The Realization of Dreams

   It is not often we meet people with a rugged determination sufficient to overcome the most difficult obstacles - to meet someone who has overcome them his entire life, borders on the miraculous.  Perhaps by illustrating one such obstacle, these thoughts will ring with authenticity.

   A farmer is forced to cultivate crops on land far from home.  In fact, the land on which he lives is not even his own.  He is a refugee in another country.  Although he receives food rations from government organizations, it is insufficient to feed his growing family.  So in order to supplement the food supply, he farms in "no man's land" apart from the camp.  It is the only available real estate.  In getting there, he must cross a swift river, teeming with crocodiles and traveled by snakes.  He will risk his own life to grow crops.  He will risk his children's lives if he does not.  And so he swims to work, works his fields, and swims home each night.  Welcoming him back to the village are the frequent funeral processions that signal another devastating crocodile attack.  During the night, he will dream of home, his REAL home in Sudan.  His mind will journey the paths he knew as a boy and lead him to school.  He has always wanted to finish his education.  He has always dreamed of studying the Bible and becoming a pastor.  But with the noises of dawn, the present reality returns.  Morning comes and the swim awaits.

   Would this man ever realize his dreams?  What other obstacles would he encounter?  How could he continue to overcome such overwhelming challenges?  Read about the amazing journey of my friend, and stories from the eleven years that I have known him, in the "Under The African Rain - Summer 2012 Prayer Letter"... coming soon to an inbox near you!  : )