The Lost Boys of the Sudan

My Mother-in-law was talking to my husband the other day about his sister.
She, my Mom-in-law, mentioned something about Lost Boys.

I wasn’t really listening too much as I was helping out my father-in-law trim the tree.

Later on that evening, over dinner, the topic was mentioned again.
It seems that my sister-in-law has ‘adopted’ a yong man from the Sudan. He is currently living in the same city as my Sister-in-Law. She and her husband have given this guy a job and have helped him out with day to day life in the US.

I found out that there is a group of people called ‘the lost boys of the Sudan’.
In short, these are boys who have either lost their family or have been removed due to famine and war. I find it devistating that these beautiful innocent children are being treated as such: pawns in a game.
It’s really a long complex political issue, but this website touches on it:

it’s long, but a good read:
link

My sister-in-law gave her dad a book about them and I just finished reading it.
These are such beautiful people that are enduring horrible conditions. It just makes me sad.

But, on a postive note:

Jacob, my sister-in-law’s adoptee, is a really wonderful person. I hear that at work he is always smiling, always so positive. Things we take for granted: tv, plentiful water, grocery stores, cars, clothes, etc were all new to him! Truly they were.

So in a way, Jacob, though we have never met, has taught me a lot about life.

I just wanted to post because I really felt moved by this story.

A few of them made their way here to Tucson, and one works down the street at the local grocery store.

It’s a strange experience to have your groceries bagged by someone who’s endured such an incredible ordeal. It feels like he should just be allowed to retire, to live however he wants now that he’s no longer in danger.