Out of The Impossible: The Hope of The Lost Boy

Paul Deng Kur was only a young child when he was separated from his parents during the Sudanese Civil War, like many of his cousins and fellow Lost Boys of South Sudan. The Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan came from various communities, localities, and tribes across South Sudan. But while their stories are just as diverse, their suffering was universal. Amidst this unrest, Deng spent months wandering through the jungle of South Sudan as the war ravaged his village. For children, life was entirely unpredictable, and many of his cousins and friends perished during the crisis. Not knowing whether their families were alive or dead, orphans banded together in groups. At six years old, Deng had already buried several of his cousins, and death seemed inevitable. In an effort to protect himself, he became a soldier in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army at age eight, alongside many other vulnerable children. Over time, he would escape from refugee camps multiple times in order to rejoin the SPLA, hoping desperately to avenge his family. Children like Deng preferred to die for a cause rather than wither away in a camp. Now, many years later, Paul Deng Kur has confronted this horrific past by sharing his story — the story of a devastated boy haunted by war and death. Out of The Impossible reflects on the life he endured and how it continues to shape his life today. It is a painful journey, but he hopes that by sharing that pain with you — a pain that he has held onto for so long — he can show you how pain can make you stronger if you can find the strength and faith to persevere through it.