Story of a mother

as told by Tania Stanfield

 In 2010, at 19 years old, Monray started seeing the change in his friend’s life, Keanan, who has been a part of LifeXchange since 2008. At the time he was just starting to move out of his current lifestyle of dealing and house break-ins, though he was still on TIK (crystal meth).   His behaviour at home was appalling.  Even though he was coming out of this ‘phase’ of abuse it was still messy and his face was still distorted from the heavy drug abuse.   LifeXchange met him just at the right time to capture that moment and build on it. 

Within a few short months there were dramatic changes in his personal behaviour, he became more responsible and learnt to control his ‘rudeness’ and emotions better.  Monray started taking ownership over his life, he found a purpose, and a goal and was eager to study.  He started asking questions about a future, because for the first time, he had a future! 

LifeXchange made a great impact on his life.  They helped him overcome the things that he was struggling with and this in turn made a huge impact in their household.  He was becoming the son that they had brought him up to be.  There was now a loving compassion in his eyes when he looked at his mother; this had been gone for a number of years.  The true boy emerged; the boy who is gentle, kind and protective, began to show itself again, even over his sister who suffers with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. 

Investment in time is how LifeXchange really managed to reach out to Monray.  They showed an interest in him by popping  in and visiting, and to just ‘be around’.  They went beyond the call of duty and put their utmost effort into him.  God was answering our prayers; they “appeared like angels”.  Before this, the house was in chaos with much suffering but now the household is more organized and is much improved.  There’s been a positive change and there is some peace and quietness that was never there before.  From an entire life of chaos there is now stability.  It is not just Monray’s life that has been changed but everyone around him.

Things started going amazingly well for him, he was about to complete training to be an adventure tour guide and was set to study engineering.  Unfortunately, the strength of the surrounding world has swallowed Monray up again, he has sadly backslidden and he is, once again, immersed in the life of drug dealing and crime.   BUT, LifeXchange will not abandon him, nor give up on him but will continue to reach out to him and be there for him anywhere, anytime.  No matter how long it will take, we will be ready, waiting for the day when he decides to leave this life behind and begin a new life.  When that day happens, LifeXchange will be there.