Very Bold Radio with Henry Jarju (Part 3) (Podcast Exclusive)

Henry Jarju joins host Steve Teel on this edition of Very Bold Radio. Be inspired every Saturday by difference-makers on Very Bold Radio and Podcast. Part 3 Henry Jarju: One Refugee’s Journey  (1:07:00 long)  We pick up part 3 resolving the part 2 cliffhanger - where Henry was living has burned down, his father has passed away back in The Gambia, and his friend has betrayed him by stealing all his money and abandoning him. Henry explains he begins to live on the street with 3 friends who have arrived from his village in Gambia to Algeria.  Henry shares his discouragement and how he didn’t know what to do next. He connects with his uncle who is living in Italy who encourages Henry to use his education to be the navigator for the vessel he will take to Italy. Navigators do not have to pay their way so this encourages Henry. He and his friends reach Tripoli, Libya where they should be able to make the journey by boat to Italy. 0:00-13:00 Henry describes the boats (inflatable) called Viper boats which should perhaps seat 60 or 70 but squeeze in 150-160 so the boat owners make more money.  The refugees are told it will take 3-4 hours. They set sail but run into pirates who kidnap them and take them back to Libya to imprison them there.  13:00-30:00  Henry and a few others plot their escape. Guards pursue, shooting as Henry flees. Evading their gunfire Henry finds a taxi on the highway. However the driver works with his captors and takes Henry back where he is beaten severely to make an example for all. Unable to move in such pain and injury the other prisoners must carry Henry to the bathroom. Some of the Christian captives begin to pray and do daily Bible study.  Stripped of all freedom he is discouraged and resigned to reality that his life might end there. He began to hold on to God and fast and pray. In this prison there was no opportunity to gain their release by payment or ransom.  30:00-37:00 300 of the prisoners become fed up with their imprisonment and plot an escape.  Thinking of his previous failed escape he is uncertain he will try again.  Eventually he gains the courage to try again.  Henry discovers later that some of the escapees are caught and killed by the captors.  On the run he must find a hiding place.  Later he finds a taxi who gives him a ride. But he overcharges Henry and when they arrive at the destination the driver becomes enraged that Henry cannot pay and so he pistol-whips him and says he will sell him to a prison for his payment.  Miraculously a man from Senegal also on a refugee journey takes mercy on Henry and pays the rest of the fare.  37:00-54:00 A fellow refugee and roommate gets sick and dies in Henry’s presence. A few weeks later Henry decided to try to set sail again to Italy as a navigator. This second boat / raft journey and in the middle of the Mediterranean— the vessel takes on water. A leak in the raft begins to sink it. Nonetheless the refugees believe the boat will sink within the hour and that they will die. They  say their goodbyes to one another accepting their fate.  Pirates arrive as they are sinking. At this point the refugees are willing to go back to prison rather than drown here.  Fortunately a helicopter flies overhead and the pirates flee. By some reason the boat did not sink. They are able to restart the motor and try to maneuver to international waters where they may be rescued.  This concludes session 3.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.