Faith, Resilience, and Home: The Inspiring Journey of the Dup Family

For our partner family, Gok Dup and Nahyok Yam, adjusting one’s mindset is what keeps them grounded in their faith. This Sumner county family of 8, have experienced many trials during their 15-year marriage and rely on their faith in God to provide them with the positive mindset they both have. Born in South Sudan, they met in Egypt in 2001, where they dreamed of raising a family in the United States. In 2005 they married in India where they raised their two oldest daughters, Yiedul and Buk. In 2008 their prayers were answered when Gok was given the opportunity to fulfil the family’s dream of moving to the US, however this journey had to be done alone. After raising Yiedul and Buk by herself, Nahyok and her daughters joyfully came to the US in 2011 joining their dad in Davidson County.

While living in Davidson county, Gok helped a close friend build a Habitat for Humanity Home and was encouraged to apply for his family. However, the dream of owning their own home was put on hold when their third daughter, Begao was diagnosed with leukemia. Mounting medical bills and increasing rent in Davidson County, created the need to move to Gallatin, TN in 2018. While settling into Sumner County, they received the greatest blessing, when Begao was found to be in remission.

Grateful for the return to good health of their daughter, Gok and Nahyok began to seek help for their youngest, a boy, Kuedel. Last year, the Dup family was told that their son Kuedel has Autism. He is now receiving multiple therapies, but with school being an uncertainty, the concern of regression grieves Gok and Nahyok.

April of this year, Nahyok, an essential frontline worker, was one of the multiple COVID cases at the Tyson Chicken plant in Goodlettsville. When asked about the diagnosis, Nahyok responded that she is “grateful to return to full health and [that their unborn baby] is healthy too”.