At a church service, six year old Lopez Lomong was torn from
his parents, thrown into the back of a truck with other children and then
forced to endure weeks of harsh captivity.
If he survived the deprivation of food and water his only choice was to
become a child soldier in the Sudanese civil war. Unbelievably, he is cared for by 3 “angels”
as he calls them and is led in a dangerous escape into Kenya, where he is taken
to a refugee camp with other “lost boys.”
Despite many hardships he perseveres and learns to live
without his biological family. As part
of his daily routine, he runs and plays soccer, and attends school. In an
unusual circumstance, he watches Michael Johnson win the 400-meter dash on a
small black and white television during the 2000 Olympics and it changes Lopez’s
life. He now dreams of being an Olympian.
When he has the opportunity to come to the United States,
Lopez is taken in by Rob and Barbara Rogers in New York. His account of learning to live in the United
States is very touching. After seeing
his natural ability in running they encourage him to pursue his dream. The book spells out the rest of his story and
how his dream comes true.
This is a story of faith, hope and perseverance. Lopez has a refreshingly positive attitude
and is a great role model for budding athletes.
I intend to watch his career and life to see what other amazing feats he
will accomplish. This book was given to
me by Thomas Nelson and this is my honest review.
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