Colombia's StreetKids - Jason's Story

Plan A for Jason (not his real name) was for him to be born into a loving Christian family. He would have been nurtured, disciplined, hugged, taught and valued every day of his life.

What occurred though was very different. Jason lives in a room, one room, and all day every day with only a television to keep him company. His bed – a mat thrown on top of some old crates. His mother works everyday from 6am to 9:30pm and when she is home relates to her children with curses and fits. So that is how Jason learned to relate to his world. His siblings were taken into a children’s ministry when they were less than on year old and adapted well to the change. However, Jason was 4 when he was taken in and quickly became the #1 problem for the staff. Such was his level of neglect that Jason did not even know how to speak when he arrived and his way of communicating his displeasure was to bite anyone and everyone in his path.

It was so bad that after only a short time the ministry had to return him to his mother and his little room. His behavior so impaired that they, being short-staffed like so many other ministries, could not spare one person to be with just Jason on a full time basis to re-educate him.

They stayed in contact with Jason though and referred him to our Light & Life school. At age 5 little has changed for him. He still bites everyone and can utter only a few words. He also never stops moving and needs one of our staff to be with him full time. I can think of no way to adequately describe the amount of attention he needs and how much it breaks our heart to send him back to his little room every night knowing that he will be alone until late.

We are praying. Praying hard to find some long-term solution to Jason’s problem. Aside from speech and a multitude of other therapies, he needs a home. In short term, that will be someone to care for him full time and to prepare him to live in a family. Long term? Please be praying for Jason.


written by: Darren McCrea
YWAM Missionary to the StreetKids of Bogotá, Colombia
• Our Loving Father: Darren & Patty's homepage

excerpt from:STREETWISE – Youth With A Mission, Bogotá Colombia – StreetKids Newsletter