Jacob is born into a poor Muslim family. His name is Abdulihe and he supports himself by serving as a guide to tourists. His father is Arab, his mother is Ethiopian, and he is hated by both groups. He becomes a guide to two Christians, who give him a New Testament. Reading the Gospel of John, he sees that Christ lets us choose to follow Him. He becomes a believer and his life is threatened. The communists take over Ethiopia, and he flees to Sudan. The first part ends with civil war erupting in Sudan.