Despite the extraordinary persecution suffered by the Southern Sudanese people, Jesus Christ has been working to transform many lives.

The tragic and gripping life story of Bernard Suwa, who arrived in Sydney as a refugee in 2000, gives insight into how Christ has transformed thousands of lives devastated by the darkest of evils.

Told with Bernard's characteristic humour, Through Unfamiliar Paths is far from a depressing tale. And it ultimately focuses on the life-giving power of Christ.

Bernard was born into a extremely poor peasant family in Southern Sudan. Growing up at the height of the Sudanese civil war, Bernard suffered many trials. His father's health failed after being taken by soldiers. His mother was murdered. Her burnt and nearly unrecognisable body discovered by Bernard after a long search. He also lost each one of his six older brothers. His life was full of pain until one day the Lord met him and transformed his life. Christ restored his hope that life had meaning and purpose.

Through Unfamiliar Paths

Eight months after were married, my wife was taken ill and we were forced to leave Sudan and travel to Uganda in search of medical treatment. While in Uganda, we were hosted by my friend Tom who had since returned to his home village of Gulu in northern Uganda.

Two weeks after we arrived in Gulu, the National Resistance Army, NRA under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni overran Kampala and began advancing northward. This led to the closure of the Uganda-Sudan border, and one of Uganda's bloodiest wars.

Most civil wars on the African continent have been fought along tribal lines. The war in Uganda was no different. It was a war between a government dominated by the northern tribes and the southern tribes united under the National Resistance Army (NRA).

While we were in Uganda, the Acholi people, the tribe among which we were staying, thought my wife belonged to their enemies. She looked just like a southern Ugandan due to her light skin. This false identification put us in an extraordinary high level of danger.

After a medical examination my wife was hospitalized in Gulu. We had intended to stay in Uganda for one month, but because of her hospitalisation and the closure of the border, we were forced to stay another two more. During those three months, we were constantly in fear for our lives.

Early on, the gates to an ammunition dump in northern Uganda was thrown open, allowing all the young man to take a gun for themselves so they could resist the advancing forces from the south. Unfortunately, as soon as most acquired the guns, they returned into the villages to terrorize innocent civilians.

Everywhere there were road blocks, and we could not travel freely without Tom pleading to his fellow tribesmen on our behalf. On several occasions we had to hide Esther in the house when gun-wielding young Acholis came to the village where we were staying. They were not convinced we were Sudanese, and day and night we feared torture and death.

While Esther was lying in her hospital bed, the government hospital in Gulu was looted, and I witnessed the most horrific scenes of torture.

How we got out of Uganda, only God has the answer. It was one of a chain of miracles…

Copies of Through Unfamiliar Paths are $10 and can be purchased by contacting Blacktown Anglican Church on 9831 5454 or emailing Bernard Suwa.

All proceeds go to aid the development of a Christian education program for the Sudanese community in Australia.