Jack's Story

Sep 22, 2021

   Jacks grew up the oldest of 12 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He took his studies seriously and went to college for Agriculture and Electricity. He married his beautiful wife and they had 5 children while living in the Congo.  He worked for the American Red Cross helping with the Rwanda refugees in the late 1990s and then worked for the World Health Organization through 2003. 

In the early 2000s there was tremendous civil unrest between the government of the Congo and the rebels. Both sides were taking food and supplies by force and not paying for what they took. When Jacks complained about what the government troops took from him, he was accused of helping the rebels and was put in jail in 2006. Conditions were very cruel in the jail.  Contacts he had made in relief agencies helped him escape from jail and through a network of people, he was able to sail to Zambia. Unfortunately, he had to flee without his family.

His family moved several times and there was no contact between Jacks and his wife. Jacks was able to get a temporary 6 months visa to remain in Zambia. However, he could not get steady work and lived on the streets. Through some contacts, Jacks was able to eventually able to let his wife know where he was and that he was okay. She immediately sold everything they had. She made arrangements for their three adult children to live with relatives and she took the two younger ones to Zambia. They had to live in abandoned buildings and both had small jobs.

One day the police came to where Jacks wife was working and shut them down and they seriously beat Jacks wife, breaking bones and causing serious injuries. The couple went to Zambian Human Rights and filed a complaint. As part of the settlement for what had happened, the family was given immigration status to the United States in a place called WICHITA. A refugee group in Wichita assisted with their initial resettlement. They provided their housing and assisted Jacks in getting a line job at a production company. Now, the family was in a new country with no resources and no one to help.

Jacks learned about The Salvation Army and came to us for assistance. He was sending money to support his children in the Congo as well as trying to support his family in Wichita and ends were not meeting. The family had difficulties with language and cultural issues. Reading their utility bills and understanding them was difficult. Jacks was eager to learn and willing to do whatever work was necessary to be successful.  

His caseworker sat with the family and completed an extensive assessment that covered his family here and in the Congo. They developed goals, both short and long term. The family needed medical  care, medications, glasses and dental care. The caseworker connected the family to four agencies who were able to provide for all their needs. The Salvation Army provided utility assistance, food orders, diapers, wipes, gas cards, school supplies, bus passes, hygiene items, and Christmas assistance for toys and food.

To help the children during the summer and make life more fun, The Salvation Army was able to provide Zoo passes, Botanica passes, Healthy cooking classes, Boys and Girls Club, and sent the older            kids to The Salvation Army day camps. The caseworker also connected the children to trauma counselors who helped them deal with all the issues they had experienced in their young lives. The Salvation Army helped Jacks take a career class. He considered changing jobs, but was promoted at his own company.

In 2018, tragedy struck the family when one of their sons who was living in the Congo was killed by the rebels on his way home from soccer practice. In their grief, they also faced the enormous cost for the burial of their son. Once again, they turned to The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army did not have funds for a burial in another country. However, we were able to use our funds to help with a car payment, insurance payment and a month of utilities so the family could use that money for the burial. We grieved along with the family.

Jacks had one dream and that was to own his own home. The Salvation Army introduced him to Habitat for Humanity in September 2018. This was a very large commitment of time, money, and their future if they were accepted.  With the caseworker's recommendation and Jacks work history, the family was accepted into the program. The family worked hundreds of hours on their home. They saved their money for their closing costs and in December of 2020, they became very proud home owners!

Very proud and grateful, Jacks shared, “Thank you to The Salvation Army. What you did for my family – it was love. You allowed me to stand. You showed me the way to go. You gave me a chance.”