We met Awan a little over a year ago and had the privilege of spending a wonderful afternoon hearing his gripping life story. He also spent last Thanksgiving with us so you can see him in this post. His story is full of tragedy but the Lord’s provision is beautifully intertwined throughout. Awan was just 3–4 years old when his village was attacked in 1983 by militants from Northern Sudan — a civil war that has been going on for more than 20 years. Awan shares that he can remember the explosions from the bombs to this day. As he fled from his village that day, he merely thought that they would hide for the evening and be able to return home to his family, friends, and village the following day. Everything would be back to normal, he thought. Little did he know that would be the last time he would ever see his mother and his village again.
Awan is a Lost Boy from Sudan. He had to flee to Ethiopia and eventually into Kenya without any family. As these young children fled, most were separated in all of the commotion from their family. This was the case for Awan. Thousands died from lack of food, being killed by militants, or drowning trying to cross rivers filled with alligators and not knowing how to swim. Awan survived. He made it alive to a refugee camp in Kenya and lived there for many years until receiving the ability to come to the U.S., get an education, and start a new future. Sounds like a dream, right?
Unfortunately, it is not as easy and dreamy as it sounds. Awan, like most Lost Boys living in the U.S., are working multiple jobs trying to pay their bills here while sending money back to their families in Sudan to pay for education or medication for loved ones. It is extremely difficult for these young men to adjust to the new culture and way of life. A great resource to see an example of this is the movie “God Grew Tired of Us”. It is a gripping documentary of the adjustment into American Culture for a group of Lost Boys.
Awan is now 28 years old. His wife is still in Sudan because he doesn’t have enough money to bring her here and support her. Instead, he sends her money and is also trying to provide an education for her brother. This year, he was finally able to reunite with his mother who he hadn’t seen since the day he fled the village when he was 3–4 years old.
This is one story, just one story of someone you can help this weekend. Central Pensinsula Church is hosting the Christmas with a Mission faire. You come and do your Christmas shopping but the money spent goes to helping someone like Awan and many, many others. All of the goods and services have been donated by local shops and artisans. We have donated three portrait sessions which will be up for sale so come check it out. We’d love to see you all! Come do your Christmas shopping with us and make your money go much further than it would in the local department store. You can change lives at the same time you cross things off your Christmas shopping list. How amazing is that!
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Christmas with A Mission
We met Awan a little over a year ago and had the privilege of spending a wonderful afternoon hearing his gripping life story. He also spent last Thanksgiving with us so you can see him in this post. His story is full of tragedy but the Lord’s provision is beautifully intertwined throughout. Awan was just 3–4 years old when his village was attacked in 1983 by militants from Northern Sudan — a civil war that has been going on for more than 20 years. Awan shares that he can remember the explosions from the bombs to this day. As he fled from his village that day, he merely thought that they would hide for the evening and be able to return home to his family, friends, and village the following day. Everything would be back to normal, he thought. Little did he know that would be the last time he would ever see his mother and his village again.
Awan is a Lost Boy from Sudan. He had to flee to Ethiopia and eventually into Kenya without any family. As these young children fled, most were separated in all of the commotion from their family. This was the case for Awan. Thousands died from lack of food, being killed by militants, or drowning trying to cross rivers filled with alligators and not knowing how to swim. Awan survived. He made it alive to a refugee camp in Kenya and lived there for many years until receiving the ability to come to the U.S., get an education, and start a new future. Sounds like a dream, right?
Unfortunately, it is not as easy and dreamy as it sounds. Awan, like most Lost Boys living in the U.S., are working multiple jobs trying to pay their bills here while sending money back to their families in Sudan to pay for education or medication for loved ones. It is extremely difficult for these young men to adjust to the new culture and way of life. A great resource to see an example of this is the movie “God Grew Tired of Us”. It is a gripping documentary of the adjustment into American Culture for a group of Lost Boys.
Awan is now 28 years old. His wife is still in Sudan because he doesn’t have enough money to bring her here and support her. Instead, he sends her money and is also trying to provide an education for her brother. This year, he was finally able to reunite with his mother who he hadn’t seen since the day he fled the village when he was 3–4 years old.
This is one story, just one story of someone you can help this weekend. Central Pensinsula Church is hosting the Christmas with a Mission faire. You come and do your Christmas shopping but the money spent goes to helping someone like Awan and many, many others. All of the goods and services have been donated by local shops and artisans. We have donated three portrait sessions which will be up for sale so come check it out. We’d love to see you all! Come do your Christmas shopping with us and make your money go much further than it would in the local department store. You can change lives at the same time you cross things off your Christmas shopping list. How amazing is that!
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