God Grew Tired of Us

God Grew Tired of Us, published in 2007, is a Christian memoir that chronicles John Bul Dau’s 1,000-mile journey from his home village of Duk Payuel in Sudan to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. This study guide refers to the 2008 first paperback printing edition.

In the Introduction Dau states that although he is just one of thousands of Lost Boys, he wanted to tell his story in hope of using his education and experiences to change Africans’ lives for the better. Dau’s memoir is written linearly, starting with his young life in Duk Payuel and ending with his current life in America. Dau sprinkles in facts about Sudan at the start of each chapter, and he also includes some brief interviews with people who know him. Although he’s telling his own story, he’s also portraying the collective story of the Lost Boys.

Dau’s story begins with his childhood as a Dinka boy. He illustrates how his home village and its people, the Dinka, shape the core of his being, teaching him values and morals, and instilling in him the understanding of his Christian faith. Yet, he is also shaped by his experiences as a Lost Boy who was essentially on his own by 13 years old.