Three Lost Boys Hope To Inspire Newtown

 To Educate Young Refugees

By John Voket

Three grown men, who as young boys braved murdering terrorists and the brutal elements of the Sudan, hope their journey through life will inspire Newtown residents to help educate young people in their homeland, as well as other third-world nations. Last Sunday, these “Lost Boys of Sudan,” came to Trinity Episcopal Church as articulate gentlemen, accompanied by former parishioners and Newtowners Jerry and Ann Marie Deluccio.

According to a number of residents who attended and helped during their visit, the Lost Boys’ collective message supporting a nonprofit established by the Deluccios, seemed to resonate with hundreds of visitors to the two services and talk at the Main Street church.

The visit helped initiate the next phase of Trinity’s commitment to the United Nation’s Millennium Goals, which is focused on supporting education to some of the most disadvantaged populations of young people across the globe.

Trinity’s Rector Kathleen Adams-Shepherd said she thought the impressive visitors would be the perfect diplomats for furthering far-flung education programs, since all of them overcame incredible adversity to become distinguished and well-spoken professionals after receiving refuge in the United States.

The Deluccios traveled from their home in Rochester, NY, where many young Sudanese refugees including Abraham Chol, Anei Nhila and Deng Biar, eventually settled after being ousted from their villages by Muslim extremists who feared the young Christians would grow up to reclaim their homeland by force.

“These young men are absolutely fabulous,” Reverend Adams-Shepherd said.

Associate Reverend Carol Westpfahl said when she learned several Lost Boys would be coming in person, it would make for a very exciting visit.

“Their story is so deeply moving, what they had to go through to get where they are today…it’s really inspiring,” she said.

Power Of Forgiveness

Both church officials and several Newtown residents who witnessed the activities Sunday or hosted the visitors all spoke of the power these devout individuals possessed to forgive their oppressors, and to actually live and worship side-by-side with Sudanese Muslim refugees in communities across the country, including Rochester.

Amy and Geoff Dent, who are also longtime friends of the Deluccios, were touched by the unwavering faith of the Lost Boys, and especially touched by their power to forgive.

Mrs Dent recalled the moment during the midday forum when the visitors were asked about having any apprehensions about living beside Muslims in the Rochester area, because it was primarily Muslim extremists who forced them from their homes and terrorized their families.

“The answer was, ‘we are all human beings, people make mistakes, governments make mistakes, and we have to be forgiving and accepting of all people.’ I think if there were more people like this in the world like them, it would be a far better place,” Ms Dent said.

Ms Dent took note of the Lost Boys’ “extraordinary hunger to be informed, and useful contributors to society.

“They have realized that education was their ticket to a better life,” she said.

Earl Gordon and Laurie Trotto brought the travelers into their home to stay Saturday evening, so everyone could be well rested for their busy visit, all sandwiched in before the three Lost Boys had to rush back to upstate New York for their third-shift jobs Sunday evening.

The couple has been close friends of the Deluccios for many years, and followed their growing interest in supporting the Sudanese refugees both in camps and villages in Kenya, as well as here in the United States.

“We encouraged them to come to talk at Trinity, to talk about the Lost Boys,” Ms Trotto said.

“They took these boys into their home, helped educate them and began this nonprofit to help educate others, which tied directly into Trinity’s Millennium Goals of trying to bring relief and help others around the world,” Mr Gordon added.

Ms Trotto said after Sunday’s presentations there seemed to be “high interest,” on the part of many attendees to help support the Deluccio’s Hope of Sudan Foundation and other third world education programs.

The couple said during some private time they shared with their visitors, they heard about the Lost Boys return to Africa after being away for 20 years.

“The villagers were so happy to welcome them back that they slaughtered a cow for the feast,” Ms Trotto said. Mr Gordon added that upon their return to Rochester, their visitors were even more committed to supporting educational opportunities for young people in their homeland.

“They’re doing this to help their fellow Sudanese,” she said.

“And they’re working hard to help supplement not only each other, but their families back home,” Mr Gordon added.

Helping Others First

Rev Westphal said she was so touched to hear that after being taken from his village at the age of four, one of the visitors said he was happy to be able to return to his home and to see his mother for the first time in 20 years.

“More recently he had opportunities to go to visit his mother, but he had to balance that desire with his hope to give others the money for their education,” she said. “It’s incredible this willingness to give out of nothing, this generosity to others. They don’t want others to go through what happened to them.”

Speaking to The Bee following the visit, Mr Deluccio said he hoped the word about the Lost Boys visit would circulate among his former neighbors, and those who were not able to come to the Trinity celebration.

“I hope people will be touched by the story and reach out to help,” he said. Helping put a young person through private boarding school can cost as little as $750 per year. And the Hope of Sudan foundation also accepts donations of any amount to help underwrite added costs like the one-time $200 per student set-up fee to help sponsored students with all the supplies needed for their time in school.

In addition, annual costs of $200 are provided to family members who house the students near their schools during several month-long breaks throughout the year.

During a 2006 trip to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, and a visit to one of the schools near Kisumu, the Deluccios saw first hand the need of so many more young displaced refugee children who hope for an education. And they witnessed the incredible results of students who took full advantage of the education offered to them through the support of their foundation.

For details, visit HopeOfSudan.org. To learn more about Trinity Episcopal Church initiatives to support other Third World education projects and the United Nation’s Millennium Goals, call 426-9070.