God Grew Tired of Us

Although in many ways Dau adjusts to his life in America, he still dreams of Africa. He considers himself blessed, however, because his dreams aren’t the kinds of terror that other Lost Boys experience. Some have post-traumatic stress disorder and are forced to continually relive the worst moments of their past. Even with a new life in a new country, Dau says it’s important to hold onto their roots: “They, and I, must learn to be Dinka in America. With God’s grace, we must learn to treasure the best of our experiences and apply them to our new lives” (237).

After years spent looking for his family, Dau had all but given up hope of finding them. However, he receives a letter from his brother stating that his mother, father, and some siblings are still alive. Like Dau, they fled on the night of the attacks and sought refuge in various camps, and they’re now living on the Ugandan border. After a substantial paperwork, Dau is able to bring his mother and sister to live with him in the United States.

That same year he marries a Dinka woman named Martha. She and Dau had lived in the same refugee camp briefly and had a relationship, but she relocated to America before him.