Lead Teens to Chart
Their Own Story

ISAIAH

16, USA

"Let me introduce you to an incredible young man who took a life, full of fear, head on. He was a young six year old boy living in a city being targeted by ISIS. This was a city the US soldiers were watching intently. They had a camp nearby and this young boy was fascinated by these men. He would go and spend time in their camp. The soldiers took turns teaching this boy English. He made friends with them. When this boy was in the city playing with friends, or at home engaging with his family and saw signs of the bad guys encroaching on the city he would immediately run and inform the soldiers they were coming. The US forces would intercept the attack. This happened several times and it didn’t take long for the bad guys to realize they had an informant in the city. They began seeking out the source. They identified the source and intended to take out the entire family of the informant. It was a beautiful day and this young boy and his mother walked to the market to get some needed food items for dinner. When they returned home they found their home in shambles, almost their entire family murdered. His father, brother, sister, aunt, and grandparents all violently murdered. They had left two of his brothers alive. Why? Because they were both severely handicapped and that was a “curse” in their society. It made it hard for them to get help and resources because they were considered “cursed from God” for their infirmities. 

This incredible mother and young 6 year old boy immediately took his two brothers and a few supplies and fled into the mountains. It took them several days to arrive at a cave that they felt would provide them safety. I did not get to meet this mother but I would love to visit with her and learn about what gave her the strength and bravery to make this daring move. One of the possessions this young family took with them was a solar charger and an iPhone. During the day they would charge their phone and at night they would bring that phone into the cave. They would search YouTube for classes and tutorials to learn English, math, science and more. For six years they would stay in this cave. SIX YEARS! I have so many unanswered questions about how they found enough food, how they kept the will to fight to survive. This young boy and his mother kept his brothers alive and cared for. They had every reason to fear just about everything in their current circumstances. However, they looked fear in the face and chose to control the only thing they could—how they would respond to the situation they were placed in. They knew that to change their circumstance they had to learn things they did not know. They had to challenge themselves to find a new life. After 5 years of living in the cave they decided to send this young boy back to the nearest city to apply for refugee status to come to America. He had to risk his life and the potential of never making it back to the cave or revealing their location not once, but three times. The first time to apply to be chosen, and twice to check on the status. On the third return to the city he learned they had been selected. In the face of fear the entire family made their way to the city to begin the process of being sent to America. 

They were chosen to come to Utah. That is where I met them. For many of the refugees coming they haven’t received a great education. Some had access to education before their countries were turned upside down, but many have not had an education. Educators usually start with the basics and work to help them get caught up. This was now a sixteen year old boy who would be going into his junior year the following year. It’s very difficult for these teens to get caught up in time for graduation. One thing I have learned about them is that they have an incredible resilience to persevere, to work hard, and to learn. This young man was no exception. He began in the basic level lessons and was flying through them, advancing at a quick rate. Educators were impressed by his knowledge. There seemed to be no assignment he couldn’t keep up with, they were baffled at his ability to excel.  They gave this young man the ACT and he scored a 34! This young boy turned young man was self educated through YouTube in a cave while in hiding. He chose to use his fear as motivation to improve his circumstance and be a catalyst for change. Now in America his brothers were able to participate in a beautiful program to help them gain skills to begin helping themselves. This mother was able to receive education and job training to provide for her family. 

He took his vision in his book and hung it on his wall. He read it everyday. He used these tools we had shared to make a solid plan to attack his vision with passion. He has since graduated, and is one year away from graduating from college."