Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey From the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games (28 page)

Even though Tim had worked with nonprofits, he did not know how to start one. But he saw no reason for that little detail to get in the way. That’s why we are such good friends. Neither of us knows the meaning of the word
impossible.
He just had one question for me: “What specifically do you want to do there?”

I’d thought a lot about that question for a very long time. The way I see it, there are four basic needs that must be addressed to improve the lives of the people in South Sudan. First, we need clean water. Today, women spend a large portion of their day walking to the river to fetch water. They carry large buckets of water back to the village on their heads. Even then, the water is not very clean. Waterborne diseases strike regularly all over the world where people do not have access to clean water. But that is not the only danger. My sister was ambushed and raped on her way to the river for water. Something as simple as a well in the middle of the village could have protected my sister. Just thinking about this makes me angry.

Second, I want to open up access to education. I brought my two youngest brothers to America so that they could receive an education. At the time, I had no other good options. My brothers have excelled in school, and not just because I told them they would be on the next plane back to Africa if they screwed up. They have done so well in school because they want to learn. They want an education. Other Sudanese boys and girls are just as eager to learn, but they do not have access to education. I want to change that by building a school in Kimotong. In addition, I want to provide vocational training for women in my village and the surrounding areas. Access to education is limited in the area, but women have it even worse. Education is power, and I want to empower my sister and my mother and the other women of our village and give them a real future.

Education is important, but people cannot learn when they are malnourished. My third priority is to improve nutrition by opening up access to better farming tools and methods. Thousands of years ago, farmers all over the world used a long pole or stick to break up the soil and plant their crops. Across much of Africa they still do. I didn’t know you could farm any other way until I came to the United States. Why do we have access to these methods in America, but not in Sudan and other parts of Africa? In Kakuma, my food came in bags from the USA. I used to stare at the American flag on the bag of corn. That food kept me alive. However, one of the best days in Kakuma came when someone gave us seeds so that we could grow our own food. That’s what I want to do for my people in South Sudan. I want to help find a way to enable them to feed themselves.

Finally, I have never been able to erase the image of the poor mothers who brought their children to me, asking me to give their children medicine to make them well. I could not do anything to help on that first trip. I came away not only frustrated but angry. The simplest medicines, the most basic of health care, would have saved many of those children. A hospital in Kimotong would be a godsend, but even a small clinic will save lives. I want to start with the latter. Maybe, someday, a hospital will come to the area as well.

When Tim asked me what I wanted to do in South Sudan, all of the above poured out of me. He looked at me for a moment without saying a word. Then he said, “Sounds good to me. Let’s get started.”

Not long after that, Tim and I found ourselves in a meeting with Stephen Hass of World Vision. A woman named Diane Paddison connected us with World Vision when she and I met at an event where we both spoke. She heard me share my vision for my foundation and for South Sudan, which is why she put me in touch with World Vision. They were already doing many of the things I hoped to accomplish. Partnering with an organization like World Vision made sense to me. It doesn’t make much sense to reinvent the wheel when you can join forces with a group that already has a presence in the area.

Even so, I was a little nervous going into the meeting with World Vision. I did not know how they would feel about working with me. I also didn’t want my dreams for the area to get swallowed up and forgotten. All of this was new to me. I did not know what to expect. I will never forget what Steven said to me in that meeting. He looked me in the eye and said, “Lopez, you need to understand that we as an organization are committed to any work we start. We plan on keeping a presence in South Sudan as long as we’re able to help communities develop themselves. We’re going to be there whether you choose to work with us or not.”

That’s all I needed to hear. “I’m in,” I told him.

Out of that meeting emerged 4 South Sudan, a unique partnership between my foundation and World Vision. A portion of the proceeds from the book in your hands right now has gone straight to 4 South Sudan. At the time of this writing, my goal is to raise five hundred thousand dollars for clean water, health care, education, and nutrition. South Sudan became an independent country on July 9, 2011, after the long civil war with the north finally ended. 4 South Sudan will help this new country become truly independent and prosperous.

