Lord please open our eyes

Meet Nathaniel, a recent addition to my Sunday morning Bible study. He's a refugee from Liberia and has quite a story to tell. For starters his father and mother were murdered during the Civil War that boke out soon after his birth. After his parents tragic death he moved in with his grandmother who died a couple years later from breast cancer. With no family and shelter, he was forced into the military and at a very young age was taken into the deep jungle area and taught how to shoot guns and obey authority at all costs. "I had no other options. I wanted to leave but they would have killed me." He fought in the army for 3 years till he escaped after being sent on a task to get medical supplies. (Much more on that story)
He then caught a bus to the city and found a group who promised they'd take him to America if he paid them money. He gave up everything and trusted them knowing he had no other options (his commander would hunt him down and kill him if he stayed any longer in Africa). He was betrayed and sent to Hong Kong at age 15 and left with no ID, money, or familiarity of surroundings. Was left on the streets for 6 days till he ran into a couple from the church who took him to the UN to get refugee status. (I'd love to meet and thank this couple someday.)

But it's still no walk in the park. He'd been living in Hong Kong for 2 1/2 years then was arrested by the Hong Kong police for lack of ID. (The UN is still in the process of getting proper identification which evidently can take years due to lack of resources). He was confined to a high security prison "with no sunshine" and was released 4 months later when they were able to have proof that his papers are still being processed.

I'm nearly in tears blogging our conversation out.
How can this happen??? How can someone grow up in such warfare yet I live in complete security surrounded by family?? He has no one, NO ONE. Can we fully grasp that?! Being completely alone in a foreign country where you don't fit in, wanting to return home yet knowing if you do you risk your life?!

Nathaniel's story is so uplifting because even after his tragic past he still has dreams.
He dreams of being an accountant and having the opportunity to go to school (he's yet to step foot in a classroom).
He dreams of returning to Liberia and running for president to "look after the welfare of my people".
He dreams of happiness and security (he still has anxiety of his commander coming to hunt him down and kill him).
Who is going to help him?!?!
Brothers and sisters we need to open our eyes and hearts.
Verse of the day: Matthew 25:40