My First Angel

My time here is marked by those who change my life everyday. I want to take some time to highlight those people and introduce them to you, hoping they will have just a small impact on your life too through their stories.

Friendship comes in many forms. However, there are those whose friendship with you is absolutely priceless and life changing. Anwar Nabil is one of those friends. Since our first meeting, Anwar has been changing my life moment by moment.

Anwar is a Sudanese refugee who came to Egypt over seven years ago as a youth. He grew up with his mother and two younger sisters, his father absent for most of his life in the Nuba Mountains. Anwar has slowly opened up to me about his past and memories, revealing to me things he has never told anyone. When he was a teenager, he came to Cairo with an uncle hoping for a better future in an unknown country. Without any guidance, he quickly fell into the life style of the first generation of gangs in Cairo. However, a transformation took place in his life when he attended a church retreat. Since then, Anwar has had a desire to reach the gang youth and children that will be the next generation of South Sudan. His ministry is based around his love of music- singing and playing guitar to bring hope to his community.

My walk with Anwar has been full of excitement and fun. I first met him on the staff retreat, the only refugee in the pool with goggles. Our first conversation came after he beat me in a swimming race. He invited me to do some children’s programs with him at his church and I started attending his children’s music program. The hour long bus ride to his area would give us a chance to talk about a lot of things.

This is when I realized Anwar was special. He would speak of how the Sudanese community needed to take more responsibility and help each other rather than depending on the handouts of others. He had dreams of leading his people when they returned to their home country. He wants to give children and youth the tools they need for future leadership. Anwar has many dreams, but what impresses me is that he is not slow to act on them.

Inspired by his passion and equipped with a monetary donation from some friends, I decided to give Anwar a chance to fulfill those dreams. He had been working as a cleaner/ security guard in the office, humbly washing and mopping all of the time. He enjoyed his job, but it was not his passion. With the money I was given, I was able to sponsor Anwar and have him moved to the youth office where he is today. Since the move, he has done administrative work for the team, but also has been active in many programs helping the youth. In addition to his children’s programs, he is involves himself in the sports program and English schools. His biggest project is a youth hip hop program every Friday night in which gang and non-gang members come to practice their talents of rapping in a positive environment.

However, working with the youth can sometimes be dangerous for him. As a young Sudanese male, he is a target for the gangs. In early October, Anwar was attacked by gangs that knew he associated with rival gang members through the youth program. The scars on his neck and cheek are reminders of this day. He has had his wallet and cell phone stolen as well.

Despite these problems, Anwar still continues to joyfully serve. He is now one of my teachers at the school we started in Hielasher. He started a sports program for the Outlaw gang members in his part of the city. There is never a night Anwar does not have a program to help his community.

For the first time since we have met, Anwar shared with me that he wants to come to America to get a better education before returning to Sudan. Most refugees discuss their desire to come to the states within their first conversation with me. Anwar and I have spent long bus rides together and deep conversations on a balcony, but he had never mentioned this before. He said that he would even go to high school before wanted to attend university. I was inspired by this. Again, this is a sign of his humility and willingness to work hard. I’ve personally tutored Anwar and I see his potential. I believe that he doesn’t need an education to achieve some of his goals, but a great education would make him an inspiring leader for the rest of the community.

Continue to pray for Anwar as his follows his heart in ministering to his community.