TABLE OF CONTENT Title page i Title ii Forward iii Preamble v o Breaking Point vi o Samuel's Struggle vii o Mary's Account viii o Aftermath ix Acknowledgment xi Dedication xii Table of content xiii Part 1: Rediscovery and Conflict 18 Chapter 1: Mary’s New Beginning 19 o Mary’s arrival in the U.S. 19 o Her initial struggles, opportunities, and emotional distance from her family. 26 o Rediscovery and inner conflict. 35 Chapter 2: Samuel’s Burden 42 o Samuel’s life in Africa, raising the kids alone. 42 o His sacrifices, reliance on faith, and growing concerns about Mary. 49 Chapter 3: Letters and Silences 59 o Communication struggles between Mary and Samuel. 59 o Subtle tensions and hints of Mary’s inner turmoil about returning. 69 Chapter 4: The Allure of Independence 79 o Mary’s successes in her studies and professional life. 79 o New friendships and perspectives 87 Chapter 5: The Phone Call 102 o Mary asks for separation. 102 o Samuel’s shock, the children’s reactions, and the aftermath. 115 Part 2: Reflection and Struggle 123 Chapter 6: Two Worlds Apart 124 o Parallel struggles: Samuel’s efforts to keep the family together and Mary’s guilt and growth in the U.S. 124 Chapter 7: Samuel’s Crisis of Faith 130 o Samuel questioning God and his purpose in the face of his family falling apart. 130 Chapter 8: May’s Guilt 138 o Mary reflecting on the sacrifices Samuel has made and what her choices mean for the family. 138 Chapter 9: The Children’s Perspective 147 o How the children navigate life with their parents separated. 147 Chapter 10: Faith and Therapy 158 • Samuel turns to counseling and deeper faith for answers. 159 • Mary explores therapy or spiritual guidance in the U.S., 160 Part 3: Faith and Redemption, Complexity of Relationships with Parenthood and Legacy 167 Chapter 11: Unexpected Encounters 168 • Mary and Samuel reconnect unexpectedly, one of the children’s milestones (First son’s Graduation In UAE). 168 • Awkward interaction but filled with unresolved emotions. 170 Chapter 12: Redefining Love and Family 185 • The New definition of love 186 • The definition 192 Chapter 13: A Spiritual Awakening 100 Chapter 14: A Shared Decision 204 o Joint decision 214 o Introduction into the new path 222. Chapter 15: Grace Through Pain 228 After Words 235 • The Biases Against Separation and Divorce in Christianity: Impacts and Solutions 236 • Solution and recommendation 242 • Divorce Rates Among Immigrant Christians: Influencing Factors 252 • Real-life-inspired stories 255 • Addition inspired real-life stories 264 References 303 About the Author 310