Francis left Sudan about 13 years ago to escape the war and religious persecution against Christians. He was working there as a religious education teacher and is a Roman Catholic. He has lived in the United States for 6 years and works as a social worker and case manager at DHS where he enjoys helping other people. He heard about Habitat while helping one of his clients find housing for a family of 10.
His first wife died while giving birth to their youngest child, Marie Theresa, who was born with Cerebral Palsy. She was named after the hospital of St. Theresa in honor of the help the missionaries there offered him in taking care of his children after his wife died.
His second wife, Regina, is Sudanese, but came to the United States by way of Australia. She is a cousin of his first wife and was encouraged by the family to marry Francis to help raise the 4 children. They both share the common goals of working toward getting their new house and helping their children finish their educations and go on to college.
His daughters, Vivian (16), Nyamjwok (13), Grace (10), and Marie Theresa (8), enjoy reading and watching movies and are helpful around the house. Grace loves animals and is especially looking forward to getting a dog when they have their own home.