But I have another dream for South Sudan. Shortly after the 2008 Olympics, a group of Muslim Darfurians from the University of Juba approached me about partnering with me to build a church in Kimotong. Their leader, Rudwan Dawod, was moved by my partnership with Save Darfur. In their eyes, if a Christian could speak on an international stage for a predominantly Muslim group, they should step up and stand with Christians as well. Sudan is made up of both Christians and Muslims along with animists. All of us, regardless of our different faiths, have had enough of war. In America, I saw people from all faiths come together as one, united country after the attacks of September 11. That is the idea behind building a reconciliation church on the site of the outdoor church where I was kidnapped so long ago. My foundation has partnered with other groups in South Sudan with the goal of making this dream a reality and, in the process, striking a blow against the hatred that leads to war.

Twenty years ago I ran for my life as I tried to escape the soldiers with guns. Today, I run for my life as I chase down the incredible opportunity God has laid out in front of me. I was a lost boy, surviving on one meager meal a day, a boy who looked forward to garbage days because eating trash gave me the best meal of the week. Not anymore. I ran in the camp to survive. Now I run to help others not only survive, but thrive. However, I do not have to run alone. My story is unique because of my circumstances, but the end result does not have to be. You do not have to be a refugee camp survivor to run for your life and make a difference in the lives of others. At the back of this book you will find more information about how you can donate to 4 South Sudan as well as how you can get involved in the work there. That is why I run. Won’t you join me?

Acknowledgments

T
hanks to all my mentors, teachers, and friends who have shaped me to be the person I am today. I owe everything to your compassion and patience as I learned and grew.

I especially want to acknowledge my mentors Professor Jon Hales and Dr. Wally Rande who made me believe that I could achieve my dream at Northern Arizona University. Also, I want to thank my advisor Kim Knowles and the rest of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Department who worked so hard to support me through my education. I also want to thank my ESL teacher Ms. McNett who helped me learn to love school and finally start understanding English. A huge thanks to Tully High School teachers and staff who supported me in my journey from primary through high school in just three years. You made miracles happen!

Also, a special thanks to my coaches who shaped me as a runner and nourished my dream to become an Olympic athlete. Thanks to Coach Paccia for teaching me how to race, helping me find the fun in running, and always believing in my dream. Thank you to Coach Hayes for taking me in as part of your family and giving me the ingredients to become an Olympic athlete. Thank you to my current coach, Jerry Schumacher, for inviting me to be part of a great team and helping me realize even greater dreams in running. Finally, thank you to all of my teammates who have pushed me day in and day out and always been part of my family.

Thank you to Tom Caracci for learning my locker combination, always being there for me, and being my best friend. Thank you to Tom Hightower for recognizing my potential and challenging me to take a risk to follow my dream. Thank you to my mentors Diane Paddison, Greg Sherwood, and Steve Haas for helping me develop professionally and supporting my dream to change lives in South Sudan.

Thank you to my American parents and all my brothers for always believing in me, teaching me how to be part of a family, and most important, for giving me my childhood back. I can never thank you enough! Also, thank you to my youngest brothers, Peter and Alex, for driving me to work harder to improve lives in South Sudan and being shining examples of hard work and dedication. Thank you, Brittany for always standing at my side, sharing an amazing friendship, cheering me on, and driving me to be a world-class athlete, upstanding citizen, and college graduate. I am excited to see how our friendship continues to grow!

Thank you to Mark Tabb for helping me put my story so eloquently into words. Thanks to the team at Thomas Nelson for believing in the strength of my story and working tirelessly to share it with the world.

Finally, thank you to all of my fans and supporters. You drive me to push harder and run faster. You help me find the true joy in running!

Photos

Making a dash for the finish at the Footlocker North East meet. My family and high school coach were always there cheering me on.

All of the boys adopted by the Rogers posing before Robby’s wedding. From left to right: Obang, me, Ohure, Omot, Peter, and Dominic.