I’m addicted to rugby.’ I thought he actually meant the sport, but I later realized it was a drug similar to an adhesive that helped relieve hunger pangs.” said Courtney, a WR missionary and volunteer at The Children’s Garden (TCG).

The Children’s Garden takes 15-18 year old boys off from the streets, from under the freeway bridges, from within the dumps, and from the sewers to give them a hope and a future. Some of the boys parents have died or they chose to run away from home. Most have been on drugs since age 8. It’s not uncommon for their parents to put their kids on drugs and force them to beg for money for the family. Drugs were a way of control.

The Children’s Garden picks up these kids and immediately puts them on a drug rehab program. Then, the teens would gain job training skills in welding and woodworking, learn karate, and attend Bible studies.

Keturah, a WR missionary and a volunteer at TCG, says that her greatest joy is being able to see their lives change. She says, “It‘s been amazing being able to connect with them because we have more in common that they or I would‘ve thought.” Kim, one of the boys in the program, says that his parents have been dead for years, but through the program, he’s gotten off the streets, quit drugs, and now wants to be a missionary. Kim’s life testifies that life can be different for all the boys from what they‘ve known. His life testifies that God indeed does have a hope and a future for all their lives.

Written By: Christine Louie