Lost Boy, Lost Girl

Lost Boy, Lost Girl

Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan by John Bul Dau
and Martha Arual Akech is...I am at a loss for words...
John was thirteen when war came to his village. He was awakened
one night by explosions and gunfire, running into the darkness, then
waiting for daybreak. What he saw was smoking ruins of homes, dead
animals and people, no family members.
Martha hadn't even turned six. Her parents had left her and her
little sister with a relative so they could go to church. Suddenly
there was gunfire and a frantic race for survival.
For both young people life as they had known it was over. Home
was taken over by soldiers and no longer safe. They had to walk
through dangerous country where wild animals or soldiers could lurk
anywhere without adequate food and water to a refuge camp in Ethiopia,
an open piece of ground without running water or electricity. People
died there of malnutrition and illness and suffered from parasites.
When that refuge camp was closed the inhabitants had to travel
hundreds of miles to Kenya. At one river crossing thousands of people
died, shot by soldiers or devoured by crocodiles.
John and Martha survived and were able to immigrate to the
United States. Today they are married with three children. In the
pictures they look happy. I hope they are. If anyone in this world
deserves happiness they do.
This is one of the most powerful true stories I have ever read.
Although it is targeted at a juvenile audience, I think it should be
required reading for adults. We need to know what kind of world we
are in charge of and work to change things for the better so that
innocent children don't have to suffer.
On a personal note, I want to draw your attention to the fact that
it's World Humanitarian Day.
A great big shout out goes out to the folks who leave the safety and
comfort of home to work to bring stability and peace to dangerous, war
torn regions a lot of people would rather write off.
Julia Emily Hathaway



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