Get Jonathan Prinsloo Home – a South African woman has gone the extra mile to help a homeless man!
Northcliff, Johannesburg – Kuda Chigariro shared a story on the eve of Heritage Day which touched the heartstrings of many South Africans and reminded us that people living on the street are no different to you and me.
Chigariro saw a familiar homeless person and decided that this was the right time to stop to help him. She shared her story to Facebook, which quickly went viral on Heritage Day with many South Africans spending their time to try help both her and the young man she was trying to help.
And one week later, we have an amazing update!
Read her full post below:
After my post on the 23rd of September, 2019, #GettingJonathanPrinslooHome, I made contact with Jonathan’s family. At this point, Jonathan didn’t know that he was being looked for; hence, why he was still on the street.
That day I had believed Jonathan when he had said he was no longer dependant on any substance. I did not know the damaging effects of the drug called Heroin.
Jonathan had, unfortunately, been a victim of this substance. His heart and mind knew where he wanted to be, but his body was restrained. He needed to reunite with his family, not only physically, but emotionally too.
Many people from many different areas of service contacted me, asking how they may assist Jonathan. One of these people was Jacques Papenfus, the founder of Mighty Godly Servants Recovery Centre a division of Moeggesukkel in Centurion.
“Moeggesukkel” is an Afrikaans word which means, “Tired of struggling”.
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Jonathan Prinsloo chose to take up the act of kindness offered to him by Jacques who himself had once been a victim of Heroin addiction. Jacques had quickly recognised the characteristics of the substance that was crippling Jonathan.
I have gained a lot of knowledge about the homeless, addiction, and that not every homeless person suffers from an addiction to a substance. Many are also affected by tragic events, situations and circumstances that have left them homeless. Many of us live our lives addicted to things that we don’t even know are addictive. Yes, the well-known addictions are drugs and alcohol, but you could be a workaholic, a Gamer, a Shopper, a Smoker, a Gambler… an endless list.
We can all be delivered from addictions that affect us.
When the community took their time to assist with finding Jonathan’s family, a new door was opened for him. Because of all the shares to your groups and profiles, there was a gate that was opened to welcome and assist Jonathan through his healing process.
The picture above shows Jonathan standing at the gate of MGS Recovery centre with myself and Jacques, who then admitted Jonathan into the Treatment Facility and will continue to walk with Jonathan through his journey.
The picture of him in the blue shirt was his first afternoon at MGS Recovery Centre just from his visit to the Dr.
The last picture was just two days after…
If you would like to learn more about the program that Jonathan began on the morning of Monday 30 September 2019, please click on the following link. https://www.mgsrecoverycentre.co.za/
Every one of us has been or are currently in situations that cripple our growth to become who we really are, but there is always a door somewhere. Maybe you may not be the one to open it, but one day there will be someone who will open it for you.
If each and every one of us does that little bit for someone, there is a big chance that many homeless people will receive more than one hand of assistance to further themselves and start a new life off the streets.
The story is so important as it shows exactly what is true when it comes to people living on the streets.
Good Things Guy recently interviewed Francesco Rizzuto – another young man who was living on the streets – and he revealed how he got off them.
“People living on the street are no different from you and me. And I promise you, if you can be kind and give love to a homeless person then they can become productive members of society. They just need to be seen, and it’s our duty to see them.”
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