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Woman Finds Childhood Friend On Streets Addicted To Drugs, Transforms Him So Much (Kenya)
Bored Panda ^ | 2/22/18 | James

Posted on 02/26/2018 9:01:52 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom

Kenyans have been moved by the story of Patrick Hinga, a man who was completely lost, homeless and drug-addicted, until a chance meeting with a former classmate, Wanja Mwaura, kicked off a major transformation...

Patrick had endured problems with addiction for years ...and...began a downward spiral, with his mother at her wits end trying to help him, eventually taking him to a mental hospital in an attempt to curb his habit. He ran away and was re-admitted several times. “He complained a lot and said all they did was give him medication and treat him like a mental patient and yet he was not mentally ill and that is why he kept running away,” Patrick’s mother, Nancy said.

Patrick showed no signs of recovery...he ran away...and...began to roam the streets of Nairobi, dishevelled and out of control, getting drugs wherever he could. His mother [brought] him food. “We were always a spectacle; people would call each other to come and stare, laugh and point at us as we ate. I was known as Mama wa wazimu” (the madman’s mother).

...one day...Patrick met his old schoolmate Wanja. ...Patrick expressed his desire to get off the streets and start a new life. Wanja checked him into a rehab centre, and found donations for Patrick’s treatment through social media. She was also able to give Patrick something to focus on after his recovery, helping him start his own business...

Patrick’s transformation, after detoxing from drugs at the rehab centre and cleaning himself up, is incredible. He is grateful for the second chance at life that Wanja has helped him find. “I feel like I am a new man,” he told Daily Nation. “I pray daily, asking God to deliver me so that I am not pulled back to that life of drugs.”

(Excerpt) Read more at boredpanda.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: compassion; drugs; god
Wow, this is the feel-good story of the month. You won't read this and not have tears in your eyes. The love that Wanja has for Patrick and her devotion to getting him well are just incredible. Nobody could ever ask for a better, truer friend than Wanja. She is really doing God's work.

Patrick and Wanja before:

Patrick and Wanja after:

1 posted on 02/26/2018 9:01:53 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Amazing. You simply cannot ask for a better friend than that.

He made it through to the other side though because he was done. He saw it was a dead end. He wanted to quit. That’s the necessary starting point.


2 posted on 02/26/2018 9:05:55 AM PST by BBQToadRibs
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To: BBQToadRibs

My BIL became an alcoholic and lost many friends on his downward spiral. Two long-time friends were true to him to the very end and their devotion continues, even after my BIL passed away.


3 posted on 02/26/2018 9:12:35 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Was he on the street because he was kicked out of the White House?


4 posted on 02/26/2018 9:14:36 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: BBQToadRibs
“No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side.

Or you don't.”


He was fortunate that he had someone willing to walk with him, but sadly far to often even that is not enough.
5 posted on 02/26/2018 9:22:04 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other opleoour lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Kartographer

Exactly right. For every success story like this, there are thousands of sad endings.


6 posted on 02/26/2018 9:32:36 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: All

Incredible, God bless!


7 posted on 02/26/2018 9:40:52 AM PST by Maverick68
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

He’s a bit of a fixer-upper.


8 posted on 02/26/2018 11:07:27 AM PST by sportutegrl
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To: sportutegrl

Also a bit of a joker. Check our the left hand in the “after” photo. It’s the “circle game.” My kids play it at school and we have A LOT of photos of them with the darned circle in it. They’re getting pretty good at hiding it though.


9 posted on 02/26/2018 12:17:39 PM PST by Mathews (Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV), Luke 22:36 (NIV))
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To: sportutegrl

The transformation is from ‘mad man’ to ‘Man.’ To exit that life is a gift from God.

I believe she had met the ‘man’ and it is the vision of him that led her to seek him in the ‘mad man.’ But, even that would have required divine intervention.

I will pray for his continued recovery.


10 posted on 02/26/2018 1:31:23 PM PST by Tomato lover (Still alive by the grace of God. Praise Jesus)
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