Jhoan Vargas

Age: 16
Birthday: November 28, 2000
Birthplace: Caballococha, Peru
Current Location: Iquitos, Peru
Date of Baptism: July 10, 2017
Desired Career: Teaching Language and Literature

I am Jhoan. There are always stories to tell of both good and bad. I went through difficult times with my own family. My family did not want to know anything about forgiveness and love. The problems in their lives were so bad that they did not want to believe in such things. I could not understand them for a long time. Now with God’s help, I see their perspective and hope to change it.

My family is from extreme poverty. Neither one of my parents completed their education. My dad is an alcoholic. My dad worked on ships where I lived, but the work was unstable because ships only passed by three times a week. My dad would have to wait up all night for them to pass, and sometimes he did not get paid. I am the second of six brothers. Us older brothers helped dad. My dad decided to move the family to his mother’s house. When we got there, his alcoholism became worse. He no longer came home. Things began to change. We had needs that were not met. We would go entire days without eating. Things continued to get worse. My dad started to beat my mother and insult us all. In his younger days, he had been in the military. Whenever he drank, he was rude to us and shouted at us.

My mom did not liked the way we lived. She would tell my dad that our home was not a barracks; we needed a loving father, not to be treated like soldiers. My third brother was very shy. He was scared of my dad and could not read in front of him. When dad would leave the house, he would gain confidence and would read with me. Reading was my only escape. Mom decided to leave my dad. He was drunk and threatened to kill her. Mom sent me to tell my maternal grandmother what was happening. We moved in with her without my dad.

From that day on, in 2011, our lives changed. We all started to work and gather money to be able to move hours inland to San Pablo, away from my dad. We could not go to school anymore. It was clear that we were a burden to my grandparents. My younger brothers needed a lot of attention. I was put in charge of them. One day I had my brothers at the river near our house. I left them on one side of the river and crossed to the other side to steal fruit for us to eat. I did not know it, but my brother fell in and was drowning. My mother showed up at the right time and was able save him from dying. After I swam back, I did not know where my brothers were. I went home and saw how scared everyone was about what had happened. I knew my brother almost died because of me. I was overcome with guilt. I had sacrificed my family for the sake of fruit. I could not forget what happened. I intended to somehow pay back my family for what I had done.

On January 7, 2012, I came on a boat to Puerto Alegría to a home for abandoned boys. There was so much pain in my heart. One of my brothers arrived with me, and another boy was on the boat with us. We were all crying because we were leaving our families and coming to a strange place where we did not know anyone. When we got there, we spoke a different language from everyone. I was eleven years old. I did not know that this was a great opportunity for my life.

I had a hard time accepting my reality the first few days there. I cried a lot when I was alone. I cried so much that sometimes I could not sleep at night. The days passed, and I learned to live with the people and a language unknown to me. Things got better. I could eat three meals a day there and even dessert sometimes. I started back to school and every day my grades improved. I started thinking about my future. Before I never thought I could be successful, here I learned I could be. Little by little I began to understand what God wanted with my life.

Later I moved to the home for the older boys in Iquitos. Our house parents planted a church there called Divine Grace Evangelical Christian Church. At church, I recognized Christ as my personal Savior. I was baptised. Now I believe everything is possible with Christ in my life. God is working in me. He is healing my wounded heart. I am understanding that everything has a purpose. I remember Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I know that God will use my past for good and that He will help me. I want to fulfill my goals of becoming a leader and a professional. I want to help my family and my church. I am grateful to God for all that I have gone through in life so that I can testify of his love and of his wonderful work on the Cross of Calvary for us all.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that the vulnerable testimony in this sponsorship packet is shared with the full permission of Jhoan, who wrote it himself.The sharing of testimonies was optional. Consequences of sharing such personal information with the public via multiple outlets were explained at length beforehand. Even so, he willingly and proudly chose to share his story of hardship, suffering, and hope to impact others and bring glory to God. Kings and Queens International is reminded of Luke 8:39, “‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” We are proud of Alejandro for his boldness in Christ.