“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” — Psalm 126:3

My name is Joseph Lethem, and today I have the privilege of serving as Executive Director of

Padoc Area Scholars Society (PASS USA).

Every day I am reminded that my life is not a story of personal success. It is a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

There was a time when I was simply a village boy with a dream of going to school. Today, I have the privilege of helping other students pursue that same dream.

Only God could write a story like that.

A Dream That Seemed Impossible

I was born in a remote village in South Sudan to parents who had never attended school.

Because education had never been part of their lives, they could not understand why I longed to leave home to attend school in a nearby town.

When I asked for permission, they said no.They loved me and wanted to protect me from the dangers they believed waited outside our village.

But God had placed a different dream in my heart.

Believing education was the path He had prepared for me, I left home and traveled to the town where the school was located. I had nowhere to live except with my friend Johnson

Titus, whose family generously welcomed me into their home. Life was difficult.

Many days we had very little food, but I refused to give up on the opportunity to learn.

When War Took Everything

Then war arrived.

Our town was attacked without warning, forcing everyone to flee for their lives. During the

chaos, my friend and I became separated for three weeks.

When we finally found each other again, the town had been devastated. Innocent people had been killed, children had been abducted, and countless families had lost everything.

Eventually, I fled South Sudan and found refuge in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.

Like so many others, I arrived with almost nothing.

But I still had hope.

God Never Forgot Me

Life in the refugee camp was incredibly hard.

I often walked to school barefoot because I had no shoes.

Sometimes I wore a dirty school uniform because I could not afford soap to wash it.

Food was scarce.

The future was uncertain.

Yet through every challenge, God remained faithful.

By His grace, I completed my secondary education, even though I had no way to pay for college.

Once again, what seemed impossible became possible.

The Scholarship That Changed Everything

I applied for a scholarship through PASS USA.

By God’s grace, I was selected.

Looking back, I realize that PASS did far more than provide financial assistance.

PASS believed in me.That belief transformed my life.

As I continued my education, PASS entrusted me with leadership responsibilities, eventually appointing me as Head of Student Coordinators, serving scholars across South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

For someone who had once questioned whether he would even survive the war, it was a remarkable reminder that God can redeem every chapter of our lives.

Serving the Next Generation

Today, I have the honor of serving as Executive Director of PASS USA.

Every decision I make is shaped by where God has brought me from.

I remember my village.

I remember fleeing from war.

I remember studying without shoes.

I remember life as a refugee.

Those memories remind me why PASS exists.

I know what it feels like to wonder if anyone sees your future.

That is why I am committed to helping vulnerable students discover that God has not forgotten them—and neither have we.

A Story Still Being Written

When I look back on my journey, I see one truth above everything else: God is faithful.

He opens doors no one can shut.

He gives hope to those who feel forgotten.

He transforms lives for His glory.

My prayer is that every student who becomes part of PASS USA will discover the same hope that changed my life.

Because I am living proof that our circumstances do not define our future.

God’s grace does.