Annah found strength in her relationship with her mother, Esther, and in her relationship with God. Esther encouraged Annah to educate herself and “go out into the world.” Annah’s faith led her to James, an evangelical preacher who became her husband. The two left Uganda for the United States when James received a scholarship to study at Ohio University, only to be stranded there with two small children when the Ugandan government collapsed. The loss of his dreams, along with the realities of American life for African immigrants, proved to be more than James could withstand, and he succumbed to alcoholism.

“Fascinating account of a woman who fought off self-pity despite problems bigger than anything most of us will ever face. The woman is Annah Emuge, who grew up in a village in Uganda. Her family’s hut lacked electricity and plumbing. Food for her large family was scarce. Worse yet, the soldiers in Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s army looted, pillaged, raped and killed at will.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch