STORY - "A long road home"
By Liz McDonald with reflections from Gabriel Long

Gabriel (centre) with his sister (left) and mother (right)

Gabriel Long is a remarkable 24 year old who was forced to leave his mother and flee his home in Sudan when he was eight due to protracted civil war.

Gabriel spent a year wandering around neighbouring countries and four years in the Sudanese “Christian Army” as a child soldier. Gabriel was shot and after receiving treatment found himself in Kenya at the United Nations Kakuma refugee camp.

He arrived in Australia in 1999. He first settled in Darwin then moved to the Hunter Valley in 200. Gabriel has been assisted by Centacare since 2001.

He is currently enrolled at the University of Newcastle having completed the Open Foundation Program and two years of the Nursing Degree course. Gabriel also works full time at BiLo and does interpreting work.

For many years he had been trying to ascertain his mother's whereabouts as he had not seen her since 1989. In May 2003 he learned that she was alive in Sudan and in June 2003 he learned that she had escaped to Uganda. He spoke to his mother for the first time in 14 years!

Fundraising by diocesan staff was targeted at assisting Gabriel return to Africa to visit his mother and extended family. The trip was postponed several times due to university and work commitments.

Gabriel finally departed in late January and spent a precious two weeks with his family in Uganda.

Gabriel Long reflects on his journey back to Africa
The trip was my first time back to Africa. I was scared to meet my mother because it had been such a long time. In another way I was also excited about seeing her again.

When I left Australia I didn't tell my mother that I was coming. I rang her from Entebbe airport and family members came to the airport and met me. When I went to the house my mum didn't recognise me, she asked people, “Where is my son?” My cousin pointed to me and then she clapped and hugged and kissed me. She tried to lift me up because she was so excited and couldn't believe it was me. She said “I am dreaming; it is not really true.” She was crying and couldn't believe it was me.

She asked, “Where have you been and why didn't you come back and see me?” I explained where I had been, travelling between Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia and about the war.

“When I was shot they took me to Kenya and to the refugee camp and I had been looking for you and no-one knew about you.

“My heart was broken and I didn't want to go back to Sudan and that's how I went to Australia in 1999.

“I found out you were alive in 2003 when one of my friends called me from America. He was looking for his family back home and he found that you were alive and that I had a younger sister. He gave me a phone number and then I rang you for the first time.”

I was scared about my safety in Kampala at first but it was so safe for me. My cousins and uncles came and gathered around me and they showed me Kampala and stayed in the house. I was frightened that people would come to the house and take my things.

Life is very hard for refugees in Kampala. They have no income. A lot of people came to me for money. I explained that I didn't bring lots of money because the church helped me come to see my mother. They didn't believe me because they think that everyone who comes from overseas has a lot of money.

My pocket money went quickly as lots of people turned up. I was broke in three days.

My sister is 14 years old and she was so happy to meet to me. She knew she had a brother but didn't think that she would ever meet him. She asked if one day we may be able to stay together in one place. She always followed me around and didn't want me to leave.

My uncle was very happy that I had come to Australia. He didn't think that I would ever have the opportunity to come back and see them and that people may not let me come back because of everything that had happened to me.

I would like to thank everyone who helped me go back. I really appreciate it as it was one of the best times of my life. I didn't expect that anything like this would ever happen for me. When I went to Africa I explained how everyone helped me and they couldn't believe it. So thank you so much for all that you have done.

Since I have come home I am much more settled and I don't worry for my family as much now. I want to really concentrate on my studies and go back to my athletics. I can really focus now!

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