'Lost Boy' finds path to healing
By Anna Simon
CLEMSON BUREAU - The Greenville News
CENTRAL — When Southern Wesleyan University junior Abraham Deng was 6, the African village where he lived in Sudan was attacked and destroyed. "I got separated from my family. My village was attacked. I ran into the jungle," said Deng, now 24.
His childhood memories are a world apart from those of his classmates on the small Christian campus where he is studying to become a physician's assistant. He hopes to later become a doctor and return to his homeland as a healer to alleviate suffering there.
"It has made us realize how much of a sheltered world we live in here in the U.S. It broke our hearts," said a friend, Kelley Tegen, 25, who met Deng through her husband, Jason, who attends Southern Wesleyan.
One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, an estimated 20,000 Sudanese boys who were orphaned or separated from their families and forced to run away through the wilderness, he dodged crocodiles and bullets.
He lived in refugee camps where he learned English and received an education, although books and pencils were scarce. Sanitation was poor and so was the food, but he was grateful to have the single meal of either corn or beans he ate daily.
It was at a refugee camp in Kenya he was interviewed by United Nations workers and got the chance to come to the United States to continue his education. He arrived in Florida in 2001 and was amazed.
"I never thought in my life there was another place where there's freedom and people never go hungry," Deng said.
Deng moved to Atlanta, where he has a cousin — another of the Lost Boys — and there he met Ed Bryant, who is with the Lost Boys Foundation. Bryant grew up on the Southern Wesleyan University campus. His father, Clyde, was a pastor at First Wesleyan Church and a member of the university's board of trustees.
Deng wanted to attend a university with a Christian emphasis and the connection was made.
"Abraham has been a blessing to this campus and his vital faith has challenged all of us to trust God fully and completely," said Dr. David Spittal, university president.
"He is known as one of the 'Lost Boys' but, in truth, he never was lost to God. Abraham's long journey led him to this campus and I believe God has a significant purpose for his life," Spittal said.
James Hansen, vice president for development at the university, said money is the biggest challenge. He put together a scholarship package that paid a portion of Deng's education this past year along with funding from The Lost Boys Foundation and money Deng saved working a full-time job while he was in school in Atlanta.
As a sophomore in his first year at Southern Wesleyan, Deng, a chemistry and biology major, had a 3.85 grade point average.
"Even with taking the difficult lab courses required in premed, and taking the maximum load he could take, he's doing well," said Hansen, who is continuing to try to put together financial packages to help Deng stay in school.
He said contributions are welcome. "We encourage outside support from others who believe in Abraham's potential," Hansen said.
Deng worries about finances to continue his education, too, but Tegen said she's never seen him upset or disappointed.
He's always joyful, very innocent. He always sees people as new friends. Overall, just a joy to be around," Tegen said. "I'm just excited to see him succeed. He is a brilliant young man."
Deng dreams of becoming a doctor, but he has one other dream as well. He was 12 when he learned his father had been killed in the attack on the village, but he only recently learned that his mother, brother and three sisters are living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia.
He would love to go to Africa and see them, but there's no money to do that. Staying in school is his priority.
He has faith that he will realize his dreams and one day will return to his homeland — and family — with the ability to help others as others have helped him.