Frank’s
parents are also poor farmers and as their income was not enough to support
the whole family, when he was twelve, he too was told to go to the big city
to try and earn a living. Life was very hard and Frank regularly got into
trouble with the police for working on the streets. Occasionally the police
detained him or beat him up.
Eventually
Frank joined a gang of children working under a merciless boss and had to
work from 4.00 pm till 3.00 am the next day, washing parked cars, collecting
recyclable waste, or stealing and scavenging for food. Frank and the other
street children were very dirty and most of them had skin diseases and head
lice as they had to share the few clothes that they possessed. Their boss
gave the children only one bowl of rice each day and they were always cold
and hungry.
In July
2002 Frank had an unusual dream, where a man in white told him that a lady
would give him a home and help him to obtain some education and a skill. Soon
afterwards Frank badly scalded his foot with boiling water whilst working
in a restaurant kitchen. Instead of caring for him his boss threw him out
on the streets. Frank later met Li, who told him of God’s love and
offered to take him, and his friend, another street boy, into a flat where
other street children were being cared for. Frank was overjoyed to be able
to have a shower, clean clothes, a tasty meal, and a warm bed. At the centre,
which Li set up for street children, teachers were hired to instruct the
children in English, Computing, Chinese, and Maths; Frank eagerly joined in
the lessons. He was also able to join an electrician’s course and did
well in both the national computer and his electrician’s exams.
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