Dut met another Sudanese man at a pick up soccer game in Richmond. This man said Dut's voice reminded him of someone he knew back in Cairo. Dut dismissed this, at first, but the man persisted.
As it turns out, the mystery person in Cairo was none other than Dut's younger brother. Dut had assumed his family had perished. His mother, younger brother and sisters had fled north when his village was razed. They went into the muslim north, and eventually into Cairo as refugees. They lived in squalid conditions. Dut was able to get a phone number to call his mom.
Dut contacted his mother and spoke to her for the first time in seventeen years. They both wept, as you might imagine. "How were you sure it was your mother?", I asked. He pointed to a very odd looking scar on his forehead. "Because of this," he said. "I never knew what this was. My mother explained to me how I got it. I was two years old at the time. I was injured when something in the kitchen hit my head. I nearly bled to death, she told me."
Sure enough, the scar was very distinctive … and something that would be as positive as DNA for identification. Amazing, I thought, how God would use a near fatal accident as a child for such a noble purpose as this.
"Have you seen your mother?", I asked.
"No. She warned me not to come to Cairo. It is very dangerous. There is no protection. If a refugee is run over by a car, the police ignore it. So she pleaded with me not to come."
Dut is able to provide support for her through his job (as a janitor) in Richmond. He was able to get her (and the rest of his family) off the streets and into an apartment in Cairo. He talks to his mom often. Dut, by the way, is a college student in Richmond. He wants to be an engineer someday. He goes to school during the day, and works at night.
"Dut, you need to write your story down. It has everything, including a happy ending", I said.
Dut smiled. "I want to, but my English is not good. I don't have the skills", he replied.
"I know a writer who may be interested", I said. "My sister is an accomplished writer, and has a heart for writing stories of children who suffer from war. She has already written a fictional book about this. Would you let her write your story?", I asked.
His face lit up. "Yes. I would love that."
I told him I would contact my sister and see if she was interested. It was time for Dut and Daniel to leave. They thanked us for lunch.
"Dut, before you leave, is there anything I can pray for you?", I asked.
He thought for a second. "You have listened to my story. I feel like you have already prayed for me."
On his way out, he turned and said "By the way, spaghetti is my favorite food in the world. How did you know that?"
I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders. I guess God knew who was coming for lunch.
Once they left, I called my sister and brother in law. My brother in law is a pastor. I told them, "we just had the most interesting guest for lunch. He is from Sudan."
The other end of the phone became very quiet. After a long pause, my sister said, "that is very interesting. Dan (my brother-in-law), felt led to pray for the 'unseen' people of the world this morning in his pastoral prayer … right before the sermon. He prayed specifically for the people of Sudan."
At this point, chills started going up and down my spine.
"Well, it just so happens that I am calling to present an idea to you.", I said. I presented the idea. She then said, "You know it is kind of interesting, I have had this thought for some time. I have been wanting to write a book about a boy from Uganda who lived through war."
Again, more chills.
She has since agreed to write Dut's story and has already met with Dut to begin capturing the details of his extensive story. Dut's photographic memory is paying dividends.
My sister specializes in fiction, so the genre of biography is new. Her current publisher is not interested in stories like this. She has no contacts in Christian publishing. God will need to provide a publisher for the story.
I happen to have access to at least one prominent Christian writer.
I emailed Chuck Colson with the basics of this story. He has a tremendous heart for the Sudanese people and their plight. He responded almost immediately with contacts and his enthusiastic support. I am praying that one of these contacts will bear fruit.
One other interesting detail. Dut's full name, in Sudanese, means "celebration" and "unite". How perfect is that? Imagine the celebration and joy when this "lost boy" hugs his mom and is reunited with his family after nearly twenty years. I would love to be there, wouldn't you?
If you have read this story, I would ask that you would pray for God's blessing on this book project. It has the potential to touch lives and raise awareness of the situation in Sudan. Thank you Lord for the recent peace agreement in Sudan. I pray that hostilities will cease and the healing will begin.