David Garang and Michael Kuay
We at St. Paul's are fortunate to share our spiritual home with a group
of world travelers. Two of these men, David Garang and Michael Kuay,
with friends Deng Deng Agoth and Peter Ater (who worship at Saint
Mary's) were kind enough to sit down with me recently to relate their
stories. 
While many of us
have never traveled outside of the United States, these men have walked
for miles, facing lions, soldiers, bullets, starvation and death. They
are called the "walking boys" or "lost boys" and for good reason.
They walked across
war-torn Sudan, not once but twice, looking for safety; first in
refugee camps in Ethiopia, and then in Kenya, while losing their
families in the process. Finally, after years, David and Michael have
found their way to St. Paul's.
David and Michael's stories are unique, but they share many similarities. For instance, each comes from the greater Dinka tribe, one of the major Sudanese tribes. Both David and Michael were forced to leave their homes as young boys. They joined the flood of 17,000 boys walking slowly across the country.
These boys formed a new type of family that has continued and spread all over the world; a family whose bonds are still strong. As I sat in David's apartment conducting this interview, the phone rang every few minutes and Deng Deng explained that the phone calls were from other "lost boys" around the country.
The story of David and Michael is one of extreme tragedy and hope. Throughout the grizzly tales that were told to me by David, Michael, and their friends, I was treated to their sense of humor and constant smiles. I have never felt so welcome as I did when I interviewed them. Now, far from the dangers of Sudan, David has found permanent employment at Strong Hospital, while Michael is temporarily working at Kodak.
Make sure to introduce yourself both to David Garang and Michael Kuay, for they are both truly amazing people who enrich our community.
By Richard Gallagher