Hi, my name is Sanan. I’m now about 14 years old and my heart is so full of gratefulness because you called for me to come live at the children’s home. I feel very safe here. I also hope for my future. When I was a soldier, I had no hope at all, no dream for life. This is the story of my hardship.
My father lived as a soldier and my mother died when I was six months old, so I grew up around the army. One terrible day, news arrived about my father. He was made prisoner of war by the national army. I was seven years old the day the messenger came from the war front…it still burns like a hot rock in my memory.
When I was nine, the army came to conscript from their family, but my relatives sent me instead of their own children. I hated soldiering because I had lost my father in a battle. War had already ruined my life, and the army was the last place I wanted to be.
I served in the army for 3 years of agony. My first day, the “boss” soldier boy had me gang raped. Then they sent me out to collect old bottles and cans to sell for recycle. Most of the time, I never could sell what I found and I was all the time in their debt.
When I was soldiering, I had 24-hour sentry watches and was forced to keep alert in very hot days and cold mountain winds at night. I scoured the hillsides many miles for firewood, split the wood, and worked the farms. Early mornings were military trainings and long runs. At night, I would lie awake and cry.
Now [that I have been rescued], my house parents are kind and urge me to be diligent. I used to be scared of dark spirits in the hills and trees, but now I get to experience Jesus’ love toward me and God’s hope for me. I want to serve God and tell many people about his Jesus.
Story by Project: AK-47